So I've officially been 40 for about 3 months now, and in those almost 90 days, I've spent a lot of time reflecting on what exactly 40 means to me. Don't get me wrong, I EMBRACED turning 40! The idea of turning 40 intrigued me. People asked me what was so special about 40? For lack of a better word, I'm going to say it's "freeing." I feel free to start over and redefine my life and my reason for doing so? I turned 40. Enough said. This was the complete opposite of how I felt and behaved when I turned 30, which was, to sum it up in one word, "depressed." And I had a lot of fun celebrating turning 40...ask my sister! LOL (The celebration continues in Summer 2011, when I take my Greece trip!)
I remembered enjoying writing and so I wanted to put these thoughts and reflections, that have been swirling around in my head, into written word. Not out of narcissism or to boost my ego, but to have something for posterity, perhaps? I also wanted to share these thoughts and reflections with my friends, many of whom turned 40 the same year I did, or will be turning 40 soon. (Birds of a feather flock together??) And hopefully, they'll share their own thoughts and reflections. And my friends, who are well into their 40's and beyond, I want to hear from you too! :)
From my Bible class in my junior year of high school (went to Catholic school), I remember that the number 40 symbolizes change. And that's what the age of 40 has come to mean to me - a change, a transformation. Recently, I've encountered "signs," if you will, that maybe I'm on the right path. I met a lady, who is the publisher of a local magazine called Change, and she mentioned to me that she named the magazine such because of Gandhi's quote "Be the change you wish to see in the world." On a side note, I happen to share a birth date with that auspicious gentleman, Mahatma Gandhi. Also recently, I attended a mini-seminar entitled "Finding the Transformative Power Within," which had more to do with spiritual transformation, but this spiritual transformation can produce actions of change. All around me, I encountered "change" in one form or another.
You're thinking wait a minute, wasn't this blog about being Fun and Fabulous 40??? This is some weighty stuff she's written here. Trust me there will be fun posts, because I like to find the humor in things! I just wanted to share a little of what I'd like my 40th year to be about -- change. Change in my attitude, in my actions, in my outlook, and maybe, just maybe, the change in me will help to make a change in the world somehow, no matter how small.
