My 40's: A reflection on aging

Why does it seem like everyone’s birthday is in August? I’m seriously considering dipping into my retirement funds just to cover all these gifts. Okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but all these birthday celebrations have certainly made me think a lot about aging.

Reflecting on my life, I can break it down like this:

• Childhood: Great. Wonderful memories. A few traumas sprinkled in, but I can chalk that up to the human experience.

• Teenage years: Pure hell. I wouldn’t revisit them, even if you paid me.

• 20s: Broke, confused, and challenging at times, but also fun. I met many lifelong friends during this decade.

• 30s: Loved it. I finally felt like a responsible adult and started mastering the life lessons I learned in my 20s.

• 40s: This is where I am now, and… I don’t like it.

Don’t get me wrong. I have a great career with many accomplishments under my belt. I’m (relatively) healthy, my family is healthy, and I have no real complaints—except for the fact that I simply don’t like the concept of aging.

I’ve read that when researchers interview people who live to be 100 and ask them what decade of their life was the best, they consistently say their 60s. The common reason? By then, they’ve usually achieved financial stability, their children are adults, and they’re still young enough to enjoy life.

On one hand, that sounds great—I have my 60s to look forward to. On the other hand, I can’t help but wonder what happens after that. A steady decline in my 70s? Hoping I’m lucky enough to make it to my 80s or 90s without becoming too dependent on others?

Another thing I don’t like about my 40s is the inherent weirdness of it. You’re not old, but you’re not young either. Some people my age have adult children who have graduated from college and are starting their own adult lives. Others are just now having their first child.

It’s strange to live in this in-between decade of life. I haven’t gotten used to it yet, and I’m not sure I will before I find myself celebrating the big 5-0.