I turned 40 a few days ago
JonnyPistachio
Posts: 10,217
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-)
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-)
Pick up my debut novel here on amazon: Jonny Bails Floatin (in paperback) (also available on Kindle for $2.99)
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Comments
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)
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)
life's a challenge & a son of bitch. that's about all i got to say
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
But thanks Chadwick, im gonna take 40 by the reigns!
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.
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!
Thanks Shortstack and PJSoul!!!
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
You never really had to begin with.
Sometimes it's not the song that makes you emotional it's the people and things that come to your mind when you hear it.
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.
- Christopher McCandless
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!
2010: Newark 5/18 MSG 5/20-21 2011: PJ20 9/3-4 2012: Made In America 9/2
2013: Brooklyn 10/18-19 Philly 10/21-22 Hartford 10/25 2014: ACL10/12
2015: NYC 9/23 2016: Tampa 4/11 Philly 4/28-29 MSG 5/1-2 Fenway 8/5+8/7
2017: RRHoF 4/7 2018: Fenway 9/2+9/4 2021: Sea Hear Now 9/18
2022: MSG 9/11 2024: MSG 9/3-4 Philly 9/7+9/9 Fenway 9/15+9/17
- Christopher McCandless
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)
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.
(not to say that I am actually freaking btw.... i accept it as life.... but it still sucks!)
6/19/95 Red Rocks
9/11/98 MSG
11/19/12 EV solo Tulsa
7/19/13 Wrigley 10/19/13 Brooklyn 2 10/21/13 Philly 1 10/22/13 Philly 2 10/25/13 Hartford
10/08/14 Tulsa 10/09/14 Lincoln
9/26/15 NYC Global Citizen
4/16/16 Greenville 4/28/16 Philly 1 4/29/16 Philly 2 5/1/16 MSG 1 5/2/16 MSG 2 8/7/16 Fenway 2 8/20/16 Wrigley 1
4/7/17 RRHOF New York City
9/2/18 Fenway 1 9/4/2018 Fenway 2
9/18/21 Asbury Park
2/4/22 EV Earthlings NYC 2/6/22 EV Earthlings Newark 9/11/22 MSG 9/14/22 Camden
9/3/24 MSG 1 9/4/24 MSG 2 9/7/24 Philly 1 9/9/24 Philly 2
10/31/09- Philly
5/21/10- NYC
9/2/12- Philly, PA
7/19/13- Wrigley
10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
10/21/13- Philly, PA
10/22/13- Philly, PA
10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
4/28/16- Philly, PA
4/29/16- Philly, PA
5/1/16- NYC
5/2/16- NYC
9/2/18- Boston, MA
9/4/18- Boston, MA
9/14/22- Camden, NJ
9/7/24- Philly, PA
9/9/24- Philly, PA
Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
And im not going to let what my boss said get to me -- welcome to my 5th decade. lol
I do take better care of myself than I did when I was in my 20s, and my Dr. is very happy that I can still lose weight, she said something to the effect of, "after 40, it's nearly impossible for women to lose weight, and it's a lot easier for them to put on more of it"
I wanna be one of those old ladies that is still running around at 90-something with a whip smart sense of humor.
- Christopher McCandless
(and truth be told, at 48, despite those pesky fucking health issues, life is the best it's ever been)
(and, fifth decade, JP? Bit of a mind-fuck on your boss' part. Bastard!)
6/19/95 Red Rocks
9/11/98 MSG
11/19/12 EV solo Tulsa
7/19/13 Wrigley 10/19/13 Brooklyn 2 10/21/13 Philly 1 10/22/13 Philly 2 10/25/13 Hartford
10/08/14 Tulsa 10/09/14 Lincoln
9/26/15 NYC Global Citizen
4/16/16 Greenville 4/28/16 Philly 1 4/29/16 Philly 2 5/1/16 MSG 1 5/2/16 MSG 2 8/7/16 Fenway 2 8/20/16 Wrigley 1
4/7/17 RRHOF New York City
9/2/18 Fenway 1 9/4/2018 Fenway 2
9/18/21 Asbury Park
2/4/22 EV Earthlings NYC 2/6/22 EV Earthlings Newark 9/11/22 MSG 9/14/22 Camden
9/3/24 MSG 1 9/4/24 MSG 2 9/7/24 Philly 1 9/9/24 Philly 2