Look Who's Becoming 40 and Fabulous

I hit a milestone this weekend. As of Saturday, there are only three months left until I hit the big 4-0. That's one quarter. Yikes! But I share this with lots of famous people - Jennifer Lopez, Naomi Campbell, Tina Fey and Gabrielle Reece to name just a few. Additionally, we also share the big 4-0 with major historical events - The World Trade Center was completed, Earth Day was celebrated for the first time and the floppy disc was invented.

40 is HUGE. They say it is only a number, but I'm still on the fence to loathe it or celebrate it.

I grew up on playing Simon and Atari and watching MTV, and, yes, I still think the programming rocks. We lived for John Huges films, Cheers, Cosby Show and Mash. I went to college with a word processor and a VCR, but I also remember having to share a community phone on our dormitory floor. I sent out my resume on resume paper, not over the Internet. I'm at the age now when I remember my parents turning 40 and it seemed so old then.

Now, on the cusp of turning 40, we leave the party a little bit earlier to attend to our children or have a early morning spin class. Hangovers seem to last for days now.

What has happened to our Generation? Have we lost our edge?

They called us hopeless, unmotivated and slackers who liked to wear grunge clothing and listen to alternative rock music.

That was the label assigned to us, but I don't think it stuck. Us Generation Xer's are changing the world.

As we move into our prime, we're in a good place. For me, turning 40 seems easier than turning 30. When I was 30, life was full of uncertainties and worries about what people thought about me. At 40, while life will always have its share of the unknowns, I have certainly lived a full life to know I can handle almost every situation and have earned a certain sense of confidence that I didn't have when I was 30.

Though I'm not exactly where I pictured myself nearing 40 (I still don't know what I want my next job to be), I am married to a wonderful husband, own our apartment and have an unbelievable group of friends that I count on for all of life's triumphs and challenges. I am older, wiser and wittier. I am more sure of myself, have traveled the world and, of course, so much more fabulous. I also feel I'm in much better shape today than I was in my 30's when I was a smoker.

Birthdays are always a time to reflect on your past, your future and turning 40 takes that to a whole new level. As I turn 40, the most important things will be my family and friends and living my life as positive as I can and on my own terms.

After all, life is supposed to really begin after 40. (at least that's what I'll be telling myself).