Practically from birth people are reminded every year that they are getting older. When they reach their teens a celebration occurs as adolescence is deemed a successful beginning to life as an adult. 21 marks an official transformation into adulthood; a catalyst to learning the truth about what life is about. People then arrive at 30, celebrating once more as they have successfully negotiated the turbulence and party days of their 20s and are now firmly entrenched as more responsible members of society. Then the years suddenly start accelerating for some unknown reason... 35 arrives & leaves... 36, 37, 38, 39... and then, after one final restless night as a 30-something, they awake with a start! 40 has arrived!!
So why has there always been such a negative stigma to turning 40? Why do people suddenly feel as though life has passed them by? Why does the so-called "midlife crisis" suddenly entrench itself in their respective mindsets? After all, they are actually only one day older than when they climbed into bed and fell asleep on that last night as a 30-something.
The answer to the questions above can be answered quickly and easily. Society dictates how we feel and behave. Fashion, music, sport, literature and the opinions of friends, family and co-workers all affect the way a new member of over-40 generation thinks and behaves. Hair starts graying faster, joints ache more & experience lines appear on faces with greater frequency. All of a sudden a person feels older! Turning 40 makes one suddenly more susceptible to one of the greatest propaganda campaigns in life! Don't worry though, the awesome thing is that it is only in the mind!!
Sport
In the sports world, many so-called veterans achieve what plenty of younger sportsmen can only dream of. Dino Zoff captained the Italian football team in the World Cup Finals at 40 and Roger Milla of the Cameroon was still representing his country at 42. The cricketer, Jack Hobbs rattled off more than half of his 199 first class centuries after he turned 40 and jockey Lester Piggott finally climbed out of the saddle for the last time at the age of 60.
Music
In music, Mick Jagger still prances around the stage like a teenager at the age of 65, whilst Tina Turner was flashing her still-divine legs at over 50. Others like Eric Clapton, David Bowie, Madonna and Whitney Houston still appeal to youthful audiences at their ages.
Literature
Authors are no different. J.K. Rowling is 43, Stephen King is 50, Anne Rice is 66 and all of them maintain the ability to paint pictures with their words and relate to readers much younger than themselves.
Showbiz
Finally, some of the biggest sex symbols in the world today are over 40. Names such as George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Bruce Willis and Tom Cruise automatically spring to mind, as do Demi Moore, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock and Elle McPherson amongst the fairer sex.
So, in summary, many beautiful, talented and remarkable people still exist and appeal to the youth well into their 40s. The power of the mind is a glorious thing which enables a person in their 40s to behave and feel as young or old as they choose to, with the advanced knowledge and experience they have gathered throughout their stay on this Planet being a benefit not available to many of a younger age. Hence 40 is not an age to be anticipated with trepidation, but rather with a new vigor and determination to maintain, and even enhance, achievements and lifestyles created previously.
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