If you were born in 1982, you’ll be well aware that your 40th birthday is fast approaching. Some say life begins at 40, whilst others say you never really grow up. However you feel about reaching this undeniable age milestone, you’ve lived long enough to learn a thing or two about life. You’ve also lived long enough to have a list of things you wish you’d have done by now. If not, there’s a good chance you were too busy living life to realize just how fast the years were creeping up.
If you’re turning 40 soon, here are five things you should look at doing before the big day arrives – some are fun, some are useful, some are more serious (because turning 40 makes you a mixture of all of these things).
1. Volunteer at least once
The first thing you should consider doing before you hit 40 years old is to volunteer. The reason for this is that volunteering gives you a unique insight into various issues around the world. For example, you might not be able to fully grasp the seriousness of the homeless pandemic in your country without taking the time to speak to and engage with those who are going through it.
When you volunteer, you will be exposed to harsh realities, but also the unbreakable nature of the human spirit. This will give you a unique insight into life moving forwards and may even change your perspective, making you a better person post-40 than you were before.
2. Create a will
You might not want to think about death and dying, but the reality is, it’s going to happen at some point, and when the time comes, you need to be prepared – especially if you have a family. With this in mind, you need to look at making a will.
Depending on your faith and beliefs, the system may be different. For example, how Islamic wills work is different to how general wills in the UK work. Before you turn 40, organize a chat with a solicitor to talk through your will and to get one in place should the worst happen.
3. Tackle a fear head on
We all things that we’re scared of and that we actively avoid, but turning 40 is the perfect time to tackle a fear of yours head on. If you’re scared of height, arrange a bungee jump or skydive. If you hate spiders, go to a tarantula holding experience. Doing so will alleviate some of your scaredness and help you overcome something that has been troubling you for the past 40 years. Don’t let those fears plague you for the next 40 – face them directly and conquer them!
4. Perfect a three-course dinner menu
By the time you turn 40 you should know how to cook a meal or two, but it’s a fun idea to perfect a signature three-course dinner party menu by this time in your life. Even if you have no one to cook for, why not serve yourself a truly gourmet meal? Who knows, whilst trying to perfect your menu, you might even try some new foods and learn some new cooking skills along the way.
5. Write your future self a letter
Most people associate writing letters to your future self as a childhood thing, but this isn’t the case. If you’re turning 40 this year, there’s a high chance you’ll be around for another 40 years or so, and in that time, you’ll no doubt change and adapt again. It’s always good to look back on where you are in your life, so why not write a letter talking about how you’re feeling, how life is going, and what goals you hope to accomplish in the next 40 years?
If you’re turning 40 this year, what’s something that’s on your bucket list to do before the big day?
