What a great thread - I just had to contribute! What's SO good about being in my 40s (I'll be 49 next month)?

I will be 46 on October 13th.

Finally, I am referred to as eccentric instead of weird or kooky now that I am over 40.

Same age and older men appreciate my conversation, attention to detail and they don't have to fight off a hoard of other men to date me. Men appreciate that women over 40 rarely play games and they are attracted to the fact we just simply have more experience and know a bit more about life.....come to think of it younger men appreciate older women for the same reasons.

If I go a few days without shaving my legs no one cares or really notices.

People over 40 know a little bit about a lot of things, this is a true gift as it makes life interesting and fun.

42 Here,
I am so on board with what others have posted. Although 40 made me cry I am enjoying my 40's.

I am much more confident in my abilities as a parent, wife and on the job
I can look at women in their 20's and know that they really have a lot to learn :-)
I love that I can afford better cloths and really appriciate a style that is all me
I love that my classmates for all those years ago (love FB) are confident women in their 40's too

At age 42 I started exercising consistently and haven't stopped

at age 43 I learned how to ride a motorcycle and got my endorsement and got my bellybutton pierced

at age 44 I was called a MILF

and THIS year (age 49) I got the self confidence to speak out when someone insulted and embarassed me! That was just incredible. I have swallowed my emotions and words all my life, but now I know it's okay to speak up when I need to.

You are awesome. Keep rocking. I am 43 and the best thing I possess is experience

I thought of a good one....if you are in your 40s, then you experienced the 80s first hand! What a wild decade that was!

I celebrated my 40th birthday 6 months after finishing cancer treatment. So the best thing about my forties is that I'm here too see them! I've been able to see 3 of my grandchildren born and 2 of my children get married. Though the aftermath of my treatment made the first couple of years difficult I now know how strong I truly am and what's important in life. I'm more content and self-confident than I ever was before age 40 AND than when I was married. I know that if I remain single I'll be ok. And I won't settle for Mr Good-Enough because I know I deserve better. And I know that being happy single is better than being miserable with the wrong man! My 40's have been the first time in my life it's been all about ME!

I'm 43
-I have never cared about what people think and in my 40's I care even less then when I was 20.
-I have always enjoyed my own company and in my 40's I enjoy it even more.
-I waited for children (13, 3 1/2) have only been a mom for 5 years and LOVE EVERY MOMENT in my 40's.
-I love life more every day. So tomorrow will be even better then today!

I'm really liking my 40's

My MIL finally stopped asking me when I'd be having her grandchild.

I've gotten better about 'Sweating out the small stuff'. I'm not in a panic if someone sees my house when it's not *perfectly* clean. I feel good going out even when my hair and make up are not *perfect*. I dont have to be ON, all of the time.

More confident in general.

I'm not jealous of the 20yo's. I was 20 and cute. They'll be 40 someday, if they're lucky.

I can imagine RETIREMENT!

I seem to have become a Silver Fox magnet. The 60+ male crowd seems to really like the 40+ me (I'm married, but have never had so much male attention)

I will tell you for me what is so good about being in my 40's. I will be 42 in a week.
When i was in my teens, I was a floundering mess, When I was in my 20's, I was up to my eyeballs in babies ( I had 4 in 8 yrs).
My 30's were rough for me. Oh man, how I freaked out when I turned 30. I thought i was so oldddddddddddd. lol
Than, I turned 40, two years ago and I don't know but something shifted for me. I feel like I know who "I am". I don't worry about what other people think about me. I know who I am! It took me a dang long time to get here but it was well worth the journey.
My journey isn't over yet either, i am getting healthy, going back to school, and homeschooling our youngest.
I finally am realizing I am stronger than I ever thought possible!

what is so great about your 40's? well lets see I'm 44 and more comfortable with who I am and where Im headed then I was in my younger years.. I too was in my 20's with 4 babies under my belt.. in my 30's a wicked divorce took place and I learnt so many valuable lessons but it wasn't til my 40's that I took those lessons and acted upon them... I love my work, I love my friends that I choose to allow in my life, I love that my children are self sufficient and have grown to understand Mom needs me time and that privacy does exist... but the most awesome thing in my 40's is I met a man who I did not settle less for then what I believed I deserved and am living a life full of love emotionally, physically and spiritually... so embrace those 40's and look out for those fab 50's LOL...

AMEN!!!

I am about to turn 41, and 40 has been the best year of my life since childhood, teens I was pretty messed up, 20's was broke and raising 2 kids by myself, 30's were devoted to 5 teenagers, (my spouse has 3 kids) at 40 the house is paid for, the vehicles are paid for, the kids are more stable, I can live my life for me, not someone else.

there has to be better things about being 40 then all the fat dropping to the middle of my body, so
I am wiser and smater then when I was 20
I can live without potatoes
enjoying the grandkids and taking them home after playing, people thinking I am thier mother
looking like I am in my 30's not stressing about what other people think
great love life with hubby and
never having a period!!!!

Best sex of my life.....so far.