Oh my goodness. This girl is too funny! Turning Forty isn't for wimps! If you have the book you will want to read this one. For starters, she is wondering why there are old lady hands sticking out of her sleeves and wondering when that happened. hehehehe.
She wants to educate the 'young things' about turning forty. So, here's what I know about turning forty. Since...well...I've successfully done it. And I agree with what she says too!
Yes. Your brain has worked great. But somewhere along the way it just takes a hiatus. You have no idea why you walked into rooms, what your kids names are that you so lovingly picked out, and when your sweet husband talks to you, he might as well be talking another language for all that you can understand. All while the children you bore laugh at you. (I'm telling you. This woman is hilarious.)
And Yes, you will start avoiding crowds, and loud music, and would rather sit at home and watch House Hunters with your people in your yoga pants.
With all the crazy that happens, there is something awesome that happens around that time too. You start to be ok with you. At least I did. You start to feel like you don't need to keep up with everyone and everything. It's ok to buy stuff off of Craigslist.
Maybe some have that happen sooner. But for me it was a later thing. Jen calls it resiliency. Not needing to have approval all the time. Not caring what people think is so freeing! Jen says:
"By forty you develop resiliency. I needed approval desperately even ten years ago. Criticism crushed me. Conflict paralyzed me. Disapproval evaporated me. Consequently, I took the safest path through every scenario to avoid reproach. As a former approval addict, I would have been shocked to find that to some degree your forty-year-old self won't care much what anyone thinks of you, your parenting, your marriage, your career, your politics, your house, your wardrobe, your hair, your kids, your choices, your church, your dog, your new red gront door, your comfortable flats, your stretchy pants, your daughter's hair, your son's weird interest in vintage ska, your favorite college sweatshirt you still wear, your decision to homeschool/private school/public school, your new resolve to go vegan, your consistent purchase of Lunchables, your decision to work, your decision to quit, your random idea to purchase chickens. It just won't matter. If people don't like it, well, tra la la. It's not that you become unteachable or unleadable or uncorrectable; differing opinions just stop shaking every decision, and critical words won't send you to bed. You develop chops, sister. You're going to love it."
Man is that ever true. I think I'm just more comfortable in my own skin. I'm more ready to just be. It's just more ok to be me I guess. And I wish there was a way to teach this to under forty's? But, I think it's just the way it is. It's a process God takes us thru. Is it that way for you though? Tell me what you think. I don't think I have this whole thing figured out. lol. And by all means, feel free to disagree!
Loving this book!
Ha! I can agree with so much of that!
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