Via Yo Mama: No one eats the first half of an Oreo, looks down and sees the creamy middle, and thinks, Screw this—it’s old.  I’m gonna throw it out and go watch me some MacGyver.  No one reads the first half of a book and abandons it, not for lack of time or interest in the plot or characters, but simply because the middle is already old news.  No one, anywhere, decides that the middle is an inch or two shy of the end.  Unless they’re discussing age.

If you read in a book or a story that a character is middle-aged, don’t you just see the slump in his shoulders, the frown on her face?  The baggy clothes and general air of despair at the middleness of it all?  No one wants to admit to being middle-aged, and I don’t blame us—the way our culture sees it, you might as well be saying you’re old.  And the way we see “old” in our culture?  Don’t even get me started.  Because I’m not gonna want to be old when I’m old.  Oh, I’m not planning to wear short shorts at eighty.  But I refuse to have slumpy shoulders and baggy clothes and an air of despair, even when I’m old.  I’m sure as hell not going to have those things today.

Today, you see, this subject matters to me quite a bit.  Because today I am turning forty.  Not twenty-nine for the eleventh year in a row, but really and truly, right in the thick of the plot, staring at the middle of the Oreo forty.

Well its the night before my 40th birthday and i’m sat in a hotel on my own as i’m back on the road earning money. This life has been a mad and often wild journey, but all the while i had a driving force, that if i havent made it by 40 then I wouldnt, god knows where I picked up this principle, but it has driven me ever since.

So this starts like a sad story, but dont be fooled – this time I’m sitting in the hotel, working for myself for the 1st time ever, generating more money in 1 week than i ever did in a month! I have two amazing girls one 6 and one 8, a great wife, great barn conversion, etc, etc……but the drive has always come from making it prior to 40.

Well have i made it? Good question, and I think if my only drive was material things, then yes – but still the question get me thinking…is making it about only this.

My 40th birthday is a week away. I am not mourning turning 40 at all, but I do realize that there is not enough time to do everything. What do you wish you had done, or what was the most gratifying thing you did, when you were approximately this age?

I have been pondering this point in my life since turning 30 (ie; now that I have rolled 30, next is 40, then 65, then 6 feet under). I guess this may seem morbid, but I whole heartedly prized youth. It seems like yesterday I was the youngest guy everywhere I went; the youngest guy at work, the youngest dad at church, ect… but, the days of being the “youngest” have been and gone for a few (ok, many) years now.

The latest thought as of last weekend to creep in my mind was- as the weather has started to cool down a little- “Man, I have maybe 35-40 Autumn’s left if I’m lucky”. Then there are thoughts of my past that well up. Having had kids in our early 20′s, our lives were all about them. Sometimes I feel as if I was a merely a paycheck at times. An overworked stressed out zombie and I missed out on my 20′s providing for the family, protecting them, teaching them what I thought was right and then working even more.

Is there a bright side to the madness?

Hard to think of 40 as old while in my mind I am still 20…well, ok…maybe 30. Even though I never thought it would “hit” me since I’ve never been one to define anyone by age, I have to admit it is having a slight emotional effect. Not that I think I’m going to turn gray and wither to a stump on October 1st…but maybe this is just a time to reflect and re-evaluate what I want to do with “tomorrow”.

First on my list is maintain my good relationships, that I am so thankful for. Second is to carry on with my music dreams, because without those we do wither. Not let people tell me that I’m too old to have a music dream – I’m going to continue to think age is facade slapped on us merely by society and not by anything that should really matter. There will always be someone out there saying that what people think matters…but what is most important is what you think.

Goals are what makes humans incredible – why let some societal myth squelch my actions? Nope, ain’t gonna do it. Gonna make another CD no matter what they say. I love doing it and it makes me happy – and I get to make other people happy with music – what could be better?!?!

I am Turning forty next week…it’s starting to keep me up. In my mind I feel like i’m still 30, young and I can still get away with things. People still think I am in my late 20′s early 30′s which is flattering but it’s not reality. I think alot about my family…that I probably have another 35+ years w/them.

My wife and I had kids a little late to focus on our career. I think about my career path and not losing my job in this economy. A lot of stuff…perhaps sadness knowing that both my parents are truly old and one day soon, i will get the call. I am trying to rejoice in this journey. I’m healthy, wonderful wife, two awesome boys (2,4) and a great job. Most of all I know where i’ll be after this life…

I turn 40 at the end of 2012, just months before the supposed 12/22/2012 prediction of the Apocalypse/Cataclysmic World Change…or whatever version of whatever prophecy you believe. Do I think the world will end? Not really, but I have to admit the recent rash of natural and manmade disasters got me thinking…what if? What if I turn 40- a decade I think will be empowering, amazing and freeing- and the world ends? Why not start doing all those things I want to do now, so I don’t have regrets…just in case?

So I silenced the inner ‘Debby Downer’- you know that voice that says ‘you can’t do that’ or ‘you don’t deserve that,’ and squashed the anxiety of ‘people will think you’re crazy.’ And I started doing the things I’ve always wanted to do: being blonde for the summer, finding a spiritual teacher, getting a rocking ass, building my kids’ clubhouse, etc.

I plan to continue and have encouraged others to start living their deepest desires. I mean, if you don’t do it now…then when?