Lessons & Life at 40
Hello Boujee Philosophers!!
What am I supposed to reflect on, on my 40th birthday?
It’s interesting because my birthday is January 20th (a week after this is published) and once every four years, I share my birth date with the United States presidential inauguration. And once every seven or so years, I share my birth date with Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Well in 2025, MLK Jr. Day and the 2nd inauguration of Donald Trump both happen to fall on January 20th - my 40th birthday. For some reason, the chaos of these things all happening on the same day seems fitting.
I’ve been trying to reflect on what it means to be turning 40. And I think a lot of people are desperately trying to hold on to their youth, while I’m trying to find and understand the beauty of each era of life. I thought I’d be more scared, have more focus on mortality, maybe even sit in regret about all that could have been. Mostly, though, I’m really grateful that I’m here. And, I’m here living a life that is filled with love, rest, vulnerability, adventure, learning, and joy.
40 is wild.
Life looks nothing like I thought it would at 40. Many of the milestones I was told to care about and hold as necessary in my growth don’t even factor in to how I am going about life. But below are a few things, I am holding during this milestone and want to share with you!
XO,
EAF
When you start to treat yourself as a human being, everything feels better: