Years before my 40th birthday I envisioned a big sexy unicorn-themed party hosted at a lavish event center where all my friends and family would gather around to celebrate 40 years of me.

Unfortunately, I reached the milestone age of 40 in 2021 during a pandemic so the best I could do was plan a photoshoot and post the pictures to social media.

Don’t get me wrong, I love dressing up and taking pictures to post on my birthday which you can see in this picture from 2019 when I turned 38, but I wish I had the opportunity to do more for my 40th.

No matter what a hater may say, turning 40 is a big deal, and can also be very scary. Whether you’re excited or apprehensive about your new decade in life, this blog post has some ideas on why you should celebrate and make a fuss of yourself at age 40 and beyond for that matter!

You Are Awesome

I could honestly wrap this blog post up with this section because being born in the 80s allowed us to live through an epic time. We’re considered to be the digital generation because we were born before the internet, but adopted the new technology as if it was designed exclusively for us.

I believe our time frame alone makes us an awesome bunch of kids who will always be cool! As you age, be sure to focus on the good stuff instead of beating yourself up for the things you haven’t yet conquered. Be proud of who you are and all that you’ve accomplished because none of it has been easy.

Age is only a number

Remember, you’re not old you are in your prime so take advantage of it! Over the last 20 years, you have evolved from a teenager to a middle-aged adult who has learned more than you ever could have expected. Adulthood did not come with an instructional manual, but you are still here and doing well if I do say so myself.

You’ve earned your stripes my friend so now you can call the shots and set the tone for how the rest of your story plays out. Your life experiences have come with a wealth of wisdom to share with the younger generation who will appreciate the advice of someone who has walked the walk, so share all your stories.

Never back down from a good laugh and dance every time you hear your favorite song from the 90s without the worry of being judged. All that is behind you now.

Life is short

My mind is still blown by how fast time has moved. Seems like yesterday I was a 17-year-old girl in high school wondering if I would pass the state assessment and be allowed to walk across the stage to graduate with my class. Now here I am 20 years later with 2 kids, a husband plus a ton of responsibility and I’m still in shock.

The idea of turning 40 can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Even though I’m only 2 months in, I can already tell this will be the best age for me. My kids are getting older, the oldest will be 18 before I reach 41 so it will be interesting to see life as the parent of an adult.

I hope sharing my journey to 40 has helped shed light on why you should celebrate yourself when the big day comes. You only live once and it’s best to live in a way that makes you happy regardless of your circumstance, so get out there and live!

Is 40 quickly creeping up on you, or do you still have a few years to go? What are your plans for celebrating your 40th birthday? Tell me about them in the comments below, I can’t wait to hear your experiences!