What I Wish I Knew at 40

What I Wish I Knew at 40



 (Notes scribbled by someone who now needs reading glasses and still can’t program the TV remote.)Forty always sounded so… mature. Like, you’d have life neatly boxed up with a bow on top, right? Spoiler alert: at 70, we’re still wrestling with socks that mysteriously vanish in the laundry and Googling “what on earth is a TikTok?” But if we could hop into a DeLorean and whisper sweet wisdom into our forty-year-old selves’ ear, here’s what we’d say—preferably before someone asks us to explain NFTs.


1. Health & Wellness: Move It… But Maybe Not Like You Did in ’99

  • Start early: Your body at 70 is not a rental car you can trade in for a newer model—treat it well from the get-go.

  • Gentle over gladiator: Those high-intensity workouts that left you gasping in your thirties? Opt for swimming, yoga, or competitive shuffleboard instead. Your knees will thank you (and you’ll still win at shuffleboard).

  • Food matters: Mediterranean diet isn’t just an Instagram fad—olive oil and omega-3s are basically brain fuel. Picture yourself at 90, crushing Sudoku puzzles like a champ.

Pro tip: Skipping that extra glass of wine occasionally is fine. We know, we know… but trust us—hangovers at 70 are not a laughing matter.


2. Finances & Career: Cha-Ching… Without the Chaotic

  • Max out those retirement accounts: Imagine you’re giving your future self a gift. And yes, your future self sends a thank-you note (written in crayon, but heartfelt).

  • Passion check: If you’re not secretly wishing your 40-year-old self had started that side gig selling artisanal hot sauce or writing bad poetry, what are you even doing? Do the self-audit, find your spark, and fan that flame.

  • Avoid lifestyle inflation: Your salary grows, but your expenses don’t have to sprint after it. Fancy latte every day? Maybe switch to tea once in a while—your wallet will flex its gratitude.

Pro tip: Those car payments for the shiny new SUV? Yep, future you is still paying them (with interest). Make friends with a reliable, pre-owned set of wheels.


3. Relationships & Family: It’s Not Just About the Selfie

  • Be there: Weddings, birthdays, funerals, impromptu game nights—these are the threads in your life quilt. RSVP “Yes” before you change your mind.

  • Expand your “people horizons”: Join a club, take a class, or adopt a pet rock—whatever gets you mingling. You never know where the next fascinating human connection is hiding.

  • Own your quirks: That mid-life confidence crisis? Squash it by celebrating what makes you, well, you. People love authenticity—crooked smile and all.

Pro tip: If you can remember everyone’s name at gatherings, you’re doing better than most of us. Seriously, kudos.


4. Personal Growth & Mindset: Failures Are Just Plot Twists

  • Embrace the oops: Flopped at your first pottery class? Good. Now you have a lopsided vase to laugh about. Failure is data with a side of character development.

  • Savor the small stuff: Happiness isn’t a giant milestone—it’s found in morning coffee rituals, unexpected rainbows, and perfectly ripe avocados.

  • Stay flexible: Life will toss curveballs—sometimes literally, if you’re as uncoordinated as we are. Adapt, adjust, and keep swinging.

Pro tip: A growth mindset at 40 means you get to chart new territories—no permission slip required.


5. Legacy & Fulfilment: Your Story, Unfiltered

  • Record the mundane: Future you will cherish photos of your beloved (but terribly stained) breakfast nook just as much as that epic vacation.

  • Passion projects now: Don’t wait for retirement to become the world’s quirkiest watercolor painter or volunteer extraordinaire. Dive in today—your spirit will high-five you tomorrow.

  • Break the molds: Aging doesn’t mean slowing down—it means reinventing. Be the 70-year-old bungee-jumper or avocado-growing guru you always secretly wanted to be.

Pro tip: Start that journal, blog, or voice memo now—your great-great grandchildren might thank you for the juicy family anecdotes.


So there you have it—a friendly wink from age 70 to age 40. If you think you’ve got it all sorted at forty, congratulations—buy your younger self a high-five and maybe a good chiropractor. Either way, the best time to plant seeds for a rich, vibrant later life was yesterday; the second-best time is… right now. 🌱


Keep laughing, keep learning, and remember: gray hairs are just glitter on the path to wisdom.
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