Why Turning 40 doesn’t suck

Hey there wonderful mamas!

For those among you who are hitting, have recently hit, or are about to hit the milestone of your 40s—first of all, welcome. Let me take a moment to reassure you and share my own perspective on this fabulous age. Yes. Fabulous. I know, years ago, turning 40 sounded like the beginning of the end. Like the moment you’d start collecting cat figurines and saying things like, “Back in my day…”

But let’s be real—who actually feels like that anymore? With life expectancy longer than ever, 40 isn’t the beginning of the end. It’s not even the halfway point (fingers crossed). So instead of freaking out about laugh lines, let’s take a deep breath and celebrate.

Because here’s the truth: turning 40 is kind of amazing. You’re wiser, stronger, and more unapologetically you than ever before. You’ve survived some stuff, learned a lot, and finally figured out how to say “no” without writing a 3-paragraph explanation.

So, in honor of this milestone, here are my Top 5 Reasons Why 40 Is Your Best Age Yet:

1. You’re Still Young… But Somehow Wise

At 40, you’ve officially entered the magical zone where you can still dance at weddings without pulling a hamstring and give solid life advice that actually makes sense. You’ve lived enough to know better, but not so long that you’ve forgotten how to have fun.

You’ve made mistakes. You’ve learned. You’ve probably worn low-rise jeans and survived to tell the tale. That’s wisdom, baby. You’ve got just enough life experience to know what matters—and what really, really doesn’t (like trying to please everyone).

2. You’ve Mastered the Art of Saying “No” (Without Guilt!)

Remember your 20s? When you said yes to everything because you didn’t want to disappoint anyone? Parties you didn’t want to go to, favors you didn’t have time for, pyramid schemes you didn’t understand?

Now? You say “no” like a queen. A calm, confident, candlelit-bath-taking queen who knows her time is precious and her peace is priceless.

You don’t need to explain. You don’t need to apologize. You just say, “No, thank you,” and go back to your book, your coffee, or your Netflix documentary about ancient civilizations. You’ve realized that boundaries aren’t walls—they’re doors with locks, and you finally have the key.

3. You’ve Discovered That Small Joys Are Actually the Big Ones

At 40, you realize that happiness isn’t in the big, flashy moments—it’s in the quiet, cozy ones.

It’s in the first sip of coffee before the house wakes up. It’s in the way your child’s hand still fits in yours (even if just barely). It’s in the sound of rain on the window when you don’t have to go anywhere.

You stop chasing “more” and start savoring “enough.” You realize that the little things—like a warm croissant, a good hair day, or a text from an old friend—are actually the big things. And that shift? That’s everything.

4. You Know Yourself Better (never ending work in progress)

You’ve spent four decades figuring out who you are—and now, you start to like you.

You know what makes you tick, what drains your energy, and what lights you up. You’ve stopped trying to fit into boxes that were never meant for you. You’ve stopped shrinking to make others comfortable.

You’ve built boundaries. You’ve learned to protect your energy. You’ve realized that self-love isn’t selfish—it’s survival.

And while you may still have moments of doubt (hello, imposter syndrome, my old friend), you bounce back faster. Stronger. Wiser. You’ve become your own safe space—and that’s a superpower.

5. You’ve Survived Some Stuff—and That Makes You Stronger

By 40, most of us have lived through at least one major heartbreak, loss, or life plot twist we didn’t see coming. And if you’re reading this, it means you made it through.

You’re still standing. Maybe a little bruised, maybe a little softer—but also braver, deeper, and more compassionate.

You’ve learned that healing isn’t linear, that grief has layers, and that strength doesn’t always look like stoicism. Sometimes it looks like crying in the shower and then getting up to make breakfast anyway.

You’ve earned your stripes. And now, you wear them with grace.

Bonus: You Actually Care About Your Health Now

Gone are the days of surviving on coffee, stress, and leftover chicken nuggets. At 40, you start to actually care about your health—not because of vanity, but because you want to feel good. You want to be here. You want to be present.

You stretch. You hydrate. You take your vitamins. You walk because it clears your head, not just because your fitness tracker told you to.

You realize your body is not a project—it’s a partner. And you’re finally learning how to listen to it.

So, Is 40 the New 30?

Maybe. Maybe not. But honestly, who cares?

Forty is not a crisis. It’s a celebration. It’s a badge of honor. It’s the age where you stop trying to be everything to everyone and start being everything to yourself.

So light the candles. Eat the cake. Wear the red lipstick. Dance in your kitchen. You’ve earned it.

Because 40 isn’t the beginning of the end—it’s the beginning of you.

Love, Katerina