I turned 40 a few days ago

JonnyPistachio

I'm not usually one to make a big deal about birthdays. And I thought I'd hate and dread turning 40.

But I'm OK with it. In fact, many friends joked, asking if I felt old. Well, of course I do, I live life hard. My back hurts, my knee is a bitch, nose hairs grow faster than head hairs, and I dont sleep much.

But fuck all that stuff. turning 40 made me realize I have a lot more to prove. I better get to work. I need a better job. I need to write more music. And I need to write more books.

Last year I wondered if I'd still be in a band playing music and drinking beer when I turned 40. Well, yes I am. Nothing's changed except that I know I have better songs in me. Keep playing.

Will I still confine myself to the little office and drink rum and cokes all night trying to crank out some of my next novel? I better get to work. Who knows how long I'll live.

Birthdays have become motivators. I'm pleased and surprised.
The only birthday that freaked me out a bit was 29 I think... I wanted to hold onto the 20s. I thought 40 would freak me out too, but I'm Ok with it.

What birthdays freak you out?

B-)

hedonist

Belated happy one to you, JP!

I think age - as a number - is relative. I'm a baby compared to those in their 70s, 80s...and I see those in their 20s as young'uns.

I too hit a snarl when I neared 29, but in the end it was the best thing for me. Cause for re-examination, prioritizing, letting some things go and holding onto others more tightly. It led the way to self-liberation and on that path, opening myself to and finding the love of my life. Finding MY life.

Life happens...and for reasons we don't even see until a ways beyond.

I read something the other day about growing older, how the author doesn't bitch about her silver hair because some others never got the opportunity to age enough to HAVE silver hair.

Getting older - for all its aches, pains, sorrows, losses - there's so SO much on the converse of that, that it's truly a blessing to live another day with hope, with happiness, with love.

(and now I've got a hankering for Sleight of Hand)

JonnyPistachio

Thanks Hedo, it definitely is all relative. I've just been thinking about it a lot lately.
Some of my friends think i'm immature doing the things I do. Some see it as inspiration ive been told...It's all about how each of us see the world in our own eyes and if we let age dictate us, or if we dictate our age.

And yes, i've seen a lot of tragedy lately and feel lik eI better take advantage of life because some others werent given that chance (to live long and get old)

chadwick

well happy birthday, mister.

life's a challenge & a son of bitch. that's about all i got to say

JonnyPistachio

chadwick said:

well happy birthday, mister.

life's a challenge & a son of bitch. that's about all i got to say

You arent kidding! 39 was the worst so far.

But thanks Chadwick, im gonna take 40 by the reigns!

shortstack

happy belated! <:-P

Nami

nice.. happy belated JP.

39 this year and 40 in September. Nothings changed or will... same shit diff day...

With my son turning 5 in Feb is more of a shock to me than anything.

PJ_Soul

I'm already shitting bricks about turning 40 and it's still more than 2 years away, but I'm very happy to hear that you are kopesthetic about it!

JonnyPistachio

Nami said:

nice.. happy belated JP.

39 this year and 40 in September. Nothings changed or will... same shit diff day...

With my son turning 5 in Feb is more of a shock to me than anything.

My Mom told me that the worst birthday to her was when my older brother turned 10. She said it just happened so fast and she knew him becoming a man was right around the corner...so be prepared for that too!


Thanks Shortstack and PJSoul!!!

lazloblue

Well Congratulations!!

I have two more months till I hit 45 and that one is giving me a little bit of a freak out. --

I truly believe that turning into your 40's is the greatest time of your life. You have the means and wisdom now that you did not have when you turned 30. You will make better choices. You can enjoy life more with the things you have learned, and are not so much afraid to keep making mistakes anymore. Just keep learning so that you keep enjoying what life throws your way. <:-P

northerndragon

Happy Birthday I haven't had a bday freak me out yet cause I live by the motto you are only as old as you want to be. I may be turning 40 in 2.5yrs but the only thing I worry about is whether I'll get to spend it in Ireland like I've always wanted to. If you own your age then there is no bad age...although the body failure rate does suck, serves me right for trashing when I was younger lol.

RKCNDY

Happy Birthday! (a few days late)

I wasn't happy when I turned 30. Now I'm closer to 40, and I dread it...mainly because I don't look like it, and I keep getting told "you have an old soul" so I feel mentally older, my looks say I look younger, so I just feel all mixed up.

PJ_Soul

RKCNDY said:

Happy Birthday! (a few days late)

I wasn't happy when I turned 30. Now I'm closer to 40, and I dread it...mainly because I don't look like it, and I keep getting told "you have an old soul" so I feel mentally older, my looks say I look younger, so I just feel all mixed up.

I dread turning 40 because I barely even think of myself as a grown up yet! I'm so confused!

he.who.forgets

another belated birthday wish to you mister pistachio! I've enjoyed reading this thread and agree with a lot of the wisdom shared. To quote Tom Petty, "if you never slow down, you never grow old"...or something like that >-

JonnyPistachio

Thanks everyone! And yes, its nice to hear everyone's different takes on age.

Rkcndy -- thats too funny...I hear the same thing sometimes. And folks tell me I look younger than 40, but when I grow my beard, I look older because its all grey just in the chin area. Im lucky I can control that with a razor! lol

hewhoforgets, good quote!

SVRDhand13

I'm looking forward to turning 30. My girlfriend is a little closer to getting there than me and not looking forward to it at all )

RKCNDY

I'm just gonna keep telling people I'm 29.

hedonist

29's always the go-to age. I hated 29!

A few years ago, there was a commercial for I don't even remember what, but it was a bunch of sassy old broads getting their moves on, and the tag-line was "when I grow up, I wanna be an old woman".

That's me! Even if I don't get there with dignity, I hope to get there with a shitload of love and laughs. (and hopefully with my mind mostly-intact)

F Me In The Brain

Happy birthday sir!
Please keep writing, we enjoy reading.

I have never freaked out about a birthday but turn 40 in April. Another of my buddies does as well so we are doing a fishing trip down to the bayou (he has a few camps there) in Louisiana with a bunch of friends to celebrate.
More freaked out that my first child will be born in June and I will be 60 when he is 20. That makes me want to take better care of myself.

PJ_Soul

hedonist said:

29's always the go-to age. I hated 29!

A few years ago, there was a commercial for I don't even remember what, but it was a bunch of sassy old broads getting their moves on, and the tag-line was "when I grow up, I wanna be an old woman".

That's me! Even if I don't get there with dignity, I hope to get there with a shitload of love and laughs. (and hopefully with my mind mostly-intact)

Age certainly has its huge advantages. We have more experience and wisdom, a clearer outlook on the world, and generally people feel more comfortable with themselves when they're older I think, and probably understand other people better too. I love these things, and wouldn't want to give them up to be younger. It's the physical aspect of aging that bothers me. Sure, we can try to maintain the best we can and be healthy, etc..... but the body running down in various ways is ultimately inevitable (not to mention death!), and I just fucking hate that with each birthday I am getting closer to that inevitability! It sucks!! What's the saying? Wealth is wasted on the old, and youth is wasted on the young? I think there is something to that!
(not to say that I am actually freaking btw.... i accept it as life.... but it still sucks!)

shortstack

The business of life is the acquisition of memories, in the end that's all there is. ~ Mr. Carson, Downton Abbey