They say that youth is wasted on the young. This idea that by the time you have the experience and worldly knowledge to really do some things in your life, you've generally passed your physical, energetic peak depresses many as the big 4-0 approaches. And while there may be some truth to that belief, I think we're more than overdue for a shift in the overall idea that says that the older you get the more out of tune and over the hill you are.
As men, 40 years of age is really viewed as a landmark point in life. Many see it as true manhood. You're more than two decades removed from your school years and you've been through the formative adult years of your 30s.
When 40 hits, a lot of life priorities start to shift, whether you want to acknowledge it or not. There are new health matters that you have to stay diligent about, not to mention a general change in your social life and your romantic relationship towards others. In many ways you've just become the old man in the club.
More importantly than that, there's this notion that your ability to succeed and create in life has passed you by. Fortunately there is no shortage of examples that lets us know that life hasn't even begun to start yet, personally and professionally.
“The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child into old age, which means never losing your enthusiasm.” - Aldous Huxley
This is the mindset that I believe we need to take going forward. 40 is not some sort of debilitating status. It represents life, experience, wisdom and opportunity. Some of the biggest, most impactful creations within our culture came from people beyond the age of 40. Greatness has no age limit. Make it your mantra that you will only get better with time.
Let's approach 40 with less of a limiting mindset but more so with the mentality that you are only as old as you feel. Better yet, flip that because you are really as young as you choose to feel. Let 40 represent a motivational push towards new creativity and success. Every time you feel that a road has been closed off to you potentially because of age, take a second to step back and look at all the paths that are available to you. You can't teach experience. It can't be bought, it is a valuable life element and we need to embrace this wholeheartedly.
From here on out life takes more of a quality over quantity vibe. You’ll see less of your friends and loved ones but those encounters will mean more. You’ll have less sex but hopefully those wild younger years have made you better at the craft. You’ll crave more quiet evenings in bed vs loud nights at the bar. You'll find more happiness in life's simplicities and comfort in the still quiet moments.
Hold on because the best is yet to come.
Written By: Jason Francis