When I was in my early twenties, I thought 40 was old. Like aching-back-cant-do-a-lot-of-physical-activities kind of old. Ageist! LOL! I recall a particular moment at work when I was working on an event proposal.

The task was to come up with a fun activity for forty-something architects. I can’t recall the exact activity I proposed, but it was not something physically taxing. My then-boss asked me, “Why not the likes of go-kart racing?” And I said, “Di po ba sila mahihirapan sa ganun kasi nasa 40s na sila, medyo matatanda na.” (Won’t they have a hard time, considering they’re in their 40’s? Aren’t they old?) My boss suddenly took his eyes off the laptop he’d been glued to, to look at me. I can’t forget the expression on his face. He looked shocked. Maybe a wee bit insulted at my remark. He was in his 40s.

Now that I’ve stepped into my 40s, I can say it’s not as old as I thought. I still feel young. But I’m also not going to deny that I have felt changes to my body and energy over the years. I feel some aches all around my body, and my metabolism has slowed down as I grew older, which sucks because I love carbs and fast food.

And no, I can no longer stay up til the wee hours of the morning without having trouble getting up the next day specially when it’s early. Even if I get to sleep in the next day, when I wake up, I feel that my energy is still not at a 100% capacity.

But getting older isn’t so bad. Even when I jokingly say I’m only 25, I’ve honestly embraced aging because I have more wisdom now.

Things I Learned in My 30s that I’m Taking to My 40s

Wanting softness instead of hustle all the time.

That’s why I enjoyed reading this book. It talked about the different paths we can choose to take and how that’s actually okay to do.

Don’t rely on just one income stream.

When you have money, you can afford to do a lot of things you want to do. Money gives you freedom.

Don’t Go into Credit Card Debt

A credit card isn’t bad. It’s useful, just as long as you know how to use it right. I’m guilty of amassing credit card debts, and more than once. But I’m correcting that now by paying off my debts.

Saving is Good, But Growing Your Money is Even Better

Financial experts say this a lot. It’s important to save money, but it’s not enough. You should invest it so your money will grow. I started taking this seriously.

Learning to be Kinder to My Mind and Body

The best investment I ever made in my 30s was to sign up for a gym membership. And when I feel tired or when I don’t feel okay, I also make sure to take breaks and rest now. The goal is to be healthy and strong and to keep serious diseases at bay.

Dressing Up for Me

Crop tops and mandals? Why not! A bold lipstick color or a winged eye? Heck yes!

No longer chasing people.

People want to leave? I let them.

A spine.

I speak up for myself now when I need to.

Not forcing things to happen.

Forcing people or things never amounts to any good. I let things be now.

Success looks different for everybody.

I define what that looks like for me.

Choosing joy even if it’s impractical.

Life’s too short not to be happy.

Parting Words

Turning 40 doesn’t mean I’ve figured it all out. I’m sure there are still a lot life will teach me as I live this new decade of my life. But it does mean I’ve lived enough to trust myself more, fear less, and choose who I want to be — on my own terms.

Forty is not a finish line.
It’s a season. A celebration. A reclamation.
And I’m walking into it with open arms, unapologetically.