What Every Dreamer Ought To Know About Turning 49

I am two days from turning 49.

On July 4th 1960 at 5:36pm this blogger you know as Catherine came screaming into this world in a small delivery room within Memorial hospital in Santa Rosa California.

This Saturday will mark the beginning of the final year of my 40’s – and this August I will have officially outlived my dad.

What can I share?

I can only share what I have experienced from a female viewpoint, so you guys will have to let me know if it is the same for you.

But I can begin by telling you that life in your 40s is about the second act.  It will be about setting right the mistakes of your 20s.  It will have you questioning all the decisions of your past, and force you to take a good hard look at where you are in life.

It will have you coming to grips with aging and accepting that you are no longer in your 20s and what you want to do about this fact.

Some friends will begin to get sick, go on medication, move, experience divorces, affairs and all manner of life’s challenges.  You will question your career, your education, and your bank accounts.  You will begin to look towards the years you will be an empty-nester, or you will reflect on the years you chose not to have children.

This is what everyone should know about life in your 40s -

1.  If you are in an unhappy, un-fulfilling relationship – you will want out.

Some do it with affairs during their 40s and others move into their own bedrooms in the same house.  Some shop for encounters on the Internet while others begin visiting bars again like they did in their 20s. But however you do it, you will search for a way to get out. If you can’t afford to get a divorce, then you will find a way to leave emotionally.  But you will check out.

2.  You will have to address years of not taking care of your health.

If you don’t always eat your veggies, and you drink a little to much, have a sweet tooth and don’t exercise much – in your 40s your body will force you to look your lifestyle habits.  If you are one of those women who pushes hard, stays up late, survives on 6 hours a sleep a night and three cups of coffee, by the end of your 40s your body will probably be telling you to fuc* off.  I kid you not.  It will find a way to force you to sleep more, eat better and exercise or you won’t be picking up your grand children.

3.  If you hate your job you will be looking for a way out.

When you are in your 40s you will find the job you hate almost intolerable.  If you are smart you will take some classes and get yourself -retrained in something else.  If you are really smart you will take classes in something you used to love doing.  Either way, you will want change and change your life you will.

4.  If you have invested wisely and handled your finances you will begin to reap great rewards.

If you have planned well and taken care of your financial details, the 40s are when things begin to really come together.  Big promotions can happen and you can find yourself in a comfortable financial position, able to begin traveling and enjoying the fruits of 20 years of laboring.  You don’t feel old, so life takes on a pleasant glow as now you can enjoy better wine, better food and appreciate all you have done to get where you are.

5.  In your 40s you know exactly what you want . . . and don’t want.

Everything becomes crystal clear in your 40s.  You know what you want and what you don’t want.  You find yourself speaking out for the first time without fear.  It’s easier to say no and feel okay about it.  You find you have true strength and manage looking out for your needs first.

6.  Your heart calls you to do what you have always longed to do.

If you have ignored a dream, the 40s are when your dream voice comes screaming back into your mind, begging you to let it in.  If you used to paint, you will find yourself buying paint brushes and paints again.  If you used to dance, you will be looking for dance groups your age.  If you used to write, you will begin writing again.  You may even think about publishing your first novel.  You will want to re-connect with your past loves and dreams.

7.  You will question your faith or lack thereof.

You will either begin to doubt the religion you were raised in, and begin and exploration of other religions (or even give up believing all together) – or your faith will grow stronger and you will find yourself studying a regular religious practice.  You may even take up meditation and yoga.  But this time around you will make these decisions based on study and exploration – not your parents wishes.  You will search for a deeper meaning to life.

8.  You will not feel old.

If you are smart, you will realize that your 40s feels just like your 20s except you are smarter and have more experience behind you – and hopefully a little more money to spend.

Your soul will call out to you in your 40s to make changes to align yourself with who you really are or who you have become.  If you are smart you will great these changes with great expectation, if not, you may spend a lot of time crying in the bathroom.

So buy some vitamins, get a good journal, start walking and drinking water, get some sleep in anticipation for the 10 year ride of your life!

And may the force be with you.

Keep on dreaming -

Catherine

Catherine is testing her theories on what it takes to create a dream life and wants to help the world do the same. She writes about her life as a mom at the blog A Week In The Life Of A Redhead. Someday, she would also like to be invited to speak at TED.  Catherine’s post day is Sunday evening.

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