Ten GOOD things about being 40 (almost 40, in my case)
1. The "middle age spread". Well this, in and of itself is not good, however, I find myself somehow comforted by the fact that my weight battle is truly, now, a fight with nature. (Nevermind that I had the same battle before I was 40). But now I know my metabolism is slower and my body is trying to pack on some extra weight. (I think it does this to somehow prepare us for the withering away of old age but I'm not sure that has been proven). Having said that, I still have this uphill battle.
2. Now I'm old enough to have been at my job long enough to really know some stuff. More and more I find myself having confidence in my experience of 15 years on the job. If I get questioned about something (rightfully so, or wrongfully so) I am fully sure of what "putting in my time" has taught me. With time there, I know what is tried and true and now they have to convince me otherwise on things.
3. Forty is a great age to make your parents proud. You're settled and on the right track. Now when you do something respectful and adult (as any 40 year old should) your parents will look at you and be impressed. They probably are thinking for sure, they raised you right.
4. You have money at 40. This is not to say that you are rich but you hopefully, have a little extra spending money. And, now, if not before, you don't mind spoiling yourself and your family a little more. As your time here on earth shortens, you learn more about living. You've made sacrifices and now you start to reap what you've sown a little more.
5. Since you are "old" now, it's okay to NOT be cool. Let's face it, at our age, our "coolness" to our kids is probably much less than we even know. So, if I don't feel like dressing to the nines just to take Libby through the carpool line...it's okay because I'm old and uncool. I figure at some point she will consider me uncool no matter how hard I try. You know...times are different now and cool back then probably isn't even cool now.
6. At my age I truly have a sense of self. What I mean is that I know who I am and I know that no matter what, I deserve to be treated right. The good at 40 is that you are between senior citizen and the young folks, so you can deserve to be treated right by both of them. Now don't get me wrong, treating people right goes both ways. But where you might have turned your cheek if someone was treating you wrong before, now you know that we are all important creatures and as an adult, you address the problem head on...like a reasonable adult, of course.
7. At middle age, you have the ability to amaze your kids with what you CAN do. Wow them by showing them you can still roller skate and jump rope to the Teddy Bear song. Teach them to fly a kite and catch lightning bugs. Beat them in finding four leaf clovers. Just when they are writing you off as being too old for such stuff...amaze them by showing them you were a kid first.
8. At this time in my life, I feel that I really know what it means to love and be loved. Like I mentioned before, I am between the generations. I get unconditional love from my parents and from my child. (And fortunately, my husband too, but for some folks that may not be guaranteed). I have a renewed appreciation for my parents and the efforts they put into raising me. Their happiness is really important to me now. I have the joy of having a little child I am helping to mold into a person. ...And the greatest of these is love.
9. When you become aware that your time on earth is growing shorter, your health means more and more to you. If you are forty and have no major health problems...you are fortunate. If you are forty and have no minor health problems, you are truly blessed. At this age you start to think about hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes. It truly is a time to appreciate your health and to guard it with fervor.
10. At this age, it's okay to be tired. I like to think it means that I actually did something tired-worthy. If I stand up for ten hours at work, I think most any 40 year old would be tired. If I just got back from walking/exercising for thirty minutes...I should be tired. Somehow it feels okay to know that if at the end of the day I'm totally pooped...I should be, for goodness sake. (Now if I could just get a good night's sleep...)
2. Now I'm old enough to have been at my job long enough to really know some stuff. More and more I find myself having confidence in my experience of 15 years on the job. If I get questioned about something (rightfully so, or wrongfully so) I am fully sure of what "putting in my time" has taught me. With time there, I know what is tried and true and now they have to convince me otherwise on things.
3. Forty is a great age to make your parents proud. You're settled and on the right track. Now when you do something respectful and adult (as any 40 year old should) your parents will look at you and be impressed. They probably are thinking for sure, they raised you right.
4. You have money at 40. This is not to say that you are rich but you hopefully, have a little extra spending money. And, now, if not before, you don't mind spoiling yourself and your family a little more. As your time here on earth shortens, you learn more about living. You've made sacrifices and now you start to reap what you've sown a little more.
5. Since you are "old" now, it's okay to NOT be cool. Let's face it, at our age, our "coolness" to our kids is probably much less than we even know. So, if I don't feel like dressing to the nines just to take Libby through the carpool line...it's okay because I'm old and uncool. I figure at some point she will consider me uncool no matter how hard I try. You know...times are different now and cool back then probably isn't even cool now.
6. At my age I truly have a sense of self. What I mean is that I know who I am and I know that no matter what, I deserve to be treated right. The good at 40 is that you are between senior citizen and the young folks, so you can deserve to be treated right by both of them. Now don't get me wrong, treating people right goes both ways. But where you might have turned your cheek if someone was treating you wrong before, now you know that we are all important creatures and as an adult, you address the problem head on...like a reasonable adult, of course.
7. At middle age, you have the ability to amaze your kids with what you CAN do. Wow them by showing them you can still roller skate and jump rope to the Teddy Bear song. Teach them to fly a kite and catch lightning bugs. Beat them in finding four leaf clovers. Just when they are writing you off as being too old for such stuff...amaze them by showing them you were a kid first.
8. At this time in my life, I feel that I really know what it means to love and be loved. Like I mentioned before, I am between the generations. I get unconditional love from my parents and from my child. (And fortunately, my husband too, but for some folks that may not be guaranteed). I have a renewed appreciation for my parents and the efforts they put into raising me. Their happiness is really important to me now. I have the joy of having a little child I am helping to mold into a person. ...And the greatest of these is love.
9. When you become aware that your time on earth is growing shorter, your health means more and more to you. If you are forty and have no major health problems...you are fortunate. If you are forty and have no minor health problems, you are truly blessed. At this age you start to think about hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes. It truly is a time to appreciate your health and to guard it with fervor.
10. At this age, it's okay to be tired. I like to think it means that I actually did something tired-worthy. If I stand up for ten hours at work, I think most any 40 year old would be tired. If I just got back from walking/exercising for thirty minutes...I should be tired. Somehow it feels okay to know that if at the end of the day I'm totally pooped...I should be, for goodness sake. (Now if I could just get a good night's sleep...)
posted by Amy at
9:00 AM
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