I turned 40 this past week. I can picture vividly when my Dad turned 40. I was 10. I remember it being a huge deal. From the perspective of a 10-year-old, aging seemed like something you dreaded, and 40 felt so old (remember all those “Over the Hill” balloons and cards).
Honestly, turning 40 doesn’t feel that much different than turning 30. Nothing has changed except for maybe my perception. I look at things a little more closely. I appreciate things now and try to stay in the moment a little more. When you are young, you have the benefit of time. As we age, we know how valuable time is and that it is the one thing you will never be able to accumulate more in your lifetime.
Aging is a privilege and not something that I will even take for granted. At 40, I am in fantastic shape, but I know I don’t have the body I had in my 20s, and that’s ok. I understand and listen to my body now more than ever before, which is probably a big part of why it continues to allow me to do so much. I know that my health and fitness and my body’s ability to do what I ask of it is not only a gift and something to be celebrated but also the result of putting in the time and work year after year before turning 40.
Age has given me an appreciation for things I took for granted in my 20s and even my early 30s. Time seems to move more quickly, and I don’t know if that is because of my aging or because my boys are getting older, and my time with them seems to be running short.
I am willing to take on challenges I might not have been ready for at 30, and at 40, I still have a lot I want to accomplish. I have listed some of them below for fun. Some of it you may have already checked off your bucket list, and others might have never crossed your mind.
- Complete a Triathlon (Coming September 2023)
- Build my dream home with a Huge Kitchen, pool, and indoor/outdoor Pilates studio in the Texas Hill Country (after years of living overseas for the government, I a ready for roots).
- Hike Mt. Kilimanjaro
- Visit all 50 U.S. States
- Host a Pilates Retreat in a tropical or alpine destination
- See my boys grow into strong, confident, and happy men
- Continue to move my body in ways that nourish me physically and mentally
If you have recently or are fast approaching a milestone birthday, how has that affected your life and outlook? What are some of your bucket list items? Do we have any in common?
