“Are you actually excited about turning 40 or are trying to convince yourself you’re excited?”
It was a fair question. As was my tradition, the first of the year gave me the opportunity to accurately say that I’d be however many years older next year, which usually caught folks by surprise. 40 felt special this time around, though, and I was placing an extra emphasis on my usual joke.
I thought about it before I answered my friend. “Yeah, I am actually.”
From as far back as I can remember, aging has held a consistently positive appeal for me and, perhaps surprisingly, it’s only seemed to increase as I’ve gotten older.
Now, I have started to notice some downsides. My metabolism appears to be slowing. The problem I used to have of not being able to gain weight has reversed, now inviting me to think twice before taking a second (or third) slice of bread.
I’m also noticing some aches and pains that weren’t there, in turn inviting me to place a higher value on yoga mat time and on stretching before the occasional game of basketball.
The positives, though, far outweigh the downsides for me.
It’s been the best and worst several years of my life, as I’ve grappled with loss and sorrow, working through the ups and downs of multiple major life transitions. I’m also the happiest I’ve been in a long time, though, and I can feel that I’m growing.
Growth, more than anything, is what I get excited about. I’ve got a solid year and a half to go till I’m 40 and while I’m happy I can’t see what I’ll grow through, I know that I’ll grow.
I also feel an increasingly grounded sense of confidence that I’m setup for success. I’ve got positive peer pressure and a clear sense of direction. My personal operating system continues to evolve and it’s working for me.
When I look ahead to 40, I see the journey more than the destination. I’m excited about the growth I know I’ll continue to experience along the journey, whatever obstacles may come my way.
I’m also enjoying the journey more. Bring it on.