Everything changes when you turn forty, especially for women.
At least, that’s what I’ve been told.
I’m sure you’ve read the blog posts and magazine articles about life after forty. There are bags and sags, bumps and lumps, and hair – wild and unruly, growing on your chin, nose, and toes.
At least, that’s what I’ve been told.
I’ll be forty on February twelfth and I fully expect to gain twenty-five pounds on that day, grow a full beard of kinky hair, and have my eyelids suddenly sag down to my chin.
I’ll have to change the way I dress on my birthday.
I’ll have to learn a new way to apply makeup.
I’ll have to go on a diet of liquified spinach and bean sprouts.
I’ll have to buy stock in chemical compounds for my face.
I’ll basically have to find a new way to live after forty.
At least, that’s what I’ve been told.
I always thought forty was the new twenty, but from the articles I read, forty is the new seventy!
If I’m not careful, I may self-combust on my birthday. Or, maybe, that will just be gas from all the bean sprouts.
I’ll be plagued by flatulence after forty.
Add it to my list.
I still feel like I’m thirty, only I may actually be a little smarter than I was at thirty. I know I’m still a month out, but forty doesn’t seem like it will be quite as catastrophic as I’ve been told. Unfortunately, I’ve been wrong before.
Since this is a monumental year, I am launching a new weekly series, beginning today, called CONQUERING FORTY.
No I’m not yelling. I just thought such a large number deserved all caps.
I will rock forty, sags and bags and gas and all.
Will you join me on my journey into mid-life?
And please, for the love of my saggy eyelids, tell me forty isn’t so bad.
Well for my fortieth birthday I threw an all week party. I took full advantage of the event. One day I clebrated with church folk at an outdoor seaside dinner. I supplied the main and they brought sides. One day I cleebrated all day at the beach in my old VW van and my whole extended family. The other day mom, dad, Dean and I went on a ferry ride and had lunch at a hip beach spot. So yuk it up and enjoy. I am now to turn 54, I can no longer cleebrated with my kids because they all have kids, jobs, lives, and live far away. My siblings are granary to too and struggling to keep up with their pwn kids and grand kids. As far as how I feel and look. Starting with the deeper wrinkles and struggling to age beautifully verses covering it. Trying to fill up with Gos so he shines through and not the grey hairs. I want to smile and love ore so people do not notice. How I look. From my 40th until now I have always said I feel 32, this’s year I feel. Ore. Like 42. HA. HAVE A GREAT YEAR.
IN Christ Johna
It’s not that bad!! I am a few years in and still hanging on!
Forty wasn’t bad for me at all. Now turning fifty was another thing….
Forty isn’t bad at all. Well except for the waxing you need to do.
Forty is AWESOME! It’s the decade in which you come into your own. No more caring what people think. No more fear of looking foolish. No more obsessing over vanity. I have not experienced the weight gain–could be genes, but I’m only 10 lbs heavier than I was in high school–and I refuse to eat whirled green stuff! (I’m 44; I eat what I want.) I will say that in my case, the 40s did bring more up-close and personal encounters with the sad stuff of life, yet even these have opened my eyes to my desperate need for God. Now where did I put my readers…
I did the deed, along with two friends early December. (turning 40 that is) I still have only one white hair on my head, which I like, and my daughters say I look younger than any mom. I love the don’t caring about what other people think, but that’s been coming for a while. I think the 40’s will be great and you won’t look a day older than you do now. Which is not old. 🙂
I can’t speak to the flatulence of others, but 40 ain’t so bad! In fact, I’m loving the 40’s! Way more confident, way more exciting, and lots of new challenges that keep us on our toes. (And, not for nothing, but I haven’t noticed anything suspicious on my toes of late. Your welcome.)
Hmmm. I am now way past mid-life and looking at old. I gotta say my fifties were better than my forties. and yes, everything you say happens, but it’s gradual and there are definite benefits. BTW — Love your new look!
Definitely my forties have been better than my thirties–happier, more relaxed, more contented–even though I have faced and am facing losses.
I turned 46 yesterday–getting closer to the 50s, and hoping they aren’t worse than the 40s.
And yes, the pounds go on, and are slower to come off….although I do keep trying to lose a few.
So look forward…but not with fear.
The year I turned 41, I gained 15 lbs training for my 6th marathon. My metabolism was shot. On a positive note, my husband welcomed the changes my over-forty body brought to the bedroom.
Just sayin’ ;()
BTW I lost the weight but only through eating liquified spinach and bean sprouts! Lol Also, sadly I would agree with the increased flatulence, but am now wondering if it’s due to what Kristin relates,”But you care so much less about what others think of you.” ;()
I don’t know what craziness you are reading but…. sure, stuff happens, but it only gets better! I’m about to turn 44. FOURTY-FOUR! Doesn’t that sound old? I have absolutely loved being over forty. 100% physical stuff happens. You forget stuff (I keep saying my brain is full and can’t contain any more information.). BUT you care so much less about what others think of you. There is great freedom with dear friendships. I really like it and think you will too.
40 isn’t so bad
Lol!