This list shows some of the most important things learned by people who have said hello to 40.
1. Age is Just a Mindset
How you live determines how old you feel. You’ve probably seen 30-year-olds who look like they’re 50. They mope around like life has beaten them down, and there’s nothing left but to shrivel up and die. By contrast, there are plenty of examples of vibrant 50 and 60 year olds who glow with joy and enthusiasm about life. 40 year olds who have lived to tell about it will say that 40 is just the beginning!
2. The Gift of Confidence
Let’s face it. Most people spend their twenties trying to figure out who they are and where they belong, while falling down and making plenty of mistakes in the process. By the time you’re 40, all of that is behind you. You’ve learned from your mistakes, found your niche, and you’ve got the experience and confidence that you learned from surviving the tough decades of the 20s and 30s. .
3. Your Wild and Crazy Days Are Over
You’ve done your share of hanging out in bars till 3 a.m (and struggling through work next day with the hangover), standing in line to see the latest trendy band, and chasing excitement with your posse of cool friends. Following trends is a thing of the past. As a mature adult, you lead a balanced life that doesn’t include weekday hangovers. Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt.
4. Goodbye to Drama and the People Who Create it
By the time you’re 40, you’ve figured out the people who are basically toxic, and who you need to avoid. The friend who has her nineteenth nervous breakdown when the married man she’s been dating off and on for three years finally calls it quits. You listen to her for hours, but she never takes responsibility or tries to change. Or the neighbor who does nothing but complain. According to her, she is a victim of fate, and she too will talk endlessly about her problems without stopping to ask how your day is going. By the time you are 40 or beyond, you know how to recognize the people who are like a vortex of negativity — and now you know how to avoid them.
5. You Don’t Change Yourself to Be Liked
When you are younger, you’re willing to go along with the crowd. Fitting in and being liked used to be more important than expressing your true self. Now you have confidence that you are okay just the way you are. The people who matter appreciate you for who you are.
6. You’ve Learned That “No” Is a Complete Sentence
You may have put up with mistreatment from significant others while you were still learning. Sometimes being in a relationship meant letting people walk all over you. Sometimes it meant spending time with people who criticized you, and took advantage of your generosity. It made you comfortable when they used you for your willingness to accommodate requests. Now you know that you are allowed to set boundaries, not waste your time, and protect your self-esteem.
7. You’re Comfortable in Your Own Skin
You have the wisdom to ignore magazines and images in the media that try to tell you who you should be. You’ve made yourself into the best you can be. You are full of your own inner beauty and confidence.
8. The Best Years Are Ahead of You
Who ever said that 40 was old? This is the best time of your life. You’ve got confidence, wisdom, and experience. You’ve found your niche in the world, and you aren’t afraid to try new things. You know that the world is full of new adventures, and you’re excited to see what the years ahead have in store for you! Featured photo credit: Deposit Photos via depositphotos.com
