Life On the Other Side of 40

Its been a big year for me as I cross the threshold between, "Boy are you young" and "Wow, you're how old?"  Today is my 40th birthday.  It is not something I have talked about much because for years I have subscribed to the idea that age is just a number on a piece of paper.  Of course, that was when I was still younger and didn't have to worry about sentiments like, "If it doesn't hurt, it doesn't work."

Still, I have decided to approach, with much bravery, my 5th decade of existence.  What does that mean in my little world?  Very little right now as I have two kids that run circles around me and a wife that keeps me busy.  For the most part, I don't have a lot of time to worry about getting older.

As I have talked with people that have crossed this line before me, I have heard different pieces of advice.  Mostly it has amounted to, "gee, I had a problem turning 30, but then I turned 40 and thought 'how silly.'"  Couple that with the equally helpful, "oh stop, you're not old."  No, I didn't exactly say that I was old, I just said that I was not in my 30's anymore.

On the plus side, I can look at things like senior citizen discounts being that much closer and very soon, I will have the AARP knocking down my mailbox door.  Granted, that is probably 10 years away, but time flies when you're having fun.

The worst part about it is when I see people that I always thought were young advertising things that I might need in the future.  Things like medicare supplements and life insurance are starting to be sold by those that were thought to be young just a few short years ago.

All things considered, it is a very unusual situation when you think about how much emphasis we put on getting older.  It really is a number on a piece of paper.  When it is all said and done, what we want to do is leave an impression on people.  Very often, people are asked what they want to leave behind with people.  That one sentence that sums up a life.  I don't have one for myself and I'm not sure I want one right now.  Makes the whole life and death thing a little more real.  All I can say is that 40 is the new 30 and boy do I look young when I look in a mirror.  I'll keep repeating that and, who knows, maybe I'll even start believing it.

Besides, none of it really matters anyway.  I plan on living forever.