I’m turning 40 this week. (October 8th!) And somehow, I feel more myself now than I ever did when I was trying so hard to “figure myself out.” So instead of a midlife crisis, I made a midlife list. Here’s a list of 40 things I’ve learned by 40...
The grass is greener where you water it.
Weightlifting will make you age in reverse.
Go ahead and get a kick out of everything. Especially the little, dumb stuff.
The only real FOMO is the fear of missing out on the actual life you already have while you’re busy comparing it to someone else’s.
Momentum beats motivation every time. You don’t have to feel like it—just take one step. Get the ball rolling.
My kids probably won't remember if I was a "perfect" parent, but I hope they'll remember I enjoyed the heck out of spending time with them.
My body is my partner. Caring for it is an act of service.
I don't have to be "on" all day every day. Energy is cyclical. Flow > force.
I’d rather my house feel like a deep exhale than a perfect Pinterest board.
Turn the project in already. Hit publish. Get feedback. Just make it exist. You can tweak it later. (Also no one probably cares that much!)
Gratitude rewired my brain way faster than criticism ever did.
It's okay if something that used to work for you is no longer working for you.
Confidence is a habit, not a personality type. You have to get the reps in.
Play is mandatory for productivity.
Rest is an investment, not a reward.
I can do hard things—but if everything feels hard, it might be time to get curious and do an audit. Does something foundational need to change?
Assume it's going to take longer than you think it is. Surrender the outcome. Sink into the process. (Lesson 3 helps with this.)
Marriage: "Get in the boat. If he’s paddling through whitewater, grab an oar. Don’t hop out and float by in a life raft sh*ttalking him to your girlfriends—get in the boat with him." -Mel Robbins
Most clutter is just delayed decision-making.
The version of me I’m becoming needs different habits than the one who got me here.
Parenting: all kid-discipline is actually self-discipline. (I have to make myself follow through.)
When I wish someone would surprise me a coffee, go surprise someone else with coffee.
I can’t always control the thought, but I can choose the next aligned action.
The best revenge is a peaceful nervous system.
Sobriety is a superpower. (Day 640, by the way, and still fun at parties. 😉)
A bad day doesn’t mean a bad life—it probably just means low blood sugar or a bad night’s sleep. When in doubt: take a shower, eat some protein, drink some water, open a window.
Sometimes progress is painfully boring. (Oh my gawdddddd, like so boring, amiright?)
My creativity stalls when I’m constantly consuming. “Create first, then consume.”
A walk in nature is more restorative than reading every single Amazon review for a $20 dress.
If it’s not a full-body yes, it’s probably a polite no.
The rush is not required.
Every “lazy” season was actually a healing one.
My worth is not connected to my productivity.
I can be grateful and want more.
Daily morning pages + weekly artist's dates = a wildly creative life. (Read The Artist's Way, trust me.)
Regret is just data. Learn. Pivot. Release. You can’t shame yourself into long-term change. It doesn’t work.
Nobody was ever thinking about me as much as I thought they were.
Alignment > Achievement.
Aging is a gift. Not everyone gets to do it.
Life is actually so short, you guys. Wear the sparkly dress. Take the picture. Lease the studio. Launch the business. Ditch the grudge. Send the apology. Just do it. When else are you gonna do it? Seriously, what are we all even waiting for?!
Cheers to still learning, unlearning, and still finding new ways to laugh at myself. If this is 40, I’ll take it. xoxo-Katie Day
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