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Today is my day. I’ve thought a lot about how I might feel on this day, and even blogged about, declaring that I will have a mid-life focus instead of a mid-life crisis. So here I am simply enjoying the transition into another decade. I’m aiming for grace, speaking my truth, and choosing beauty. Somehow, turning 40 makes all of these things so much easier.

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I just thought I would share my experience of turning 40 as it is one of those milestones that we achieve with mixed feelings.

I decided to go in denial and took a mini sabbatical to Latin America to learn Spanish instead of having the big 40th birthday party with friends and family. I spent the initial part of the trip with a travel age of 35 thereby celebrating my “36th” birthday party in wine country at an asado with fellow travellers!

I think 40 gives you the confidence to try out new experiences such as a 50km bike ride in a gorge, scaling a precipice over a waterfall barefoot, socialising with fellow travellers a decade younger, being wined and dined by men a decade younger…

I am turning 40 on the 24th of June, only next week. Im so excited. Im heading off to New Zealand for a year to study Film making on the 29th. I have worked hard for a year to save and have written many scripts for movie ideas. My dreams are coming true! To have a career from my creative abilities. And I have a successful online business that will ‘come with me’. Onwards and upwards!

The ugly – one year ago I left my abusive partner, no children thank goodness! It took me 8 months to sort out who the hell I was! After being bed wench, cuppa maker, housemaid & cook for 13 years I lost myself.

I feel ‘free’ I am reclaiming myself! Yes I can save money! Yes I can have my own business! Yes I can pay all my bills, Yes I can travel, Yes I can hope, Yes I bloody well can….

Well, I’m 40! (With an exclamation point no less!) Yes, I turned 40 a few months ago. I have to say until my dr. appt. yesterday I really embraced 40, last night I didn’t and today.. even worse.

Let me start at the beginning.

For my 40th birthday, I had a birthday party. I have family and friends around. My husband, son and 2 step daughters (kids are 7, 15, & 17 respectively) were also with me. I had a great time and really found myself embracing the 40 year old syndrome. I am reasonably active after work, but during the day, I have a day job and sit at a desk all day.

So, after my birthday, I continue with my life, but a funny thing started to happen, I started to feel more confident. It was like a revelation one day. I felt like I gave off an aura of confidence and I felt sexy!! I felt more sexy at 40 than I did in my 30’s. Maybe because I could flirt with younger men and know I could get away with it. (no sexual innuendo’s just flirt). Maybe I was embracing the cougar in me. I felt more comfortable in my skin. So, life is good…

Well then I started noticing little things, my size 8 shorts didn’t fit.. uh-oh I went to a size 10…o.k. I wanted to get back into the gym more often. I started doing the workout that I did at 37 and –oh my the size 10 shorts are getting..umm snug..I also added modifying my food intake–diet for all of the non-dieters–which is something i didn’t do before.

I feel fabulous and thankful to be a wife, mother of two, friend, business owner and since turning 40, advocate, who is alive and healthy!

At age 12, I was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. “Blindness,” “kidney failure,” “amputation,” and “no children” were recurring words that accompanied the diagnosis. Determined to conquer this disease and lead a fulfilling life, I went on the insulin pump at age 17. Having diabetes has strengthened my faith, confidence, and sense of humor. If one can manage and laugh about the daily challenges and surprises of living with diabetes, then one can accomplish anything!

Shortly after turning 40, I was honored by the local chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). This life-changing experience directly partnered me with JDRF and the work that is being done to cure diabetes.
via: More Magazine

It’s February 24, 2010 and I am 40 years old. I can’t believe it…really. I remember when my parents turned 40. My forties. I’m official in

my forties. My dad had 2 more children in his forties. My mom finished her college degree in her forties.

I’m wondering what will happen, what will I do, who will I meet, how will I grow, what will I learn, who I will become in this new chapter of my story.

Check out this three part manifesto on a Gen-Xr turning 40.  here are some excerpts:

Image via Wikipedia