Life According to Joanna: Forty & Fabulous

‘Forty and fabulous?’ Or ‘Forty & fabulous!’ much like Carrie Bradshaw’s experience, the punctuation mark changes the tone massively and I’ve swung hard between the two over several months. What is it about turning forty that carries so much gravitas? Is it because most of us remember our parents turning forty? Or as a woman, do we know we are entering a stage of infertility, saggy faces, and menopause?

Forty and fabulous?

It’s my birthday in a matter of days and let me tell you there has been a LOT of reflection over this one. Milestone birthdays have a tendency to have us picking at our lives like an unwanted salad. Have I achieved what I wanted to? Am I where I imagined? What does the future look like? And forty feels like a big one. 

This ‘coming of age’ coupled with my newly single status saw me riddled with anxieties and societal pressures. Whether I want a baby or not, knowing that time is running out made me question everything. I don’t like time limits at the best of times.

Please for the love of God, don’t give me a two-hour slot at a restaurant and I tend to have a full-blown panic attack during the Countdown Conundrum, let alone something as big as my ovaries. The ticking clock and the underlying thought that your body is on the verge of changing dramatically weigh heavy. 

We also know that over the age of forty our metabolism slows, the changes in hormones are vast, and the chat between friends becomes less about ghosting, or the school run and more about whether or not you are perimenopausal. It felt grim, dark, and quite frankly, with no partner or family or my own, made me feel like my future was bleak and that unnerved me to the core. I think it’s safe to say that last year I had a breakdown of sorts. My mental health was at an all-time low which brought on various health issues. The word disease literally means that your body is in disease.

Then there is the career to factor in too. Will I be able to be in this industry in 20 years? Have I a good backup plan? The questions that morph at an age like this seem to be as expansive as the universe and every decision you make feels as though it can massively change your life. Literally living my best Gwyneth Paltrow fantasy in Sliding Doors, with a marginally better soundtrack. 

As women we fear so much; losing energy, our looks, our bodies, our minds and that fear was heightened by Miranda in ‘And Just Like That’. She went from an independent, powerful, strong (and sometimes cynical) woman to a hot mess. The transition in her character was frightening and only highlighted the anxieties around the ageing process. 

However, as I began to emerge from the shadows, I saw things from a different perspective and there is much to be celebrated about this time in a woman’s life. We know ourselves more, we are more confident in our decisions, and we (mostly) know what we want in life. We don’t take shit… from anyone. We know what works with our bodies be it food, fashion, medicine, or sex. We aren’t afraid of our own company, and that’s fabulous.

As youngsters, we used to want to fill our days with noise and now, we love the freedom that spending time on our own brings. Most of us women have loved, lost and grieved multiple times and are wise and knowledgeable about it. We know that perfection isn’t everything, but we also know that the fabulous power of self-talk and self-esteem can keep us light.

Our friendships are deeper, and more meaningful and while our fabulous, wild nights become less, our cosy nights indoors feel sacred and indulgent… the list, when looking into it, is endless. And there are many older women in my life who cite that their forties were their favourite decade, having never felt more fabulous, sexy, alive and vibrant.  

After the big breakdown of 2021™, I began to make some serious changes to my life in order to regain some control. I’d my therapy, I meditate twice a day, I rarely drink, I do hot yoga four times a week, I eat clean most of the time, and I’ve thrown much more into my career while still keeping a work/life balance… yes, I’ve turned into that person. However, as a result, I’ve never been happier, less anxious, or more content, which is fabulous. The worries that come with this age-defining era began to dissipate.

A wise woman once said, “When collagen leaves, confidence enters” and I wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment. I’ve always been confident but there is something empowering and fabulous about really knowing yourself at this age. On the whole, I’ve always enjoyed growing up. I’ve never been someone that’s clung to my youth. I had a scream when I was young but the pounding insecurities, not knowing your boundaries or the state of your bank balance isn’t something I’d like to repeat. 

So, as my birthday approaches, I’m feeling a fabulous sense of calm over the whole affair. I’ve finally found my peace and that is something I’d never thought I would be able to sit here and say – ever. I’m at a time in my life when I know what to do in order to stay on a good trajectory.

I’m happy with where I am at forty. Of course, I am not naïve enough to think that there won’t be many more bumps in the road but, while the future might have a massive question mark on it, I shall endeavour to live that life to the full. Exclamation point!