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My Last Day Of Being 39

I was born on Good Friday, April 8, 1966.

I turn 40 tomorrow.

As most everyone I know has said, "40 is the new 30" - and, since 30 is the new 20, and 20 the new 10, I feel pretty young.

I actually thought this would be a moment of profound stock-taking. And it is, except, my first decision was to defer despair until 45, which is the new 40. 50 is now where middle-age, to me, kicks in. But I did make a list. See below...

12 THINGS I THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE ACHIEVED BY 40 BUT DIDN'T

Won an Academy Award
Made a Million Dollars
Six-pack Stomach
Grown Taller
Able to Speak Chinese Fluently
Been a Regular Guest on the Tonight Show
Drive
Successful Deployment of Goatee
Became Madonna's Close Friend
Paid Off Student Loans, etc.
Read War and Peace, Remembrance Of Things Past & Middlemarch
Lived In Tangiers

12 THINGS I HAVE ACHIEVED BY 40 BUT DIDN'T EXPECT

Married To A Wonderful Person
Gainful Employ
Poet-in-residence, Oxfam
Published a Bunch of Books (A Few Quite Good)
Got To Write Poem For A Royal Wedding
Review Books For Books In Canada
Lived in Cool Cities Like Budapest, Paris and London
MA (Distinction) From A Really Good Creative Writing Programme
Have Maintained Close Ties to Many Of My Dearest Friends
Don't Smoke, Jog Frequently, Rarely Ask For Second Helpings
Am Frequently Happy, Often Content, and Usually Optimistic
Flew To Japan For Many Hours Without Fear

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hi

Sounds like you feel pretty content with life - that's wonderful to read about.

I turn 39 in 2 weeks and have been sort of taking stock.

I recently moved to the USA from the UK and it's been a struggle, in part I feel, because I am heading towards 40 and find it more difficult to start again with friendships etc. In my younger days I found it so much easier.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that from reading your page, Your achievements speak for themselves and I am happy that you seem to be content without having to stick to your first "thought I would have" list.

Good luck to you in all you undertake in the future.

Kind regards

Jacqui
Thu Jan 10, 05:52:00 pm 2008
Anonymous said…
Tonight is my last night of being 39 - feel like it's the end of an era as there's just no taking back any of the time that has passed. I don't agree 40 is the new 30 (especially for women). As a single Mum I have to act mature - it's difficult to maintain when all I want is to really reclaim my 20s.
Tue Jan 18, 07:32:00 am 2011
Anonymous said…
Sounds like you've lived a good life, congratulations. Tonight is my last night in my 30's and I found this site. Like you did, I am going to make a list of the many fab and totally cool things I've done. I still have another 40 or so years left in me...so do you... What will be next???? And at what year of age are you going to post about? I'm going into my 40's with FIRE..there is sooo much more I want to experience, but for tonight I contemplate alone. Best Wishes To ALL!
Tue Nov 27, 01:52:00 am 2012
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