My Take On 40
Where my ‘86-babies at? And hey, if you're in your twenties and you stumbled onto this— good. This one's for you too, maybe even more than anyone.
My birthday is coming up.
Lately—and this could be the algorithm Gods that have apparently fine-tuned the content of my feed to my birth year— I’ve been seeing so many memes, gifs, reels poking fun at the horror of turning 40. People screaming, running away, general denial… It’s funny, don’t get me wrong, but like, why? God, I feel like I’ve been waiting for 40 since I turned 20. This is my age, a turning point of where I am—who I am—on this planet.
There is so much uncertainty when you’re younger. Not only in ourselves and our relationships to others, but in the world around us. There is wisdom, perspective, and general ‘I just don’t give a f*ck’ vibes [about superficial shit]’ that comes with getting older AND I LOVE IT. I F*CKING LOVE IT.
And, I love myself.
Do I sometimes think I should be further along in my writing career? Sure.
Do I still second-guess things I’ve said out loud in social settings the minute I get home? Yeah, duh.
Am I still getting used to seeing more wrinkles on my face and that I can’t seem to drop the 10 pounds I tell myself I’ll lose with each year that passes? You betcha.
There’s that stuff, but then there’s calm, a settling in my life that wasn’t there in my twenties and thirties. I probably thought there was, at the time, but not like this.
And you know what? I bet when I’m 50 I’m going to be saying the same thing.
There is a choice: Be scared of the age you’re turning and the decade that follows, or embrace it. See where you have come from, acknowledge all that hard work you did to get you where you are right now, and look forward to the fact that in another 10 years, you’ll probably be even better.
Joke about the backaches and increased insomnia and the perimenopause. It’s funny. But don’t let it become you.
We’re in an age and beauty-obsessed world where we’re both encouraged to get botox and embrace our fine lines and wrinkles. To dye our gray hair, but be proud of them! Be more adventurous, age is just a number—but—embrace your sweatpants, bed by 9PM vibes, girl, you’ve earned it!
Which one is it?
But also, who cares?
Be one, be both, be something entirely different.
You at 40 is probably a much cooler version of yourself than who you were at 21.
Keep learning, keep being open and curious. Keep evolving.
That’s what I’m taking with me for the next 10 years.
All that other garbage? Well, it’ll still be there. And I’ll probably still listen to it once in a while because I am only human.
To my twenty-year-olds who might be reading: That rogue chin hair is coming for you. Pluck it, and move on.
To all my soon-to-be or recently-turned 40-year-olds in the crowd: This article is for you. It’s for us. Be proud. You’re here. You did it.
To the 50s and older crowd: I can’t wait to be you.
Here’s to aging well and being happy,
— E