You Know You’re Pushing 40 When…


You Know You’re Pushing 40 When…

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Life seems to go in stages doesn’t it, or rather in decades. You’re a child for ten or so years, then a teenager. Soon enough you’ve made it as a twenty something and then that pivotal thirty crops up. By then you feel just a little pressure…you’re not quite middle aged yet, but it’s just around the corner, so watch out. Before you know it the big four-o is looming. You look at your life and wonder ‘what the hell happened to my thirties?’ ‘What did I do exactly?’ You don’t even remember half your twenties, and it’s not just because of the alcohol consumption in college. Or maybe it is. Your childhood is so far away in the past it seems like a dream. A very nice one too! Ah to be a child again. But I digress.

When I was a kid I used to hear the phrase ‘life begins at forty’ and thought ‘wow that’s a long way off’. In fact it seemed like a few lifetimes away. Amazing how it creeps up on you isn’t it. I just bloody well hope it’s true that’s all.

I’ve got two years left, no wait, one and a half…and the signs are there …so here we go… Thirty signs the big ‘four-o’ is coming.

You know you’re pushing forty when:

1. A teenager asks “who’s Billy Idol?”
2. You ask a teenager “who the hell is Hannah Montana?”
3. Teenagers annoy you!
4. You start eyeing the one piece swimsuits as you browse through all those tiny bikinis.
5. You hear ‘Get into the Groove’ on the oldies station and remember dancing to it when it first came out.
6. You remember where you were when Elvis died.
7. You’re not quite sure what an MP3 player is.
8. You know what a Commodore 64 is!
9. You’re still happy with your cassette tapes... thank you very much.
10. You start going to more funerals than weddings.
11. In second grade you thought your teacher was old… now you are even older.
12. You remember the first cell phones.
13. You still use a VCR.
14. Grandparents don’t seem so old...you've met Grandparents your same age.
15. You never thought you'd see the day when a black man and a white woman were fighting for a presidential nomination...how old is McCain again?
16. Your husband’s co-worker says he was only 8 when 90210 was on TV...after doing some simple math you realize you’re 14 years older.
17. A good night on the town means eating out.
18. When they find out your age young people say ‘I didn’t know you were that old.’
19. You start hanging round with sixty year olds so you can feel like the young one of the group.
20. Family members start saying annoying things like ‘you’re not getting any younger.’
21. You start seriously thinking about the pension plan you haven’t got.
22. You start complaining that the music is too loud at your favorite bar.
23. You remember when you had three TV stations to choose from and they all went off the air at night.
24. You just can’t stay up all night drinking any more…and show up for work.
25. You start thinking that maybe you need to act more responsible and mature.
26. You fall asleep during movies.
27. You start saying things like ‘when I was a kid, things were different’ or ‘kids today have it easy’, and ‘we had to walk to school…and back.’
28. You think today’s music is crap, just like what your dad said about eighties music.
29. You remember when all kids played outside…where are they now?
30. You start believing the phrase ‘you’re only as old as you feel’ and you still feel 25 so bollocks to everyone!

So if you’re nearing the milestone that is 40 years old, remember you can either embrace it and be happy with who you are, or worry about getting older. It can be hard in this youth obsessed culture, but remember it’s only that way because we allow it to be. Dismiss the ads, switch off the TV set and get out there and do something.

You can be a young 50 or an old 23. It’s all in the mind, it’s an attitude. I’ve seen people in their twenties who look and act middle aged and people in their sixties running marathons. So when others tell you ‘you’re too old to do that’ or ‘you’re getting older now…’ with that little knowing smile; ignore them and do whatever you please. If it’s skiing down a mountain, roller blading in the ‘hood’, horse riding, jumping from a plane, taking up yoga, wearing a mini skirt that you can’t bend over in (if you’ve got the legs for it) or going back to school…do it and enjoy it.

Now what shall I do for my fortieth birthday?

Alison Hill is a featured writer for Xomba.com. Read the rest of her work here .






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jdubhub's picture

I hit the big 4-0 last January

On the plus side, I am a stay-at-home dad for my three-and-a-half year old son, so he keeps me downward focused on age being a number. While his activity and boundless energy keep me moving all day long, there are times when my wife (who is 39) and I look at each other and wonder how we are going to be able to keep up with him as he gets older.

I realized that I had entered middle age when I started referring to twenty-somethings I encountered during the day as "that kid". I am still pretty "hip" to the newest technology, even preferring CD's and DVD's over cassettes and videos. I avoid MP3 players because the sound isn't clean enough for me. I build the computer I am using, although I sometimes long for my Commodore 64 and its simple Basic language, even if I thought the tape drive was kind of slow.

My father just turned 65 a month ago. When I commented that it seems strange to say that I have a father who is 65, he replied that he thought it seems strange to say that he has a son who is 40. I guess it works both ways.

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kjhack's picture

Ahhhh, to be 40 again

It seems like a mere 6 years ago. Well, in fact it was just 6 years ago, yesterday. :S)

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Nick - Xomba CEO's picture

Pushing 30

As the owner and one of the younger members of the site I can slightly relate to this as I am turning 30 in March.

Now go easy, I know I am about to get the "Oh your just a baby comment".

Would age matter if we didn't die?

Would anyone care how old they were if you could live to 700 years?

Ponder that.

Xomba Moderator's picture

700 Years?

I think you would look something like this:

mamamia07's picture

Uncle Nick

Have they started calling you Uncle Nick yet? I remember I got a shock when some college going teens adressed me as aunt when I had just reached about 30!

Forties is the time you get that itch to have a stimulating affair!
My hubby doesnt use this site, thankfully...

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My profile here

Mia Northwest's picture

#23: TV went off the air at night..

That brought back one heckuva memory! I've tried explaining to my kids that the National Anthem would come on at midnight and then the channels would go to the snowy screen. They don't believe that tv ever ended!!! Nice job!

Peace,

Mia NW

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jdubhub's picture

Sounds like the plot to an Anne Rice novel...

I would have to think about living 700 years as long as I didn't have to look like a 700-year-old. Or Keith Richards. But, I repeat myself.

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Mia Northwest's picture

@kjhack

Happy Birthday! I hope you got to do something fun on your birthday. My husband turns 41 tomorrow, he asked for (and I got) a remote control helicopter from Target, thereby proving that you never really grow up. :)

Peace,

Mia NW

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kjhack's picture

Thanks, Mia

Actually it was a rather quiet day. I'll be doing the real celebrating on the weekend.

No, you should never grow up entirely. Ya gotta keep a little of that child in you 'til the end. A remote control helicopter sounds like a blast. :)

RobinetteDesign's picture

I enjoyed that.

Great work.

Angel
RobinetteDesign.com
http://robinettedesign.blogspot.com

champagnedreams's picture

Enjoyed Reading This

Now I know what to expect. I think it's already starting.

Wdzzz's picture

Sarcasm

I hate this article. I am not turning forty in less than four month. I won't do it I tell you. I won't! I loved Billy Idol. I still hear "Dancing with Myself." But, desides all that, this was a well written article. It also had good flow and it was a blast to read, even though I laughed my hinney off as I rolled on the floor, I still almost h... I still almost can't stand... I'm won't turn forty in less that four months. I won't I tell you. I won't. Anyone know where I can buy an expensive red sports car?
I hate when the truth hurts.
LOL
Good Job Alison,

LadyKenai's picture

Happy Belated Birthday kjhack :)

Great story Alison :) I would love to go back to 40, but I think I am doing ok :)

If you would like to chat about Xomba or anything you want, join here:
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ChicagoTafia's picture

Penblwyth Hapus

It still 7 years off for me, but I know what your on about!

Have a gander at these for a disturbing 80's flashback:

Test CardTest Card

SpectrumSpectrum

C5C5

Cheers

Dave