You’ve returned to your office after the presentation. Or, you’ve just walked off the stage. Your thoughts are spiraling with everything that went poorly, and heat rises in your chest. You forgot an important point. You will probably get sidelined. You are a horrible speaker. You are embarrassed to show up tomorrow. 

I created Forties Stories, in part, to figure out for myself what makes a good midlife. It’s a period of time that comes with a lot of responsibility, but what makes it rich and satisfying? What are those small things that add up to a life well-lived? We should all ask ourselves that question. It is deeply personal to each of us. There’s no prescription. Midlife is not a time to chase other people’s dreams.

A couple of years ago I heard that Gretchen Rubin was doing a “20 in 2020” challenge, a list of 20 goals for the year, but I wasn’t inspired. However, this past December I saw an Instagram post by Kathleen McKitty Harris that listed out her “22 for 2022.” I just turned 49 and felt different about the exercise this year.

I turned 49 this week. It’s the last year of my 40s. I’m surprised that I’m in a good place about it. In the past I’ve had a hard time on the 8’s: 18, 28, 38. The hardest year in my 40s was definitely 45, which is when I started the podcast. 

The podcast completely transformed my life.

Any time you create something there is a range of emotions. The top one is usually excitement. (If it’s not, you might question why that is so.)

But, are others as excited as you?