When you turned 40...

[heartnsoul]

Hello, just curious. How did you feel when you turned 40?

When I turned 40 last year I must admit it bothered me a little. I have heard that some women felt that way when they turned 30. Also, I wonder if it is different for men. I have heard it said that some men feel bothered when turning 50.

But the good news is that since I view 40 as the turning point for "old", turning 50 or 60 won't bother me at all.

So, I'm welcoming your thoughts about how you felt when you turned 40.

 

[TabCat]

It did bother me to start with I kept thinking I was really getting old. After a while I started to see I was just enter the next chapter in my life and was really in the middle and not reaching the end. Honestly I have never been happier in my life than I am right now.

 

[Tricia4Jesus]

I think I had more of a problem with turning thirty. But I also, know up until 3 months ago. I was going through a time of reflection in my life. Starting thinking only of myself. And where had time gone, and where did I go. That just hit me like a pile of bricks last year. I don't know what it was, a mid life crisis or whatever.

 

[TabCat]

I think I had more of a problem with turning thirty. But I also, know up until 3 months ago. I was going through a time of reflection in my life. Starting thinking only of myself. And where had time gone, and where did I go. That just hit me like a pile of bricks last year. I don't know what it was, a mid life crisis or whatever.

I was about 35 when I had my "reflection time". I was so focused on all the things that I wish Ihad done differently and the time I had wasted. It took me a few months to see I was wasting the here and now as well. I also bought a little sports car, so I guess that was the crisis of my 30's. I don't like to call it my mid-life crisis because it makes it sound to me like I'm falling down the mountian at lighting speed.:o

 

[heartnsoul]

It did bother me to start with I kept thinking I was really getting old. After a while I started to see I was just enter the next chapter in my life and was really in the middle and not reaching the end. Honestly I have never been happier in my life than I am right now.

I am also content about where I am at this point in my life. An elderly woman asked me several months ago what age would I want to be if I had a choice? I thought about it and I would still pick my age right now (41) because I wouldn't trade everything that I learned for being young again. Wisdom is priceless and my walk with God is stronger now than in my younger years. So, I am glad where I'm at and look forward to making the next coming years even better!

And since people are living longer, I guess being in the 40's isn't really that old, right?

 

[TabCat]

That is so true, people are living longer and your 40's is just getting started on another chapter. We have hopefully learned from all our mistakes and are at places where God can really use us for His glory.

 

[heartnsoul]

Amen TabCat! Those are my thoughts too...glorifying God is what makes being a Christian so meaningful.

 

[NorwayUnn]

When I turned 40, I invited my family to spend a week's vacation on the nice and warm Canary Island, West of the African coast. We celebrated my birthday and spent some real nice days together there. It was in December, and it gave us a nice break from the cold Winter in Norway. You're not old when you turn 40, but hopefully a bit wiser than what you were when you were young. Every day is a gift from God, whether we are 20, 40 or 100.

 

[woman.at.the.well]

have never been affected by age, one way or the other (good or bad). I think it is silly to get upset about something we can't change; that God didn't intend for us to worrry about stuff like that; and that we improve so much with age (hopefully) it actually gets better! Right? Go ahead, throw a pie at me I'm at an age where I don't even care about how much I weigh anymore, let alone how old I am.

 

[TabCat]

have never been affected by age, one way or the other (good or bad). I think it is silly to get upset about something we can't change; that God didn't intend for us to worrry about stuff like that; and that we improve so much with age (hopefully) it actually gets better! Right? Go ahead, throw a pie at me I'm at an age where I don't even care about how much I weigh anymore, let alone how old I am.

Amen!

 

[country woman]

When I turned 40 it was no big deal. I do not feel or look like I am in my 40's. I also have a 21 year old daughter who keeps me young.

 

[Tumbleweed64]

I'll have to admit, I was a little bummed, til my co-workers threw me a birthday party and gave me a coffee mug that says, " 40 isn't old, if you're a tree!"

 

[JJB]

It was harder for me to turn 30 than it was to turn 40. Of course, I was very happy at age 40 because we were finally a family. PTL!

Remember Sarah? AS far as having babies, late 30's is young compared to Sarah! God's timing is perfect.

 

[whitestar]

I read the OT alot...now those folks were OLD...compared to them, I am still a baby...

If it bothered me, I forgot....lol.

Yea the nice thing about being in your forties is you care less about things you used to spend hours worrying over....(like spending three hours in high school getting ready for school cause every hair had to be perfectly in place...make up just right, clothes just right...worrying over pimples I STILL get by the way....grrrrrr...) now I look back on that stuff and wonder why I wasted SO much time!

 

[If Not For Grace]

I do not feel or look like I am in my 40's

Must be nice. I look older than I am, Oh well.

 

[Hackett]

Every decade does have an effect on how we see ourselves, but I was so busy at 40 with kids in high school and thinking about their future that I don't recall being really aware of it. I was glad to be healthy however, the next one coming up is starting to bother me.

 

[heartnsoul]

IYea the nice thing about being in your forties is you care less about things you used to spend hours worrying over....(like spending three hours in high school getting ready for school cause every hair had to be perfectly in place...make up just right, clothes just right...worrying over pimples I STILL get by the way....grrrrrr...) now I look back on that stuff and wonder why I wasted SO much time!

So true! As I get older, I realize just how precious time really is! I don't waste time worrying about things beyond my control anymore. I know everything happens for a reason and I just leave it all up to God's perfect timing to reveal all.