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What do/did you like about being in your 40s?

I'm a few years yet from 40, but am wondering what I could look forward to.
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dancingtongue · 80-89, M
Was beginning to get a little financial stability, not having to live paycheck to paycheck. Out of the diaper and child care hassles of early parenthood and beginning to enjoy the kids develop. Only to crash into the terrible teen period with eldest and having to ride that out. By the end of the 40's, career had gone far beyond all expectations, empty nester watching kids embark on successful lives and enjoying more "our time" with wife, financially secure beyond all expectations, doing more travel. Really challenged with a rough patch in between, but overall a period of tremendous growth for all of us in all aspects of life and we all came out better for it.
Levenrack · 46-50, M
Up to about a year and half ago, I'm going to say my 40s were the longest, darkest days I've had to ever endure. Divorce, losing my job of 18 years, losing my house, all the while I turned to alcoholism to do it's thing. I lost myself to it.
Long story short. After the 3rd time in the ER for AP. I was convinced if I went back home, without doing anything in that moment, told myself I would not survive it. I accepted that fact. I reached out...
Been sober since 07/8/24. Striving and surviving. Two more years left in my 40s to go and I'll be immensely proud to say I survived them.
FoxyGoddess · 51-55, F
@Levenrack I'm proud of you too
greencompass · 36-40, F
@Levenrack way to turn your 40s around. One day at a time!🙂
Levenrack · 46-50, M
@greencompass Spanks 😊 So far, so good.
Just accepting being kind of an "old person" to young people. I enjoyed just making it to this age in general when I never thought I would. I'm seriously looking forward to doing boring middle aged stuff to be honest. Couldn't be happier. I'm actually starting my life over literally. I had to miss my entire 30s because I was so sick, but this decade I'm going to really enjoy.
samueltyler2 · 80-89, M
@DancingStarGoddess that sound really great.
ineedadrink · 51-55, M
@DancingStarGoddess This is so awesome to hear. Whoo hooo!
@ineedadrink thank you!
cherokeepatti · 61-69, F
I had the apartment for myself after my daughter graduated and moved out when I was in my early 40’s. I didn’t have to drive straight home from work, could cook what I wanted and all of that sort of thing.
FoxyGoddess · 51-55, F
My 40's was filled with recovering who I was, what I wanted and creating my own path instead of letting others make it for me. It was when I changed jobs, got a new career, bought my first house and did things the way I wanted. My 40's were good to me.
Adogslife · 61-69, M
I didn’t care for them. The bills get heavy when you’re paying for two tuitions out of pocket. I’m not as smart as I was then, but I’m much calmer and wiser. Life is a lot easier now.
Jayciedubb · 56-60, M
I was not liking being out of my 30s too much to enjoy not being in my 50s while I was in my 40s. Now that I'm approaching my 60s, I'm beginning to appreciate my 50s like I eventually did to my 40s as i approached my 50s. What I'm already not liking about my 60s is how much faster they will roll off compared to my 50s, which rolled off seemingly way faster than my 40s which zipped by compared to my 30s which cooked off compared to my 20s which I wasn't paying much attention to once I hit 21 due to all the running around like a headless rooster
greencompass · 36-40, F
@Jayciedubb I like your ratio explanation. I never heard of that saying before. I've never looked at my toilet paper rolls with such meaning and empathy.
Jayciedubb · 56-60, M
@greencompass well i had just made that phrase up about the ratio of relativity. But the saying about tp was something I think I'd read on a t-shirt or bumper sticker or something like that, but it made a lot of sense to me. But the weird thing is that when rotating at the same revolutions per minute (RPM), the bigger roll will roll much faster than the one with less tp on it because in one revolution, it will travel much farther. But when pulling off the tp at the same amount of feet per second (FPS) the bigger roll will roll much slower than the one with less tp on it. So now you have to reevaluate your cat's decision to spool out your roll of toilet paper. They may be collecting data
greencompass · 36-40, F
@Jayciedubb I'm glad I'm not the only one overthinking my tps
HumanEarth · F
I had my first senior discount, in my 40s

I was served by a young whippersnapper teenager. I said "hey I'm taking the discount and leaving before they change their mind"

I'm 57 now
WillaKissing · 56-60, M
New body aches and pains and focusing more on what I will do when I retire.

Been retired since I was 45 years old just shy of my 46th birthday.
greencompass · 36-40, F
@WillaKissing wow how did you manage to retire so early? Way to go.
WillaKissing · 56-60, M
@greencompass 27 years in the Army and I was medically retired after my last inline of duty set of injuries that led to Five major surgeries (Two on the lower spine not to be paralyzed from the waist down) taking 9 and half years to get through with surgery recovery and therapy post my retirement.

I have no complaints I can walk and jog now, but I will never be the same. I also have zero complaints about it as well. I chose my career, and it suited me perfectly.
A wonderful age to attain and remain. Imagine how my life would be.. as I am still hovering around in my 40's for over two decades.
greencompass · 36-40, F
@in10RjFox you must've really liked being in your 40s.
@greencompass that's why I said I still am. No complacency. No withdrawing from Life and it's challenges. Still flirting with vim and vigor. Making great plans for a new tomorrow and on the job.
attyhenrytuason · 61-69, M
When I was in my 40s I noticed that I'm having gray hairs which for me is cool. It makes me look sophisticated.🙂
samueltyler2 · 80-89, M
@attyhenrytuason funny, no gray where it counts.
scorpiolovedeep · 51-55, M
Look deeply as to what will make you truly happy.

Filter people - separate toxic people from life

Take time for yourself, healing and peace are important.

Invest with whatever you have.
I was beginning to feel human again, I was fit and basically in my prime in my 40s. And I had self-confidence.
Crazywaterspring · 61-69, M
Everything still works. Aches and pains are still in the future. Your kids are becoming adults. Time to plan for fun.

Your life should be figured out.
ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M
At the time, nothing. Looking back, I felt a lot better then than I do in my 70s.
Mongo · M
Bad points: aches and pains get more achey and painy, and time definitely goes by quicker.

Good point: you care much less about what people think!
Monalisasmith86 · 36-40, F
I’ll be 40 in 7 months I don’t mind because I don’t need to stress as much about my future or finances and I have a place of my own now
Musicman · 61-69, M
@Monalisasmith86 I'll be 64 on Tuesday. Fortunately we own our house free and clear. 😊
samueltyler2 · 80-89, M
No different that when younger, actually instill feel similar.
Levenrack · 46-50, M
@samueltyler2 You mayhaps have stumbled upon a pool filled with large egg-like cocoons resting underneath the water surface, hmmm? Cause, if so..... that's gross.
samueltyler2 · 80-89, M
@Levenrack that was a great movie, cocoon wasn't it.
Levenrack · 46-50, M
@samueltyler2 yeah lol
Iwillwait · M
Energy, better hair line, recovery was faster.

Hated the intermittent homelessness, cruel lover, back-stabbing friends and chemical dependency.
SageWanderer · 70-79, M
It was out empty nest years so we were young enough to act like teenagers again.
greencompass · 36-40, F
@SageWanderer that sounds like a lovely time.
samueltyler2 · 80-89, M
Age is a only number and a mind set. You will be just fine.
greencompass · 36-40, F
@Shybutwilling2bfriends what do you think made your 40s feel happier?
exexec · 70-79, C
The empty nest meant more clothing-optional activities, and all of our body parts still worked fine.
Crazywaterspring · 61-69, M
@exexec YES!
Justmeraeagain · 56-60, F
It was the beginning of not caring so much of what other people thought.
Crazywaterspring · 61-69, M
@Justmeraeagain Liberating, isn't it?
Justmeraeagain · 56-60, F
@Crazywaterspring it does take a lot of unnecessary stress off
butterflybaby75 · 46-50, F
Being adult and mature enough to know what I want
Unlearn · 41-45, M
Knowing what I don't need.
DanielsASJ · 36-40, M
At this point I want my life to flow like river, making it's own cuts and meandering through the channels the way it deems necessary.
496sbc · 36-40, M
i have nothing to look forward to
496sbc · 36-40, M
@greencompass almost anything 20$ and or more and i have bunnies a mini rex and a full lopp. the lopp is brownie and i have a vast amount of things i can do my resume is 6 pages long. because of indeed
greencompass · 36-40, F
@496sbc aw bunnies..!🐇🐰 Love some bunnies. I really hope you find a job within that range. 6 pages is hella long for a resume! At least it's long to me. I'm no expert
496sbc · 36-40, M
@greencompass yes well i can help u if u need me to
Lostpoet · M
I am not looking forward to forties
Mardrae · 61-69, F
I was still hot! 😆
greencompass · 36-40, F
@Mardrae hot damn. Hope I will still be too.
Im less bothered
Musicman · 61-69, M
My knees didn't ache and I didn't need a shoulder replacement. Other than that life was pretty good. 🙂
EBSVC · 41-45, T
Being all unc and wise

Even though I’m a complete mess
greencompass · 36-40, F
@EBSVC had to google "unc"🥲
EBSVC · 41-45, T
@greencompass I got kiddos they keep me updated 🤣
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greencompass · 36-40, F
@Teggy goals.
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greencompass · 36-40, F
@GnomeyGee goals.
Ferise1 · 46-50, M
I find it way easier to socialise, because I know what to say and what not say. In my 20s and 30s I was a mess.

 
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