Yesterday I turned 40.
But I think each decade just gets better.
There are things I can do now that my younger self never could or would do.
40 is an arbitrary number and you might learngreat lessons in your 20sor 30s too.
And that getting olderor officially oldisnt something to dread.
I was passionate about everything, anover-analyzer, a perfectionist, and serious about everything.
Getting older means learningyoure not that greatand, at least for me, learning to laugh at yourself.
In the grand scheme of things, not even a microscopic blip.
Oddly, this is not depressing.
Being just a blip means my mistakes arent the end of the world.
I dont need to start or continue arguments that dont matter at all (particularly with comment trolls).
I canstop giving a fuckabout others opinions, if those people arent in my tribe.
As Eleanor Roosevelt said, You dont grow up until you have your first good laugh at yourself.
I Have a More Balanced View of Work
42% of Americansdidnt take a single vacation day last year.
I hardly ever took time off in my 20s or 30s either.
I hit a wall a few years agoexhausted and unmotivated and I just wanted to quit everything.
You cant work tirelessly for ten years without experiencing it (especially in a job you dont like).
I make a conscious effort tounplug, especially when Im supposed to be spending time with others.
I Make Better Use of Time
Maybe the top of the hill isnt such a bad place to be.
Enjoythe everyday awesome, as Josh Martin puts it on Tiny Buddha.
Our culture and the media are plainly youth-obsessed.
Im here to tell you that old and older arent bad words.
Im honestly happier and more at ease with myself.
I worry more about every ache and pain now.
Ive got more responsibilities and commitments than ever.
But Im still looking forward to my 40smid-life crisis ahead or not.
If youre approaching 40 (or whatever decade youre getting to), dont be afraid.
Come on in, the waters warm.
Photo byTomacco(Shutterstock).
