Forty is the New Thirty

by Sara Taney Humphreys

This week I will join millions of women and enter my Forties. First of all...how the hell did that happen? Wasn't it just yesterday that I was finshing college? When someone asks me how old I am..I actually have to think about it. Inside I feel like I'm about 27. However, outside it's glaringly obvious I'm not. Getting older is good. I mean let's be honest, the alternative is getting dead. So yeah, I'll take getting older.

I was chatting with my baby sister yesterday. She is 15 years younger than I am and about to turn 25. She asked me a very interesting question. "How are you different at 40 compared to how you were at 25?" Well the obvious difference is that now I've got 15 years of marriage and almost as many years raising four sons. As a result I am much more confident in who I am and what I want. I know what I'm willing to put up with and won't waste time tolerating stupidity the way I did when I was younger. At 25 I didn't have the confidence to go after what I wanted in my career. I was too worried about rejection, too scared of what other people would think of me. At 40 I'm a good deal less concerned with what other people think of me. Rejection isn't the end of the world. There's always another opportunity or another road to get to were you want to go.

As I stick one toe into the pond of middle age, I am very grateful that I'm part of a rather youthful culture. A perfect example is the beautiful and unstoppable Merryl Streep. Here she is at 62 and she's starring in "It's Complicated". This is a Romantic Comedy and Streep stars as the romantic lead. How great is that?! I think for women in my Grandmother's generation tuning 40 was the end of youth and the beginning of more settled years. Today, however, I think turning 40 has become a symbol of power. Look at all the Cougars out there in the public eye who show us day after day that turning 40 doesn't mean it's all over. Demi Moore. Jennifer Aniston. Courtney Cox. Kim Cattral. Julianne Moore, Merry Streep, Glen Close, Helen Mirren. These ladies are all sexy, gorgeous, and powerful. They are great examples that self confidence is the best beauty product out there.

So as my own personal milestone approaches...I will greet it with open arms and a wide smile. Bring it on baby!