Well, let me tell ya, this “the year we turned forty” thing, it’s got me thinkin’. Forty, that’s a big number, ain’t it? Makes you look back and wonder where all the time went.
I heard tell of some gals, best friends they was, got a chance to go back to when they hit forty. Can you imagine? Goin’ back to fix things, maybe do things different? I tell ya, if I could go back, I’d tell that young whippersnapper me a thing or two.
- First off, I’d say, “Don’t you be frettin’ so much about what other folks think!” Wasted too much time on that, I did.
- And then I’d say, “Spend more time with the ones you love.” ‘Cause time, it ain’t got no brakes, it just keeps on rollin’.
- And for goodness sake, “Take better care of yourself! Eat your greens and move around a bit.” This old body ain’t what it used to be, that’s for sure.
Now, this one gal, Claire, she seemed alright. Said she’d made peace with her past. That’s a good thing, makin’ peace. Her young’un, Emily, twenty-two and all growed up, finally got her head on straight after some rough times. Even got herself engaged, the lucky girl. Makes a mama proud, that does.
But forty, it’s a funny age. You ain’t young no more, but you ain’t exactly old neither. You start thinkin’ ’bout what you done and what you ain’t done. Regrets, they start creepin’ in like weeds in the garden. You gotta pull ’em out, them regrets, or they’ll choke the life right outta ya.
I remember when I turned forty. Felt like the world was changin’ fast, and I was just tryin’ to keep up. Kids were growin’ up, folks were gettin’ sick, and life just kept on happenin’, whether I was ready or not. But you know what? You just gotta keep on keepin’ on. That’s all there is to it.
Thinkin’ about goin’ back though, it’s a powerful thing. Would I change things if I could? Maybe. But then again, maybe not. All them bumps and bruises, they made me who I am today. And I ain’t so bad, even if I do say so myself.
This story ’bout them friends, it reminds me that life’s a journey, not a destination. And it’s a journey best shared with folks you care about. Friends, family, neighbors… they’re the ones who pick you up when you fall down and cheer you on when you’re doin’ good. Cherish them folks, ’cause they’re the real treasures in life.
So, forty, huh? It ain’t the end of the world. It’s just another chapter. And who knows what this next chapter holds? Maybe more wrinkles and aches and pains, sure. But maybe some more laughter and love too. That’s what I’m hopin’ for, anyway. More laughter and love. And maybe a piece of pie wouldn’t hurt none neither.
And them gals in that story? I hope they figured things out. I hope they found what they was lookin’ for. ‘Cause at the end of the day, that’s all any of us want, ain’t it? To be happy and content with the life we got. And maybe, just maybe, forty ain’t so bad after all. It’s just a number, and ain’t no number gonna tell me how to live my life.
And if I could give them gals some advice, I’d say, “Don’t you worry ’bout gettin’ old. Worry ’bout missin’ out on life. ‘Cause that’s the real tragedy, not turnin’ forty or fifty or even a hundred. The real tragedy is not livin’ every day to the fullest.” And that goes for all of us, young and old alike. So go on out there and live your life, folks. Don’t let nothin’ hold you back.
This whole turnin’ forty thing, it just makes ya think about life, ya know? It’s like standin’ at a crossroads, lookin’ back at the road you’ve travelled and squintin’ ahead at the path to come. And all you can do is keep on movin’ forward and trust that it all gonna work out in the end. And if it don’t, well, ya just gotta keep on tryin’. That’s all there is to it.
Tags: forty, life changes, friendship, regrets, second chances, aging, family, self-reflection, middle age, personal growth
