Turning 40 today. Second half better?

[livi]

40 years old today. In midst of life.

All of you, older than me, does it get better or worse after 40 ?

[cool_chick]

I'm sure it gets better......

Pros:

- confidence that comes with experience
- money to do the things you want to do without worry
- wisdom to make good choices
- appreciation for loved ones

Cons:

- crickety bones
- prostate issues
- gray hair

For men, con #3 tends to be a benefit, so that could be another pro in your case!

Live, laugh, love.

Happy birthday Livi.

[Jim Richards]

Happy birthday, Markus!

[Superman]

I've got very good news for you. Life does indeed begin at 40. Or whenever your midlife crisis subsides. You'll have all the patience you always have wished for. Your perspective changes. You see how things work.

I'm finally getting into the dating world after a bazillion years of marriage, which ended a couple of years ago. I'm very pleased to find that we mid-life fellas are in pretty sharp demand. Even among much younger ladies. It seems as though confidence and maturity and patience are sexy. I think I'll start taking better care of myself. This is really starting to get fun.

And BTW, Cool, I've heard similar reports from ladies. I don't know where you are in life's timeline, but the forties are just plain cool. I've seen your pic and it looks like you have about 20 years to go before you reach this threshhold. (Boy, and I going to take some ***** for that remark)

Happy Birthday, Markus. I recall some of your recent comments and all I can say is to just tough it out. It lasts a couple of years or so, and then it all smooths out. You're going to like this.

[Joeaksa]

Happy Birthday! It gets much, much better. You are more confident and hopefully are set in life and you can do as you wish in many areas.

Would not be 30 again for anything, having the best time in my life. One thing is that the men tend to age a bit slower (and better) while the ladies do not do so well. Put men and women of the same age together in my bracket and sure am glad to be a guy.

Joe A

[jhelgesen]

Happy Birthday!

I'm less than a year away from 40 myself and have huge changes in my life going on, all for the better. Reached a point where I can think about everything that has happened so far and learn from it. Looking forward to the next 40.

GF thinks I'm a big kid and I love living this way.

[targa911S]

Happy birthday!

It absolutely gets better after 40 and 50 I might add so you don't have to dread that one either. You pass the point of aquisition, pretty much have yourself established in life and carreer, and you have a "piss off" confidence level. It's a good time of life. Enjoy it.

[VINMAN]

Turned 40 last yr, nothin changed so far. Then again, I dont allow myself to age. Physically or mentally( especially mentally!)
As long as everyone keeps telling me to grow up and act my age, I know i'm doing the right thing!!
Honestly, for some reason I took 30 really bad. was in a depression, thought everything was over. Ended up only getting better.

Happy Birthday!

[rcecale]

Happy Birthday, Markus!

A little word of advice I learned way back when I was in my 20's that seems to become more important with each passing year.

"Always try to be childlike, but not childish." It will keep you young, no matter how old you get.

Randy

[Rikao4]

The last 3 post are on the mark. It's quite fun and getting better.Happy Birthday Markus. Adopt the 'I could care less" attitude about the unchangeables in your life, and laugh at yourself and others.
Rika

[RickM]

Happy Bday.

Don't you know 40 is the new 30? Well, probably not quite. (Just something some 40+ SWF dreamed up)

Life is great after 40.

[rcecale]

Originally posted by Rikao4
...laugh at yourself and others.
Rika

PERFECT!!!

The biggest laugh I ever had was when I stopped taking myself so seriously and started laughing at ME. I haven't stopped laughing yet!!!

Randy

[scottmandue]

Originally posted by Superman
I've got very good news for you. Life does indeed begin at 40. Or whenever your midlife crisis subsides. You'll have all the patience you always have wished for. Your perspective changes. You see how things work.

...snip...

I agree, I'm a much happier guy than I was 20 years ago.
Only thing about passing the big four oh is you better start taking care of yourself (if you haven't already).
You have now entered "use it or lose it" mode.

[dhoward]

Happy birthday.
And no.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by livi
40 years old today. In midst of life.

All of you, older than me, does it get better or worse after 40 ?

Happy birthday.

No, I maintained physically for another 15 years passed 40, not counting the presbyopia (which started when I was about 46), then the ache's and pains started. Still, in my late 50's, pretty active, and can run a mile or so before being winded, but if I do something like cutting down a tree with an axe, I'll know I over did things by late evening.

Life is sweet though, savor it always.

[Teutonics]

Happy 40th to us! I turn 40 today also... let's hope it's not downhill from here!

So when do I start feeling like an adult?

[Moses]

Honestly? My college years were perhaps the best. Loads of free time, surrounded by similarly directionless peers. A wonderful, but painfully adolescent time.

I squandered my 30's by working 80+ hours/week.

I'm now on the north side of 40 and having the best time of my life. I work a lot less. Last year I logged 3 full weeks of vacation with the guys, fly fishing in Alaska and Belize. Golf trips to Vegas, skiing in Canada. I also had 3 weeks of vacations with my family and several 3-day weekends away with my wife.

I will continue with this approach till my body or my money wears out.

[89911]

Turning 40 today. Second half better?

NO

[jyl]

My 40th was 3 yrs ago.

Based on just 3 yrs or being over 40, I'd say that as long as you stay in good physical shape and you are well-established from a career and financial standpoint, the 40s seem to be fine. I don't see that it is "better" than the 30s, but its not "worse". Your mental and physical abilities aren't greatly different from the 30s, give or take a little hair and a few pounds.

One negative is that we do live in a youth culture and you can't avoid references to 40 as being "old". TV characters are always moping about being over 30, etc. So, you ignore it.

Another negative is that if you are making a change of direction - starting a new career for example - it is tougher. That's the situation I've been in. But hopefully you are tougher and wiser too, so it can work out fine.

My comments are only for men. For women, I'm not sure.

P.S. Remember that James Bond was 35 y/o in the first Ian Fleming novel, "Casino Royale", and 45 in the last, "The Man With The Golden Gun". And he seemed to be doing alright. So I figure you can hope to keep your Double-0 license at least into your late 40s.

[kach22i]

Originally posted by jyl
Another negative is that if you are making a change of direction - starting a new career for example - it is tougher. That's the situation I've been in. But hopefully you are tougher and wiser too, so it can work out fine.

My 40th was five years ago - started my own business. You just don't bounce back like you used to but keep trying to just the same.