Hi folks.

I gathered from some of the conversation going on over in the games section that some of our board buddies are turning the big 4-0 this year and might be a bit leary of that milestone. So, because turning 40 was such a positive experience for me, I thought I'd share my experience.

I passed that milestone just a wee bit back (I'll be 42 this Fall) -- it was awesome!! For me, turning 40 was empowering -- I finally felt like it was okay to be my own self and do what "I" enjoy instead of always trying to do what others wanted me to do. I had a nasty illness that set me back a bit last year, but I'm back on track now and back into enjoying my "new" life after turning 40. I'm not sure why, but it seemed like a new beginning for me -- like I had been given permission to have a clean slate on life and decide what I wanted my life to be like. Around the time of turning 40 I did a lot of "thinking" and evaluating my life and figured out what I wanted my life to be like and in which ways I wasn't living the way I wanted to. So, I chose to take that clean slate and paint the life that I wanted and have started doing more living of the life and person I want to be. I've rediscovered some of the passions I enjoyed as a teenager -- MUSIC (thank you Gary), walking and exercise, reading, puzzles. And I tried something new I'd never done before -- I joined an on-line fan club and learned how to do posts and stuff -- that was a GREAT decision that has been unbelievably enjoyable and beneficial to my life (thank you to all of you on this board).

And I recall reading a long time ago that a woman comes into her "intimate" peak in her 40's -- let me tell you, for me that's been very true (hubby's quite enjoying that part also. HEE HEE)

And guess what, I've learned that I can do things for myself and still take really great care of others also, because I really enjoy that too.

So my suggestion if you're turning 40 (or any other life milestone), consider it a chance for a new beginning -- grab life by the horns, find your true passions and start enjoying them (as long as they're legal) and keep smiling!!

Sorry I rambled so much.

Thanks for sharing that with us. It was awesome to read and find someone else that has made those changes in their life in a positive way. I feel the same way a new beginning and finding me again finally. what I like and what i want in life. Plus trusting in God to guide me along this path I am on.

Thanks for the pick-me-up. I've decided to change my birth date from today until April 30th. Hopefully, I'll get my life back by then. Just too busy to celebrate. I've only had three hours of sleep and I'm off to the office for who knows how long. My life may resume to some normalcy after I have finished tax season (April 15th) and I've finally finished my masters degree (April 30). Til then, today is just another day. I'll get over it....tomorrow!

All I can say is after April 30th...watch out world!!!

I actually decided instead of getting depressed by turning 40; I was going to celebrate it...So, I went to the West Coast to celebrate w/ my BFF...We had a birthday bbq...I even got a Gary present while I was there...'Cause, a kind soul emailed me "AFLT"...'Cause, it had "just" come out!!!

You're finishing your masters during tax season -- you're my hero!! You go girl!! You're awesome!!

What an awesome post CanadalovesGary!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts etc.
I believe age is a state of mind, some days I feel younger some days I feel older. I was always one who never thought about age, since I've turned 50 I do think about it though, but don't let it get me down.

Thank you, you're welcome, and you go girl!!

Great idea to celebrate it lasmaj. You know what they say about getting older -- we shouldn't complain about it because some people don't get the opportunity to do it.

An important lesson I've learned through my life is that one of life's most precious gifts is girlfriends, not the money, house, car, clothes. With girlfriends' support we can survive almost anything.

My girlfriends planned a dinner out for me on my 40th birthday. It was a blast and my cheeks were sore from laughing so hard through the night. The cutest part is that I'm the planner and organizer in my circle of friends -- so with their planning I ended up with two birthday cards both signed by all of them and they wanted to pay for my dinner but realized when the bill came that they had forgotten to collect money. They then asked me if next time I would please plan by own surprise party because they don't like planning without me. It was so sweet and cute -- I loved it!!

Keep smiling!!

When I turned 40--2 years ago--I decided to give myself the gift of learning to ride a horse. I always wanted to ride as a kid, but never could and I had been taking my daughter to her lessons since she was 5. After 5 years of watching from the sidelines, I got up on that saddle myself. I still learn something every day but I have my own horse and work at the barn where we board our horses. I can't imagine my life w/o horses-it is such a huge stress reliever to be out among them or riding. I only wish it didn't take me so long to get into the game--greatest gift I have ever gotten. And if def. proves that you are never "too old" to learn something new.

well i turned 40 almost 5 yrs ago and as Doreena said age is a state of mind!! i dont feel any different then i did when i turned 20!! jus tmy knees dont go as good now as they did back then but