40 in 40 - Day 14 / Future 40s & Goals for Next 40

 

I recently asked for prompt suggestions on my instagram account so first up is one from my girl Katie. 

I'm not technically 40 yet, but I'm less than a month out, and I've been calling myself 40 since 2025 started; with that being said, it's not nearly as scary as I was lead to believe my entire life. Is it weird? Yeah, for sure. But I'm the best I've ever been. So that whole "it keeps getting better" bullshit might actually be true. But I went through an incredibly difficult low in my 30s, so it's just an ebb and flow until we die, no matter the decade we're in. We just have to roll with it and do the best we can.  

My advice is to take care of YOU. Start now in every which way - make the dreaded annual doctor appointments, go to therapy, take meds, rest when you need to, move your body on a regular basis, and find things you enjoy that are just for you. 

I did a quick little google search on turning 40 and this blurb spoke to me most.

Turning 40 often comes with a significant shift in priorities and values. This period allows for introspection and evaluation of past decades, providing a clear picture of what truly matters. For many, this is a time to focus on personal growth, family, friendships, and passions. -Ivy Ivers 

I've always looked at 20s as the child adult years and the 30's as the teen adult years, which means 40 is where I've noticed people really finding their groove and coming into their own as an adultier adult. This isn't to say this is the magical age when we start to "figure it all out" because sorry to say, I don't think that ever happens. Maybe we figure it out, whatever that means to each of us, and then it all goes to shit and we stumble through life until we figure it out again. 

I definitely do not want to live another 40 years, or even another 30, but I do hope future Ashley gets the fuck out of Florida eventually. I'm not sure when the right time will be but I feel like my 40s is when that change will happen. I love Orlando but there are things that keep getting worse that I'm not sure how much longer my physical and mental health can take - politics, heat/hurricanes/climate change, housing, living expenses, and overcrowding. However, Orlando is cool as hell with its small businesses, foodie scene, and of course my people (the main reason that keeps me here).