Unless I am filling an application or am with a doctor or a lawyer, I need not disclose where exactly this 40 stands, not unless I reach 50!
For women, life starts at 40. At least for me this is true. This is when she is the most confident and I would not trade this age with any other age, not even the teens. Of course, if one had the same self confidence then your teens or your twenties would be nice. But it is seldom so. You are so full of doubts and worries to have self confidence. Not so at 40. This is the age when you accept yourself. No more crying for what will never be yours. No more yearning for stars. This is the age when you wake up and thank for one more day. This is the age when you stop to smell the flowers.
This is the age when you have that all elusive quality; patience! During my growing up years, it was patience that I lacked most. I was that girl always worried that life would pass away if I don’t grab it. On a car ride, one wanted to reach the destination and failed to enjoy the ride. And after a while life did pass in slow motion and all one could do was watch as a spectator. But after 40, one starts enjoying the slowness. One also starts appreciating others. One realizes that everyone is doing what they know to be is the best. It may be higher or lower than the standards that you keep, but they are doing what they can.
Though I am over 40, I have not moved a single year beyond 30 :). This is another paradox of life. My MIL is 83 years old, but in her mind she has never moved beyond 40. At times, it scares me and sometimes it fascinates me. She is seldom satisfied with her appearance and is very happy to preen in front of the mirror. She will never pass by a mirror without admiring herself. Yes..I may find myself in her shoes (not the obsession with looks though) if I ever come anywhere close by to that age.
After 40, one can be also more bitchy! This is one area where you should keep watch. With self confidence comes the urge to say what comes in your mind. It could be the truth but it can hurt.
Here is to every woman over 40…. Enjoy your days and never think you are a day older than 30.. not until you are ready to face your maker.
Purely a matter of women here . So I must not comment, I guess.
ReplyDeleteTo quote Bernard Shaw,"Youth is a wonderful thing. What a crime to waste it on children."
I am in the next decade but feel the same as you say..but people from the earlier generation are different..my mother who is 72 is more interested in fashion , clothes everything more than me, whereas my MIl who is 93 is more interested in food and everything..more than me.and I think the reason is that these women have very little they can do..so they focus on whatevr they can:)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Many Happy Returns.
ReplyDeleteIn the well-written piece one sentence stands out - "This is the age when you stop to smell the flowers." That is beautiful.
All the best.
Anil: As for men, they just turn naughty eh? and they never age! but I thought you would say something about the bitchiness or does it not have an age?
ReplyDeleteRenu: Yes.. we focus on whatever is achievable at that age but some refuse to do even that! My MIL still loves ornaments and dressing up but I wonder I shall be the same.
AT: Than you for the wishes though my bday got over earlier this year and as stated, I am a couple of years over 40.. Yes.. you slow down for life to catch up. Before 40, a woman is tied up much with children and she has got no time for anything else. But after 40 the Hubby too gets the time he deserves!
Some dietary caution for folks over 40 -- reduce caffeine and refined sugar -- both result in calcium loss which sets in after 40 -- it is a very slow process and usually doesn't show up as reduced bone density until we enter our 60s.
DeleteHa, u know at forty one gets naughty. I guess more with men!
ReplyDeleteAs for bitchines the word itself defines the gender. Though it blows up to plain dangerous jealousy in some men. Don't you think so?
Anil: Men are not free from jealousy... one needs to tread very carefully else it can be dangerous too.
DeleteHave reduced my sugar intake since a few years after reading about the "sweet poison". I started by reducing the sugar intake in my beverages .. from 2 tspn to 1 2spn... now the whole family si forced to follw thus... am not much of a coffee drinker.. but after 40 one need to take care of the portion of each meal. Else before u know your wgt can shoot up!
ReplyDeletefrom 2spn to 1 spn... since if you drink a minimum of 4 cups a day, the amount of sugar can be reduced considerably.
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