Today I turn 40. I bid a fond farewell to my Thirtysomething life at 7:07 p.m. EDT.Courtney Cox purrs that 40 is the new 20. She looks hot, so we should all believe her.
As much as I admire Ms. Cox as a Role Model of Hotness, I personally think that "the new 20" is a bit of a stretch. I would never willingly repeat my 20s (the decade of "Is this the Real World? Holy crap!") I might be tempted to reenact my 30s (the decade of "We are sooooo Sex & the City. We have figured it all out! Well....almost all of it.") But relive my 20s? Really?? No, thank you.
Ms. Cox's latest Hotness Campaign is an anomaly. Our youth-obsessed culture wants me to freak out over turning 40. Frankly, I freaked out for most of 39. How unfortunate. About a month ago, I finally got a grip and snapped out of it. I remembered that a. I actually think for myself and b. I do not respond well to people telling me what to do. I am much too rebellious for that nonsense.
Dare I say that I am actually excited to turn 40? (I daresay. I do daresay!) It's true! I have been counting down the days to my birthday. I have unofficially dubbed the 40s as The Decade of Empowerment. (My friends in their 50s consequently named their decade The Decade of Who Gives a Shit?! So I assure you that it's all good from here on out, my friends!)
As I pondered this whole Decade of Empowerment business, I couldn't help but feel a notion of Late Bloomer entwined in there somehow. When I mentioned this to a Fabulous 50s friend, she asked, "How so?" To which I replied, "Because at times I STILL feel like an awkward middle schooler. Shouldn't I feel all grown up yet?" To which Fab 50 laughed, "Don't we all still feel like that to some extent?"
Why yes, Fab 50. Why, yes we do. We simply grow more empowered by the decade, that's all. We never want to let go of our Inner Child/Middle Schooler, whatever you want to call her. She keeps us fresh. She keeps us young. She keeps us hot.
And THIS is one of the many reasons why I am positively giddy about The Decade of Empowerment. Our Inner Awkward Middle Schooler is ready to blossom. In our 20s, she was trapped in existential angst. In our 30s, she was busy building a career, a life, and taking Internet quizzes to determine if she were Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda or Samantha. (I am Charlotte with a sprinkling of Carrie.) In our 40s, we have already tilled the soil, pulled the weeds, planted the seeds, and tended the garden. We are ready to Bloom.
P.S. I applaud Her Royal Hotness, but Cougar Mania makes me want to puke. To be continued....
I love your attitude! I can't wait until it's my turn to finally feel as empowered as you do. Happy 40th Birthday! Cheers - here's to a new era.
ReplyDeleteI am turning 39 this month, and I too feel like I still have some "growing" to do. I was not looking forward to my birthday this year, as it is my last "thirty-something". But now that I have read your thoughts, I feel that 40 will be okay, if not fantastic. My husband, who is 6 years older than me, always tells me that his 40 have been awesome, but I guess I had to hear it from a "girl". Thanks "Late Bloomer"!
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