Hahh, what a week! I had to disengage myself from blogging activities in order to concentrate on other more pressing matters. Matters like making a presentation in a conference, writing and submitting my proposals, rewriting a paper for a journal, submitting an abstract to another conference, yada, yada, yada. March is always the busiest time of the year, which, incidentally, also coincides with the end of the fiscal year here in Japan. Anyway, I’m glad that I’ve completed most of the tasks I needed to do. I can breathe now, thank you very much! On a brighter note, the sakura (cherry blossoms) are already in full bloom, and we can enjoy viewing them this week! Yay!
Well, there is a particular topic that I want to write about in this post. Thing is, I’m turning a year older tomorrow. It’s no big deal, right? 🙂 Everyone else will turn a year older this year. But for some reason, I’m having a “When Harry Met Sally” reflective moment. Ok, sure, 40 is still several years down the road, but hey, I will turn 40…someday! To paraphrase Sally’s outburst: “Forty…it’s just there, waiting!”The big four-oh is hurling towards me, like it or not. Some people I personally know are already ranting about turning 40 – and for some reason, they end up buying themselves some expensive stuffs. Maybe to make themselves feel better? Is it really that bad? I couldn’t help but think that pretty soon, our batch in college will be writing emails with similar angst about turning 40 in our mailing list.
In a way, I can understand what the fuss is all about. When I was 10, 20 seemed ancient. Old. Scary. Unthinkable, even. When I turned 20, I realized that it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Twenty was…cool. I got to be independent; I got recognized as an adult in my own right. I was happy to displace my idea of ancient to the more distant age of 40. Forty seemed like lightyears away.
Thirty came, and I realized, hey, this is almost like 20, but with more independence, more money, and less parents breathing down my neck. Emancipation!!! Earn a living, start a family, settle down in domestic bliss. Check, check, check.
When I do hit 40, how would 80 sound? Like my Mom would say, “isang bulate na lang ang hinihintay na pumirma sa kontrata.” lol
When I turn 40, would I end up looking back at how I spent half of my life (given that I would actually live until 80), and gripe about the things I have failed to do? Would I be forced to take a long, hard look at where my career has gone and feel satisfied, or would I end up beating my head for making bad decisions? Would I feel bad if I still haven’t amassed enough wealth to secure a comfortable life without having to work my ass off anymore? Would buying a new house or a new car be as tempting as it is now? Would having a fat savings account be something to be happy about when you’re forty? Would I be reflecting on how much of my life has been spent serving others and making their lives better instead of just focusing on my own comfort?
Ok, maybe that’s too much to reflect on, haha. As I said, I’ve several years more to go. Ample time to ruminate. But if there are others out there who have hit the big four-oh and would like to share the tidbits of wisdom that they’ve learned during this transition, feel free to rant, err, comment. 🙂
For now, I bid thee adieu with these words of wisdom I scooped from the internet, hehe…and remember, age is a state of the mind! 😛 Have fun.
YOU KNOW YOU’RE GETTING “MARVELOUSLY MATURE” WHEN…..
1. You and your teeth don’t sleep together.
2. Your try to straighten out the wrinkles in your socks and discover you aren’t wearing any.
3. At the breakfast table you hear “snap, crackle, pop” and you’re not eating cereal.
4. Your back goes out but you stay home.
5. When you wake up looking like your driver’s license picture.
6. It takes two tries to get up from the couch.
7. When your idea of a night out is sitting on the patio. (My idea of a night out is sitting on the couch and watching DVDs.)
8. When happy hour is a nap.
9. When you’re on vacation and your energy runs out before your money does.. (Oh mama…this is becoming too familiar.)
10. When you say something to your kids that your mother said to you and you always hated it. (This is soo true!)
11. When all you want for your birthday is to not be reminded of your age. (Thank you!)
12. When you step off a curb and look down one more time to make sure the street is still there.
13. Your idea of weight lifting is standing up.
14. It takes longer to rest than it did to get tired.
15. Your memory is shorter and your complaining lasts longer.
16. Your address book has mostly names that start with Dr.
17. You sit in a rocking chair and can’t get it going.
18. The pharmacist has become your new best friend.
19. Getting “lucky” means you found your car in the parking lot.
20. The twinkle in your eye is merely a reflection from the sun on your bifocals.
21. It takes twice as long – to look half as good. (Ouch. Just plain ouch.)
22. Everything hurts, and what doesn’t hurt – doesn’t work.
23. You look for your glasses for half an hour and they were on your head the whole time.
24. You sink your teeth into a steak – and they stay there.
25. You give up all your bad habits and still don’t feel good.
26. You have more patience, but it is actually that you just don’t care anymore.
27. You finally get your head together and your body starts falling apart.
28. You wonder how you could be over the hill when you don’t even remember being on top of it.
well i guess ill be the first one to greet here.. happy birthday!
sometimes, not counting is better 🙂 and i liked the “marvelously mature” list.
tell me about it, I’ll hit the big 4-0 in four years(bring it on, I say)! Oh well, I think we’ll age gracefully (thanks or no thanks to blogging).
about these people turning 40 (ehem)– mid-life crisis? maybe.
I agree with your list; every single one!
Happy birthday Kathy 🙂
ps… don’t work too hard, especially on your birthday!
Chill out and have a smashing time 🙂
Happy Birthday Kathy! I’m sure it will be a “painless” transition when you hit 40! Hehehe, I’m saying this to myself as I will be That age sometime soon! Reading the “marvelously mature” list- I find I’m identifying with quite a number of things there =( especially with the snap,crackle & pop! And yes,getting forgetful, oh,my..
But, have a wonderful day girl. May all your fondest wishes come true. And I second with Pining in saying, don’t work too hard on your birthday….
Why is everyone worried about the big four-oh anyway? I’ll be 46 in a couple of months but I still feel — at least mentally — like I’m still in my 30’s. Or maybe I’m just in denial… hahaha. 😀
Happy Birthday, Kathy. 🙂
You’re absolutely right – better not to count the years, but the experience. 🙂 It’s just that sometimes, friends and families won’t make you forget how old you are, hehe.
Thanks for the greeting, dimaks!
Be happy, don’t worry, some don’t even have a chance to get old.
Honestly, I’ve never feel better anytime than now, just want to roll the years so I can have my full time pension instead of optional if I retire now that the govt. will give less 30%, but the godemn govt. just pass the law that we can work (if we want to) until we drop. this is for people who just immigrated late and for those who have to support relatives while taking their pensions and working full time. at least we have a choice.
Anyways happy birthday and Spring is only spring in words here cuz it is still cold and may snow anytime. and remember be happy for being 40 and healthy.
“Bring it on!” – lol, I like your attitude, girl! Here’s to more years and more blogging. As for aging gracefully, I’d like to think that in cyberspace, age is irrelevant, and we are “frozen” in time. We can interact with people twice our age without feeling any inhibitions or feeling like we have to act or react based on socially accepted norms with respect to people’s ages.
Thanks pining! I had a smashing time, thank you! But I still did work hard today, unfortunately, being the host for the party we threw at home. 🙂 I’m beat. But happy.
Thanks Gina! I really love your birthday wish! Hmm, I forgot to make a wish when I blew out the candles on my birthday cake. How could I forget! Oh wait, that could mean that I am _really_ getting old.
You’re almost there? Wow, now please don’t forget to let us know how your transition goes! 🙂
Woohoo, snglguy, I like your cool attitude about being 46 and all. I actually thought you were about my age – honestly! So, not only do you feel like 30’s, you also “project” that 30’s feeling to other people. 🙂
Thanks for the greeting! 🙂
Vic, that is just about the best dose of reality that I have read about today. 🙂 Being 40 and healthy is a real blessing. Thanks for the reminder, and thanks for the birthday greeting.
Here in Japan the pension system is more strict. One has to work for 25 years in order to get the full pension benefits. Less than that, and you get nada. Unfair, isn’t it? And with the aging population in this country, it makes me wonder if I would even get anything at all when I retire, in say, 35 years.
Happy Birthday, Kathy!
Not much difference being 40, actually. Well … one — time will seem to go faster from here on forward … hehehe!
Many more to come!
also, many thanks, Kathy!
Happy birthday Kathy! Enjoy each day. Enjoy the process, not the outcome. Yan ang pampalakas loob ko sa sarili ko — which I always seem to forget .. haha. Blame it on my youth.
Anyway, half of what you listed down — applicable na sa akin yan. Ang galing ng list mo. Bagay sa ode2old di ba?
They say turning 40 is the worst and it does cause mid-life crisis to people 🙂 I guess it is all in the mind really. As long as one doesn’t look 60 when he turns 40 I think it is fine 🙂 Thinking young and staying young by not overdrinking and overeating I think is a great way to retrogress the wrinkling process hehe. BTW happy Bday to you and may you have many more:)
Happy happy birthday Kathy! Your reflections are great on turning older. Aren’t blogs great mediums to reflect and share on these things? 20, 30, 40, 50… they’re all the same… happiness could be found at any age. 🙂
Happy birthday, tukayo. Don’t worry too much about hitting the big 4-0. It’s just another day. 🙂 I didn’t buy anything expensive, but I did throw a birthday party for myself, which I don’t usually do. 🙂
Belated Happy Birthday, Kathy! Magkasunod lang pala tayo. Thanks for the list, I double checked everything that is (sort of) relevant, and gave a sigh of relief. Not THAT mature pa pala ako…whew! Hehe.
Advance happy birthday for next year 🙂
hahaha girls and their age, somehow wala pa akong na meet na babae over 29 yrs of age. It seems they stop aging at that point. Kahit na nanay ko minsan maririnig mo …tynine daw s’ya.
I dunno pero compared ko lang mga pinay sa mga ‘merkana dito. Ang mga pinay looks half as young. Meron sigurong secret.
uh.. some people just got this habit of asking “hey how old are you”? lol. your’e welcome!
Happy birthday, Kathy! I am going to hit the big 45 soon and it doesn’t bother me a bit. What is important is how you feel. If you feel young like I do, then, you got it made…feliz cumpleanos!!
Belated Happy Birthday! 🙂 Hope you had fun celebrating your day! Saan kayo nagdate? 😀
I guess it doesn’t really matter it we age as long as we age with wisdom and stay young at heart. 🙂
i will be turning 30 next year! I used to be anxious about it pero ngayon i am excited what fun and wisdom will it add to my life!
belated happy bday kathy, havent read the entire blog yet..gotta go kc. anyways, cheer and happy spring!
im late! im late! Gawd I can’t forgive myself for being late!!! lolz
Sorry my friend but…
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
YOU BELONG TO THE ZOO
WITH THE MONKEYS AND THE DONKEYS
AND THE KANGAROOS TOO!!!!
Happy Birthday Kathy! Don’t worry too much about getting old kasi I also believe that it’s all in the mind. Ako nga I dont understand why some people are making a lot of fuss about getting crows feet of laugh lines. I mean why wouldn’t you want to experience something amazing like that? It’s life and its part of life. Some undergo face lifts to masked it but look at them…they look like clowns. Surely Hubby will stil love you kahit gray and old ka na. But of course matagal pa yan 🙂
Basta you’re hip and you’re cool and we love you…so be happy! and Happy Birthday again. 🙂
Thanks Eric!
Time seems to fly faster after 40? Maybe it’s a sign that one is supposed to “slow down” deliberately? 🙂
Congrats again!
Thanks for the bday greeting, Anna! “Enjoy the process, not the outcome” – I will surely keep this in mind. Thanks for this golden bit of wisdom. 🙂
Feel free to use the list (it’s not mine anyway hehe) for Ode2old!
Thanks for the greeting and the advice, bw! Well, as for me, I hope I can look 20 when I’m 40, hehe. 🙂 I don’t know about the “looking young” part, but I’ll try my best with the “thinking young” part. 🙂
Thanks a lot, Toe! You’re absolutely right – it’s simply wonderful that we can reflect on these things through blogging. Plus great insights from other people! 🙂
Forget age, just strive for happiness. Nicely said!
Thanks niceheart! Wow, no midlife crisis? I guess it depends on the person, doesn’t it? Hmm, I wonder what I’ll do when that time comes? One thing for sure, I’ll celebrate the occasion with loved ones and friends. 🙂
Thanks Gypsy! Glad to know you found the list useful, hehe. Hope you had a good one! 🙂
Thanks Mon, ang aga-aga naman ng greeting mo! lol
Forever 29 – oo nga no! Regarding your comparison – hindi kaya dahil sa ang mga Pinay ay lagi nakangiti? Mas nakakabata raw tingnan yung palaging nakangiti. Smile! 🙂
Hello Belle! Welcome back. I hope you had a grand vacation. 🙂
Thanks for the greeting! Naku, as long as I could look as gorgeous as you do, I won’t mind turning 40 or even 45. 😉
Thanks Hazel. Yes, I did have fun! You know I also had a lot of anxieties about turning 30 – so I guess you can imagine how I now feel about turning 40. We’ll see how it goes.
Fun and wisdom – that’s a great way of looking at it. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Thanks Deyns, and hope to see you in our hanami! Sana may matira pang sakura sa Saturday hehe. 🙂
Late nga, pero bumawi ka naman sa haba ng comment mo, hehe. May kanta pa! Buti na lang di mo ginamit yung version sa “Madagascar” na
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
YOU LIVE IN A ZOO
YOU LOOK LIKE A MONKEY
AND SMELL LIKE ONE, TOO
lol
Anyway, thanks for your lovely message. I found myself grinning from ear to ear after reading what you wrote!
Belated Happy Birthday! May God continue to bless you and your family! 😀
Better late than ever…Greetings…hope your birthday was as lovely as the blooming cherry blossoms.
I stopped counting at 23. But then I have to know my age when its needed for applications and surveys to fill-up, I usually forget so I subtract 2 from my hubby’s age.
Maybe, you are midlifing…just like me. Soon enough I will hit the big four-oh as well.
We age with beauty and mature with grace. Lets keep it that way.
btw, hope you’ll like this
sorry i cannot personalize it.
belated happy birthday!! in less than two weeks, i’ve encountered a lot of bloggers celebrating their birthdays on about the same time or same week as mine, it’s like everyone’s celebrating their birthdays so happy birthday to us. 🙂
when we’re small and young, we can’t wait to grow up and be an adult, and now that we’re all grown up and matured (i didn’t use “old”, oops), we wished we’re still young.
Thanks a lot Jaypee! 🙂
belated happy birthday, dear! better late than never di ba?
40may be a few years down the road, but don’t fret, LIFE BEGINS AT 40, so they say…for me, it’s kinda true. 🙂
happy birthday, better late than never ha? LOL
so, Arian ka rin pala, siguro matigas din ang ulo mo. LOL
growng old is not a prob, kalabaw lang ang tumatanda sabi nga ng mga matatanda.
sbi nga–
“you can be old at 21 but
one may die young at 81.”
so it’s all in the mind.
zen. zzzzzzz….
happy b-day again 🙂
Thanks a lot, Leah! Yes, I had a lovely day celebrating my birthday. Btw I loved what you said – age with beauty and mature with grace. Take that, beauty products! 😛
Yes, I would also prefer to stop counting, but here in Japan that seems impossible to do – so many application forms to fill up!
Oh, what was the thing you wanted to give me? Was it a link? The link wasn’t active, so I wonder if you could give it again?
Birthday mo rin pala? Happy birthday din Zherwin! 🙂
Hay, to be young and carefree again – if only we could turn back the time.
Thanks, sexy mom! 🙂
I’ll take your word for it – life beginning at 40 – you seem to be having the time of your life!
Hi Kathy,
Happy Easter…Here’s the link
http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?cont=1&hdn=3&pv=MD03EN
Belated Happy Birthday! Don’t worry about the age, those are just numbers. I think read somewhere than one is not really (40) its just 18 years of age plus 22 years of experiences. 🙂 A few more years from now, I will be hitting the big 4-0 myself and I will just give it a more serious thought when that time comes.
Btw, can I link you up?
Bill! Long time! 😉 Thanks for the greeting. I like your quote! Sabi nga ng nasira kong ama, ang pagiging bata ay nasa isip. Ok lang isip bata, basta wag asal bata. 🙂
Me? Tigas ulo? I don’t know. I’m not really into zodiac signs. But yes, my birth day would make me Arian. 🙂
Happy Easter!
Wiii! I love it! Thanks a lot Leah. Ganda nung concept at saka nong butterfly.
Thanks Julie! Alloting the years for age and for experience makes a whole lotta sense to me. 🙂
Sure, I’d be happy to exchange links with you! Thanks for dropping by.