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This is 40

by Stephanie Casher on February 21, 2016

On January 5th, I celebrated a milestone birthday — the big 4-0. If I’m blessed to live to eighty, half my life is officially behind me… which is deep when you sit down and think about it. So naturally I’ve been doing a lot of meditating about what it means to enter this new decade of life…

I didn’t feel different when I turned thirty, but I’m not gonna lie, forty feels different. You have finally reached that age that your ten-year old self considered “old.” You are undeniably an adult, and if you’re not doing adult stuff, folks are gonna look at you sideways, lol. As they should. ;) By forty, one is officially grown, and should start acting like it.

Turning forty may trigger a mid-life crisis for some, but I’m pretty proud of where I’m standing at this moment in time. I have a great job. I found the perfect partner to share my life with, and I married him. My life is filled with family I want as friends, and friends who feel like family. I own a home in one of the most beautiful cities in California, and besides my mortgage, I am debt-free. I’ve written and published two books. I have the means and ability to travel often, and I do. For the most part, I no longer care what people think, and have cultivated a healthy sense of self-worth.  My girlish figure is long gone, but I’m at peace with my womanly curves, even if they take a bit more effort to maintain, lol. And thankfully, I still have my health and mobility. All in all, life has been good to me thus far, and I’m excited to see what the next decade brings.

12605342_10207110689579286_4262707948357475844_oMy best friend, Kelly, turned 40 a week after me, so in mid-January we headed to Jamaica (with our husbands) to celebrate. Cause that’s the kinda stuff you do when you’re grown and have your ish together. ;) For eight, bliss-filled days we were in paradise. Pristine beaches. Warm, clear water. Beautiful people. Fueled by jerk chicken, Red Stripes, and fruity rum drinks, we explored the island at our own pace during an epic vacation that was equal parts relaxation and adventure. Hands down, one of my best birthdays ever.

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Pro travel tip: Heading to a tropical island in the middle of winter is always a good idea. While folks in California were braving El Nino, and folks on the east coast were being buried in snow, we were enjoying 80 degree weather in shorts and tank tops, swimming in the ocean every day, fully immersed in island life. Yeah, mon. Our timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

I wrote a series of travel blogs about our trip, in case anyone wants to read more about our adventures or plan their own trip to the islands. Enjoy!

Jamaica – Practical Matters

Montego Bay

Ocho Rios

Port Antonio

Photo Album

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