At my birthday party, when we’d had a bit to drink and finished off the dips and pupusas and bread and cake and were sitting around the kitchen table painting on the canvases that S brought over, I asked everyone if they could share what they thought was important to a woman turning 40. I knew that I was surrounded by caring, thoughtful and intelligent women, and I was eager to hear their answers.
Here’s what they said:
- live your truth
- buy yourself the things you want; no-one else will do it for you
- don’t waste your time worrying about what others think
- there’s no need to put up with bad sex; stop in the middle if it’s not going well, but do not just lie there going over the grocery list in your head
- if you’re with a man and the relationship isn’t going well, more sex always helps
- don’t give up on having sex as you get older (from my friend who is turning 60)
- meditate every morning
- figure out what you want to do, and do it; no one will ever thank you for sacrificing your dreams
- become more entitled
- own your own life
There’s a bit of a theme there. Figure out what’s important to you, own it, and go for it. Look after others, yes, but also look after yourself, and don’t waste time feeling guilty about it.
You’ve only got the one life to live, and it’s already half over. Make the most of it.
Easy to say, my friends, but sometimes hard to do.
Anyone out there have any advice for me?
team effort 