Fortysomething

I was so dreading turning 40, and I still rebel against aging, but you know what I love about my 40's? I feel a lot less judgment from others. Maybe that's just because I am (a little) less judgmental than I used to be. Either way, it seems to me that almost all of us that have made it this far now know that life didn't turn out the way we planned. Not even close. We know by now that there's no script and no way that it "should" be done. We know that doing things the "right" way did not end up being a recipe for happiness. I feel a lot more solidarity with others than I did in my 30's. It's as if we all know that traditional plans don't always work out, and the only thing you "should" do is whatever you have to do to be happy. You want to join a commune? Quit your six-figure job? Be a stay-at-home mom? Spend all day at your six-figure job? Or your four-figure job? Marry the proverbial milkman? Dye your hair purple? Waitress on the beach in Greece? Knock yourself out. Be happy.