Joining the big 40 Club!

How I turned 40 and how I fully made the most of it by taking a different route from the mainstream.

I’ve finally joined the 40s Club this week! The big 4-0!

I have to admit, the welcome to the Club has been rather heart-warming! I’ve been very fortunate to have older friends who had already crossed over that line years ago and to have them waiting and cheering me on on my birthday felt like I had truly made it!

Turning 40 is after all one of those milestones in life where it can be daunting when you feel the pressure of performing or feel that you should be “doing something” of your life.

But I can proudly say that I was able to turn this around in my favour. Of course like many of us would do, I did ask myself a few questions such as:

-What should I do to celebrate the big day?

-Should I organise a big party?

-Should I expect a big surprise?

-Who should I invite, who should I see?

-Should I go away abroad?

-Where should I be in life at that point in time?

-Who truly cares?

The kind of questions that add more pressure onto ourselves if we ponder on them for too long.

Thankfully, I had already decided last year, as I was approaching my forties, to keeping myself youthful, healthy and energetic. I created a system, instead of worrying and thinking what I should be doing of my life,

to help me keep an open mind and saw turning 40 in a different perspective.

Of course, we see turning 40 mostly as getting old, reaching middle age and the end of youth. But it can’t be further from the truth!

It all starts in the mind!

I could have let myself feel disappointed or depressed at approaching 40 without children or a family of my own. I could have felt pressured or as though I should be much further in life at 40.

But then after I observed many of my friends and family members getting older with or without families, I realised that we all have our own journey to live and experience.

Priorities and values differ from one person to another.

For example, having a family and children of their own could be very important for one, but something another is hardly ever thinking about.

Working in a renowned company for a big salary and buying a house and a car can be important for one, but something another would rather avoid in order to be debt and mortgage free.

We all have different interests and sets of values. We don’t all want the same things and that's the beauty of it all.

Which is why it is important to know what we truly value are in order to know for ourselves if we are where we want to be in life.

For example, I want peace of mind, health, selfcare and create new memories. That is what I decided to focus on for my 40th this year.

In the past, I would have hoped for a big surprise birthday party with all my friends and family gathered together. But I realised that it wasn’t something that would be possible.

For one, my friends are scattered all over the world and over the years, I have also learnt to let go and done a clear up in my friendships. So I came to realise that I didn’t really want a big gathering, because it didn’t make sense anymore.

As time goes by, I am more open to authentic connections with the right people at the right moment. That way I get to find my tribe.

"I rather be alone in a crowded happy place than feel lonely surrounded by the wrong crowd."

That is why this year, I decided to take the time to care and treat myself. No pressure, no expectations, no surprises, no forcing anything, no doing anything you don’t want to be doing anymore. It was going to be a day of things I wanted to do with myself for myself.

In order to live happily ever after, you have to treat and look after the main character in your life. Yourself!

I felt empowered taking control of my health and well-being. I felt proud to have set my mind to living a youthful, energetic and vibrant life. Caring for my mental health and well-being has become a top priority.

Without health we have nothing.

Taking the day off to treat myself to a pedicure and a massage then go around London to collect birthday freebies was a real treat to me. I took myself out and it felt great! I was like a child going trick or treat at Halloween collecting my candies!

The energy from the people handing over my freebies were high, they wished me happy birthday and it made me feel very special. In fact those kind of encounter and connections with genuine and uplifting strangers can be very powerful to raise your energy levels.

It is the type of positive experience that I would recommend to everyone. I enjoyed it very much, and to some it may seem an odd thing to do, but I actually gained a lot of positive vibes from it!

I was on a mission to enjoy and make the most of my day, and going around collecting freebies and happy birthdays was wonderful!

The aim of the day was to take care of myself and I did not care what other people thought. I was happy and felt worthy looking after my inner child!

My 40th birthday celebration was not a big trip to an island dancing the night away, or a big surprise party. It was quiet yet very rich in high positive energy where I got to enjoy every second of it, doing exactly what I wanted in every moment.

I was in control of how I felt and I fully appreciated my own company and the decision I’ve made to take care of myself. It’s important not to pressure ourselves with doing anything we don’t want to do anymore.

Our happiness = Mental well-being = Healthy and Kind hearted human being who positively impact the world

Where there’s friction, there’s fire.

Where there’s fire, there’s damage and drama.

Stay away from drama. Stay clear of stressful triggers. Stay clear of bad vibes.

My big 40 celebration was genuinely a success and a day that I’ll remember as a moment in time when I took control of my well-being and chose joy and positive energy over drama.

Life is what you make it.

Create peace.

Create positive energy.

Create the extraordinary.

Welcome to the life at 40!