Seniors, how were your 40s for you? Good, bad, or a bit of both?

Question

I am in my 40s and it has been mostly a bad decade for me :(
I have had unexpected health issues come up and many disappointments.
How was your 40s? If it was bad, how did you cope with it? Do you feel you are better off now at your current age than you were then?

Answer 1

My 40s and 50s were the worst years of my life. I was in my 40s when I discovered I had bipolar disorder. The symptoms of my disorder had really taken off when I was about 42 and that was when I began seeking treatment; I didn't know in the earlier years what was wrong - just that something was. Probably the worst decade of my life along with much of my 50s. I became unable to work when I was 52 and my mental health was disastrous for several years afterwards. It took quite a while for it to "settle down" and level off to the point where I reached my norm - which is where I am today. Now it is manageable and my life is okay again (just turned 70 a few days ago) and has been for about ten years.



Also physically I was very sick because of smoking; I had smoked up to 4 packs a day for 25 years and it had caught up with me. I finally had bronchitis which had stopped responding to treatment and I quit smoking because of that when I was 43 (27 years ago on Jan 24th) - so that aspect of my health improved except that I then put on weight and became obese (dear God can't I do anything in moderation)? But last year I lost 65 lbs so who knows? maybe I'll continue to lose weight and someday look as good as I now feel physically and hook a man and have wild sex for the rest of my life. One can always hope.

Answer 2

My 40s were the worst of all. It seems I peaked early with my career. I was tired, restless, losing money, and fifteen years into a marriage I didn't have the nerve to end. But a good reputation can be valuable, so in my 50s, my reputation for excellence and reliability from an earlier time paid off as a couple of acquaintances bailed me out with some terrific contract work that led to a 6-figure income through my 60s. Maybe there is a message here for you.

Answer 3

Kinda crazy. I've never been married. Online dating became very popular so I decided to get into that when I was 44. Boy did I get hurt, but it was an interesting way to find out how people really think and operate; men in their 40s and 50s are just as bad as they are in their 20s. LOL! I was in the best shape of my life, healthy, gorgeous, good job -- eh...I became a cougar. It was not satisfying because all I really wanted was to be loved.



Then I settled down, went back to church, and I met a man and dated him long distance for two years. We spent a lot of weekends together and holidays. I was really in love but in the end, I got very hurt. By the time I was 50 I was done with dating for good. I have no desire to do the whole "getting to know you" thing. The day after I turned 50 my best friend died. 50 marked a new era for me.

But that was my 40s in a nutshell.

Answer 4

My 40s were very good years. My life style changed for the better and it provided for a more positive attitude for activity at work & at home. I had begun to quit smoking at age 35 and began walking/jogging about that time as I ended my nicotine addiction. By age 40, my running became my new addiction - with better blood flow coursing my body and more oxygen and endorphins providing better, quicker decision making on my part. I did more activity with increased energy and did not have a weight problem. I was stronger. fitter and smiled a lot. I was able to take some risks in my planning for the future back then and was very positively motivated which seem to carry over in all aspects of my life. Energized... It was a very good period of my life.

Answer 5

My 40s were a very happy time. Some of my children were nearing school leaving age and thinking about work experience or college/uni whilst others were a good bit younger and still in junior school and having small(ish) friends around to play and still wanting to play on swings and roundabout etc. They were all pre-computers and life was good, conversations were to be had, problems discussed etc. Far better than today with everyone wanting to look at a screen of some kind (as I am doing just now). I live alone now but still see them all regularly and still enjoy life but very differently from those days.

Answer 6

My 40s were the start of the best times in my life. I did more living after 40 than I ever did before 40. I was finally grown up and confident and smart and driven. I was on top of the world.

Answer 7

My forties were the empty nest syndrome and the husband peaked in his middle aged crisis junk, one of my children took on an addiction and ever since I have had a set of grand kids needier than the others. So life has its struggles and we pray and with Christ help we make it through the rough waters! Prayer and praise, always trying to do Gods will in our lives is what makes the difference. He is my anchor and peace, all else is vanity. My sixties are kinda fun but I have to work on being healthier, or that will really be a deal breaker on my choices if I fail. So far so good. But frankly yea, the 40s were tough, as the people around me went bananas.

Answer 8

I got badly hurt in my 40s and it wasnt pleasant. I had to totally redo my life again but you do what you have to do. And it seemed it was the first decade I could see a decline in my physical ability to do things. I still got it all done but it just seemed to take longer. I'd love to be 40 again. Im so much older now. Do what you have to do to make it all work. Enjoy being 40...they are good mature years.

Answer 9

There was both good and bad things going on my life. One day I looked in the mirror and realized I was getting older, would never write the Great American Novel or become President, I had a wife, two kids and a mortgage that would prevent me from going around the world on a Sail Boat. I saw my self working in the same old job until one day I sat on the porch in a rocking chair.

The good things were, I had a wife and two great kids, a good home, and a steady job until I could sit on the porch in a rocking chair.

You have to look for the things that will make you happy and celebrate having them. Let go of the dreams that no longer apply to you

Answer 10

I can't really say I've ever felt any decade of my life was good. They've all been stressful and a I've always felt like I'm juggling too many things, but I can't drop any of them so I just keep doing the best I can. I don't look too far too often into the future, just focus on the here and now just to get through. The only difference now is that I retired so no longer have all that work-related crap to deal with (office politics, managers who haven't a clue, overwork, low pay,etc.) but now have no income which presents a whole other problem. You just do what you need to do, you stop expecting better, you cherish and appreciate the small good things that come our way (and often you have to look hard to see them) and you just survive. I know things could have been far worse--my younger sister had to deal with breast cancer in her early 40s. All my sibs had kids by the time they were in their 40s and had to deal with providing for their families plus everything else (I never had kids so didn't have to deal with that but could offer some help to them when I could). I think it was in my 40s I finally fully realized that I'd never have my own kids and was too crazy to raise kids on my own, had absolutely no interest in being married, was never going to go anywhere in my career because I had no career nor have ever had any career goals in my life, and needed to seriously tighten my budget so I could save far more then I had been so I could retire earlier then later and be able to help myself as much as possible in my old age (my mid-life crisis). And I just confronted myself, took a real good long and honest look at myself and the way I lived to see where I could make improvements, changes, since I wasn't ready to die yet and would have to live with myself for a while longer. Physical problems started showing up so I started working with my doctor to keep them as non-threatening as possible (had to start taking pills), changed my diet to a less junk food/grab'n'gobble style to a little better nutrition style. Etc. My life just was and I deal with it as it comes. I now can look back and think "gee, you had it good back in your 40s, you looked 15 years younger then you were, your knees, hips and back weren't giving you problems yet, you could still eat pretty much anything without any repercussions, you could still stay up all night with no problems the next day. And so forth. Both my parents were still alive and still very self sufficient/independent so we didn't have to do much for them yet. I think my life is always going to be like this, just doing what you have to do and enjoying the little good tidbits that drift your way.

Answer 11

At 40 years old my mariage ended after 20 years and I became homeless with lots of debts, at 45 met a new guy and 15 years still with him but still paying off the debts, I am not exactly a senior citizen at 59 years old

Answer 12

As I remember my 40's were good. It wasn't until I hit 50 things turned for the worse, when my employer decided I was too old. A big shock to me as only 48 hours previously, I could do no wrong.

Answer 13

There are always challenges and unexpected turns at every age. The key to success (or making the most of your situation) is an ability to find something meaningful in whatever occurs, even the worst of things. With a positive attitude and a determination to not let whatever comes your way get you down or ruin your life, you can overcome what may seem an obstacle and make sure each year is better than the last.

Answer 14

Yikes! That is one memory I have avoided until reading this question! I lost so many things in my 40's & 50's.

High school sweetheart dumped me for a younger woman.

Took the house & business with him.

Tried to take "our" kid from me. Needed the tax deduction, according to him!

I left town with the kid & went off to start a new life.



Sustained a work injury, got hooked on painkillers & added alcohol to the mix & then hooked up with a low life & after sooooo much fun & personal drama, I ended up in jail, all of my personal belongings were stolen, I was evicted from my apartment, living in my van & the kid ran away.



We all lived & got through all of it & although I cannot say it was a good time or a bad time, I'm just glad the kid is grown with a great career, & I learned a lot about life & now I'm wondering why I got to live while everyone else I knew is either dead or in prison or living under assumed names. I now "suffer" from PTSD & my health is poor & I'm headed towards 70. If I make it, chances are I will be blind & bedridden. I want to stay single. I call myself a survivor. I don't like the tag of "victim".

Answer 15

my whole life was very good since the 20 s until my 60 s. but the 40 s were the best because i graduated from college the second time,l never married, no children worked three jobs save and invested a lot of money. deep into my religion and helping others and sharing with others. never been in trouble with the law . very creative, writing, playing and learning music, reading and helping others academically

Answer 16

Not good! I started developing Menerizers disease at 42 and felt very bad physically and had sever depression until I finally lost my hearing. I look back after 35 years and still wonder how I survived. I would never be able to find enough courage to go through that again.

Answer 17

My 40s are pretty much a blur. I was lonely and I drank - a lot. I did my work and I did a good job but eventually got fired for missing too much time. The last fifteen years, since I remarried, quit smoking and drinking, have been happier in every way.

Answer 18

Not Just bad rotten i was Bombed for 5 years in London then continued to Go to a school full of racists

Answer 19

Teens = a miasma of misery and confusion

20's = experiementing with life, but still miserable and no confidence

30's = slowly gaining skills and self-esteem and starting to work towards goals

40's = completion of goals before the bottom fell out of my life (everything EXCEPT health. Economy collapsed wrecking our savings and getting me laid off, child diagnosed schizophrenic, husband lost business and abandoned us, no one was hiring, I had to declare bankruptcy)

50's = started practicing Buddhism and getting a grip on how I handle my emotions. Partial recovery psychologically and somewhat financially. Daughter stabilized on psychiatric medications. Genetic predisposition to heart problems came home to roost = became partially debilitated (still able to work my low-paying job, but no energy left for a life of my own . only what I had internally).

60's = inner life gets better every year, conditions of outer life matter less and less. Although now that I am retired, I no longer have to drag myself into work, and have a bit of energy for things that matter personally.



Invest in your INNER life. It is the only thing you are guaranteed to have for as long as you live.

And as you age, and health, finances, love, reputation all start to retreat, all you HAVE is whatever you have cultivated inwardly.



Happiness is a state of mind. Which means that it does not rely on anything external.

Answer 20

Pretty good. Sorry for your troubles. My health is pretty crummy now that I'm in my 60s. The way I cope is by trying to give my cares to the Lord. I asked Jesus Christ into my life as Lord and Savior many years ago and He has been faithful to encourage me. I pray and read the Bible daily, especially the New Testament, and go to church on Sundays when able.

Answer 21

My 40's were a time of illness and disillusion but I reshaped my life and now I'm better than ever!

Answer 22

I can't remember any specific decade. We all have bad periods in our life at some time. Fortunately the bad times pass and good times come again. That's the cycle of life.

Answer 23

my 40's were a time of disappointment in my career and determination in my private life. i gave in my resignation at the age of 50 and left my husband. i am not financially better off at this age but i value my freedom.

Answer 24

My 40s were great health-wise and in every other way

Answer 25

My 40's were what in Yorkshire we call "fair to middling".

Answer 26

Much better than the 3 previous decades, but not as good as the one I'm in now.



😃 😠

Answer 27

40s were all right, it was in my 50s when things started the downhill trend, now at 67,they have somewhat stabilized.

Answer 28

well i am 50 years old and my 40's were great too me and i wouldn't change anything with them

Answer 29

Mostly bad divorce, back surgery, had to retire on disabilty.

Answer 30

Extremes:, terrific, ineffable, inexpressible,

dismal scary, so God - Awful..pain, illness, disillusion...pleased and relieved I got through..

.

Answer 31

Everything fell apart.

Answer 32

They were the best years as well as some of the worst years.

Answer 33

Yes..Good, it was very good.