I am turning 40 today. Although it’s a milestone birthday and I am supposed to feel different but all I can feel is excitement. I remember the time when I turned 30 and that surely felt different. That time my excitement at the thought of an upcoming birthday was replaced with anxiety and various emotions.
If the last 10 years of my life taught me anything, it is to celebrate the little things and to find joy in the small things. Of course, a milestone birthday leaves you reflective but this year it’s not the same. I feel like the same person as I was a few years ago.
The bottom line is that I am not afraid of 40 or the laugh lines and blemishes that I already have. I heard life gets even better in this decade so just waiting for it to unravel. My parents taught me to always count my blessings. They always said that when we take time to thank God for all His blessings, we feel good. It’s all about acknowledging what we already have instead of crying over the spilled milk.
In my 20’s, I cared about people and what they think about me but this all went out of the window slowly in my 30’s. And now when I am turning 40, it’s all about what I think and not what others think. There comes a point in life when you have to let others stop influencing your life. In the last decade, I learnt to let go and find peace as you can’t control everything in life.
As I start a new journey this year, I want to make sure it’s all worthwhile as I don’t want to look back on a long list of unfulfilled dreams, thinking about how I would have done it differently. I feel one should live a life that’s true to them and dream big. I always had a long list of something extras in my life which I wanted to accomplish and it’s never too late to start.
The biggest realisation for me while turning 40 is that I love and enjoy this phase of my life unlike any other phase in my life. It’s time to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. I am going to start writing my own story keeping myself on the top of my to-do list. So, friends let’s have some cake and celebrate as 40 is the new 20!
I look at 40 as a positive and I won’t say I am a 40-year-old woman but I would call myself a young 40-year-old.
Do let me know in comments about your thoughts and reflections on your milestone birthdays.
August 21, 2018 at 10:13 am
Such a positive post, Deepa. I love the message you are sending across to people turning a certain age and ruing it. Wishing you new beginnings with this milestone birthday. Happy Birthday.
August 21, 2018 at 10:23 am
Thanks a lot Mayuri. 🙂
August 21, 2018 at 10:30 am
So beautifully xpressed d seesaw feelings..i think it wud going to help me also in my 40s ?? hbd dear bhabhi
August 21, 2018 at 10:58 am
happy 40th birthday… I turned 40 last sep and well, it doesnt make a single difference outside of being a number… havent changed a thing except maybe my need for having a large circle of friends.. have happily been pruning that list away and happy with the changes 🙂
August 21, 2018 at 12:22 pm
Happy Birthday Deepa. I too would be hitting this number soon. As you mentioned I kind of like this phase. 20s filled with dreams, 30s ran behind those dreams struggling to raise kids and in 40s we settle down wit what little achievements, memories, kids, family…..
August 21, 2018 at 12:24 pm
So much of positivity and wisdom in this post, Deepa. I’m nearing this number and know exactly what you mean when you say that what others think doesn’t matter and we can start our life from a clean slate. Wish you a very happy birthday and luck for all your dreams coming true!
August 21, 2018 at 12:46 pm
Such an inspirational post from the birthday gal, you left me so motivated my dear and I promise I shall announce any embrace it with the same grace you have taught us here, love you loads, keep rising and shining ♥️???
August 21, 2018 at 7:16 pm
Keeping self on top of the to do list is one of the many things that resonated so well with me Deepa.
Knowing you from our blogging world interactions and now from this post, I can see that you are a genuine, strong and a very positive person. Be like this forever.
Wishing you success in every sphere of life and a healthy wealthy, long life!
August 25, 2018 at 3:27 pm
Happy Birthday!
September 7, 2018 at 10:40 am
Absolutely! I totally agree with your views. I think you are as old as you feel. And age is just a number.
As for me, I will be eighteen till I die! 😉
September 7, 2018 at 2:00 pm
A wonderful post indeed. I had written one on the same topic and almost on the same lines. What’s with 40…it makes you reflect and brings out positivity like non other, isn’t it?
September 7, 2018 at 6:53 pm
Thanks Kalpana..glad you liked it.
September 7, 2018 at 7:25 pm
This is a wonderful and very thoughtful post and would write one for myself too.
September 7, 2018 at 8:54 pm
Thanks Pooja..glad you liked it.
September 7, 2018 at 10:50 pm
After 30, it somehow seems like its all going downhill. I dont know why it happens but I have noticed it in my siblings. They are slowly realizing that the number of years they have been on this earth doesnt diminish their abilities to learn or explore the world.
September 7, 2018 at 11:49 pm
It gets better with age. Wait till you turn 40. You will surely see the change. Thanks for sharing your views.
September 8, 2018 at 12:22 pm
You are an inspiration Deepa. On my last birthday, I decided to let go of things that makes me feel sad. And create more happiness for me, no matter how. It is difficult though as it coincide with other people’s choice but then I choose what looks best to me. Wish you a great life ahead 🙂
September 8, 2018 at 6:39 pm
First of all, Happy Happy Birthday Deepa!! Here’s me wishing you lots of happiness, love and superb health to enjoy everything. I am 31 and surprisingly I wasn’t really scared as I thought I would actually be! So, I am sure 40 is what you term to be a good beginning to many more good things about ourselves. We learn to be Us as we grow!
September 8, 2018 at 10:44 pm
Thanks Jayanthi for the wishes.
September 9, 2018 at 8:12 pm
Belated Happy Birthday. Kudos to your new 20.
September 11, 2018 at 11:27 am
That is such a positive way of looking at life Deepa. 40 – no big deal! More power to you 🙂
September 20, 2018 at 2:23 pm
Belated birthday wishes, Deepa. i could resonate your thoughts well. Happy 40!