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Turning 40 - Grateful and Renewed

I became a forty-year-old individual yesterday. 

The milestone is very significant for many and has its societal measures and benchmarks that carry some fear for those approaching its gates. Regardless of approach, turning 40 is filled with reflection, pondering (of course), and preparation for what should be a "new" stage of life. A life stage centered around "transitioning" into a stage seen as the "pre-senior" years. 

Sure. Whatever. 

I won't disagree that the new "4" digit that sits in front of your age feels encompassing even without understanding completely. Yet, as I stated last year when I turned 39 (going into my 40th year on this earth), I was ready for it. Ready for 40.

Today, oddly enough, I am not filled with profound life lessons, ponderings, or reflections. 

I sit here, punching the keys, filled with gratitude. I am 40, and I love it. 

I carry my baggage of life and bear scars from it at 40. I am grateful for so many experiences, privileges, and the people who have spent seasons in my life (however long, or in whatever instance that may look). I'm a big believer in gratitude, humility, and through the fabric of this site, in constantly keeping my mind to the ground as I move through this thing called life. At 40, it gives me a deeper sense of that gratitude. 

I also feel renewed. 

At this stage, I feel equipped with so much of what I've learned and endured in my 30s, mixed with my dreams, aspirations, and discoveries of my 20s, and just a sprinkle of that excitement and exuberance from that teenage kid from Brooklyn who once imagined what 40 would feel like. I look at this as a new chapter to smash all of it together to shape another decade, and another chapter, of who I am. 

40 seems less of a new me, or an evolved me, and more of putting it altogether. 

40 seems less about "being old", or "making excuses" and more so an opportunity to embrace this world, this life, and my faith through the perspective of being the very most complete version of myself, yet. 

40 seems, well, pretty freakin' cool. 

And in staying truthful, I've always been an old soul, so I've finally caught up. 

I've had bad knees since birth. I've been bald since my 20s. I've had grey hairs in my beard in my 30s. I've been old for quite some time... :) 

However, as I close, I will admit to tapping into one common "turning 40" trope - there is definitely an increased inward approach to living life at this stage. And I'm fully embracing that as well.

So "getting old"? Ehhh, nah. 

Looking at life as "half over" - not my (or never has been) my kind of outlook.

At 40 years old, I'm so grateful. I'm so renewed. 

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