What did turning 40 mean to you?
Asked by
Bri_L (
12219
)
February 23rd, 2009
I will turn 40 on February 26th.
My wife and her mom, staying true to form, have been making jokes. Good ones at least. I am trying to wrap my head around where I am at this point in life.
In a slightly troubled marriage, two FANTASTIC kids, no job but employable, stable for now.
What would be a good way to celebrate?*
*This question was inspired by Mt_Zack’s similar question, Happy B-Day on March 2nd
Observing members:
0
Composing members:
0
37 Answers
Turning 40 was no biggie for me (though 30 nearly killed me!). What do you like to do most in the world? Whatever that is, do it. All. Damn. Day.
Hmmmm, that is a lot of nachos! :-)
Might as well live it up!
Forty is just a number, but I will say I started to feel my mortality at about 45. That’s about the time the aches and pains started accelerating and my mid-range vision started deteriorating. So you’ve got another five or so years before you start going all to hell. :)
Oh, and happy birthday.
(three days from now.)
I say, have a day to celebrate you! At 40, you’ve reached 50% of your life. Sorry for the reminder Now, make sure that you live it. Eat anything you wanna eat. Get messy. Drink merrily. Get a hotel room if you don’t wanna disturb the kids. Have fun.
All within the limits that your wife provides, of course :P
Happy birthday to you too :D
Age is mind over matter. If you dont mind, it doesnt matter. I turned 40 earlier this month and its no biggie. Just dont watch tv commercials! You will realize that you can now get the “Silver Prefered” insurance at a reduced rate! You know, the damned commercial that say were you born between this year and that? Well, the year now is 1969. Bummer.
Turning 40 for me was just another number. I turned 42 within the past 7 days and it didn’t feel any different to me then either.
My average life expectancy is supposedly around 75 years old and that makes me middle aged now but I don’t subscribe to that belief. I’m going to live past 100 because I have way too much to do and see in this lifetime and it’s going to take me that long to experience it all. :o)
A very Happy Birthday to you on February 26th, also. Have a lot of fun, enjoy yourself, and live life to the fullest.
@AstroChuck hehe thanks
@Mtl_zack disturb the kids, or share my nachos! Happy Birthday again to you and thanks!
@kwhull are you shitting me!?!?! I would rather qualify for special menu options.
@Bluefreedom thanks much, and again, Happy Birthday to you!
Hey go into a business and ask if they offer discounts. Its a bitch when they give you the senior discount instead of the MILITARY discount you were asking about!! But hey, I guess a discount is good however you get it.
I’ll know when I get there, but it will mean that I’m over half-way dead.
I was the same as augustlan, 40 was just another year that had gone by. 30 threw me for the biggest loop, I couldn’t believe the emotions that I experienced with that one. The kind of emotions I thought I’d have on my 40th.
@kwhull I am of the mind that military men should get discounts on every damn thing.
@ Vinifera7 – you’ve got some mad plans eh?
@ Tantigirl I thought 30 would throw me to, but it didn’t.
@Bri_L. We military members actually do get discounts on a good many things and we are certainly grateful for it.
To me it meant I could quit worrying about my everlasting dignity.
@Bluefreedom the least that should be done, and not enough.
@ Jeruba – Digni-what now? :-)
I used to worry about it a lot. Had an abject horror of looking like a fool. Couldn’t bear the idea of being in error. Dreaded not being taken seriously enough.
For some reason turning forty seemed to lift a burden from me, as if now no one could possibly deny that I really was grown up. I became a better laugher. I still hate to be caught out in a horrible gaffe, but the downright dumb ones don’t bother me so much. That’s where some of the laughter comes in. Turning forty was very liberating.
It was also finally all right that I didn’t look 24 any more.
@Jeruba excellent for you! Life must be way more fun!
It is. My husband and I have agreed that even when we get to the point where nothing else works quite right, we’ll still be able to laugh together.
In fact, the older I get, the fewer things there are that aren’t funny somehow.
1 month before I graduated high school I decided I didn’t like being the quiet passive twin who cared what people thought. I had more fun that last month than the other 3 years combined.
It is my opinion that as I get older I find more humor in more things partly because I want to, partly because I need to, partly because it’s fun and partly because more and more seems to become a joke when compared to what I thought was important.
40 didn’t bug me but 39 really did! Dang! drink, drink, drink…
Of course, one could argue, that’s what I do now anyway…
@augustlan I agree about turning 30. My husband and my mom were both about to disown me. The other milestone birthdays didn’t bother me any. Infact, the older I get, I’m settling more into who I really am. I’m not being a bitch about it, but I live life more for me anymore. I’ve earned it.
I’m with the “life half over” crowd. I started thinking it was possible that my life was half over at that point, and when I thought I about it, I got really scared. However, since all my financial planning assumes I’m living to 100, I was able to make myself believe I was still in the first half of my life. Of course, turning 50 was another story.
Happy Birthday Bri!! When I start feeling not so good about getting older, I try to change my attitude about it. I think about those that didn’t make it to my age and I am grateful that I have. I remind myself that it isn’t how long a life a person lives, but the kind of life that a person lives that matters. I make a mental list of the things that are better now than when I was 20. My suggestion for celebrating your 40th is to make a list of 40 things you are grateful for and post it to the frig. Give your fantastic kids a great big hug and do something together as a family that you all enjoy doing. I hope you have a wonderful birthday!
@marissa GREAT answer! and thanks for the well wishes!!!
Arr, me hearty—splice the mainbrace on this fine day!
SWEET!!!! A pirate talking gnome!!! This is the best birthday ever!!!
When my mom turned 40, I was young, but can remember it. She had a luau party. She was sad, but okay with it.
My main goal when I turned 40 was to avoid black balloons and gravestone cakes. So I told everyone I was turning 42. And then went back to 41 the next year. (With this much grey hair it was easier than pretending to be 39).
I must say that 40 was not the most traumatic milestone. I was much more bothered by turning 20. No longer a teenager!
Happy Birthday Bri!!! I hope you are having a wonderful day!
Happy happy! Hope 40 treats you well :)
@90s_kid Bri_L is a he… and he’s 40 today.
@augustlan
He is a she? Oh Sh*it! I thought his name was Brianna…..
And usually girls fake their age as 29, (why I said it) but not men So I am taking that answer back.
Sucked big time. Over it now.
That I have realistically 20 maybe 25 more years then I am out of here.
Answer this question 
This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.
Composing members:
0
