Turning 40 can send you into a panic and a rage at the same time.

Maybe you have already had this epiphany or maybe you are still coming to grips with this milestone.

Becoming 40 announces that you are squarely halfway through your life. No, I’m not trying to be morbid – but you’ve got to admit it’s a number that deserve R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

Whatever your current feelings about turning a year older, just remember you are the king or the queen of your world. Turning 40 is glorious and kicks ass. There’s an undeniable freedom in knowing your life experiences have made you wiser and hopefully a better version of yourself.

So embrace your age, don’t apologize for god sakes, and revel in the 40 reasons I’ve come up with, why you should be thrilled to turn 40.

40 Reasons Why I’m Grateful to Turn 40:

1. I’m healthy and disease free. Sure I’ve had health scares and sometimes the stress I’m under manifest itself as physical problems, whether it’s a cold or a sore throat. But, everyday I’m thankful I feel great.

2. I can wake up and do what I want. Yes, I have responsibilities, family commitments, and deadlines, but learning how to say “No,” without apology or explanation frees you to do more of what matters to you. Give it a try.

3. I don’t feel like a victim anymore. I’m in charge of my life. I know if I keep making progress and creating forward momentum that despite temporary setbacks my life takes the shape I envision for it.

4. I’ve realized that loss is almost always an opportunity in disguise. Whether it’s losing a love, losing a home, or a high paying client, (all have happened) anything that’s occurred – no matter how shattering always makes space for something bigger and better to come into my life.

5. I’ve learned that grief is a powerful catalyst for change. The loss created by devastating grief forces you to take action in order to restore the balance needed for your soul and sanity.

6. I’ve learned that action creates clarity. Too often, I would sit and analyze the why and the how of someone else’s motives and actions. How was that person able to accomplish their goals and I always seemed to be stuck? How did that person do that and I couldn’t.

I’ve learned less introspection and more action moves me closer to my goals and forces me to focus on what’s important to me.

7. I bend and I don’t break. Whether it’s business, social, or family, I’ve realized I’m not at anyone else’s mercy or whim. I am the captain of my ship and I’ll steer myself where I want to be today and tomorrow.

8. My poverty mentality is now gone. I’ve worked extremely hard to get where I am, and while I have faced trying financial challenges – I know that they are always temporary. There will always be more than enough to go around for all of us. That doesn’t mean a Lear jet or a Château in Versailles. It means I can rest my head on my pillow, know I’ve funded my own retirement, and I am exactly where I want to be.

9. Baby steps aren’t bad, but leaps and bounds are better. Everything starts with a foundation. Once you start to make changes by applying more focus and concentrated effort the snowball effect takes over. After 16 hour days, you realize that you probably exhausted yourself and had 5 breakdowns in the process, but you’ll smile and be satisfied when you’ve accomplished more than you ever thought possible.

10. Losing your shit isn’t a bad thing. But remaining calm is usually better and there’s less to recover from.

11. No one is out to get you or staring at you at the gym. I used to worry that my jiggly arms and bubble butt would draw attention at the gym or when walking down the street and not in a good way. Now, I. Don’t. Care. No one’s that interested in you – unless they are your best friend or your lover.

12. Best friends are forever. I would have never been able to weather the storms of life without my best friends. They’ve provided me comfort that a husband or boyfriends couldn’t provide. Be good to your friends. They are your support system for life.

13. All you need is one true friend. If you’re fortunate enough to find the person that will be mean to you and tell you the truth when you don’t want to hear it, say thank you and give them a hug.

14. Thank you is a wonderful word. Express gratitude to everyone and it will come back around to you in abundance.

15. You get the love you expect. Don’t settle ever.

16. If you’re ready for love odds are you will find it. But this requires an honesty some of us are afraid to admit.

17. Admitting that you’re not ready for love or a relationship requires true courage. Life is fluid, you have times when you’re open and times when you aren’t. Knowing when you aren’t is just as important.

18. Your body is your home be nice to it. I’ve treated my body as a dumping ground, abused it with food, ugly words, and thoughts. I’ve beaten up myself for not being pretty enough, thin enough, or young enough. But I look and feel better at 40 than I ever did at 30 or even 20.

19. The truth can be a bomb. If you’re going to light the fuse, take cover, then stand up and own what you’ve said.

20. Never make apologies for anything you create – whether it’s macaroni and cheese or a novel. If you’ve made it, be proud, and give yourself credit for your work of art.

21. Take risks. Adventures take all shapes, I’ve learned that traveling solo brings you in touch with yourself. I’ve learned that taking risks in business and in life pays off. Whether it’s trying a new venture, wine, a new city, or moving cross country, give it a go.

22. Be open. In order to accomplish success you have to come from a place of openness.

23. Don’t assume no one knows what you are going through. Yes, my pain is unique to me as yours is to you, but I can empathize with your pain. I can understand what you are going through and just maybe I can help you too.

24. Empathy is the crux of friendship and love. Having fellow feeling makes you a kinder person.

25. Don’t be afraid to stay silent. Smiling and nodding are very effective communication tools. Sometimes it’s better to finish the sentence in your head.

26. If you don’t like something say so. No one can force you to do anything you don’t want to do.

27. I’ve finally figured out my hair. There’s nothing a flat iron and a glass of wine can’t fix.

28. Embrace weirdness. Normal is good but quirky, peculiar, or odd make way better cocktail chatter.

29. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Every one is fighting their own fight. Be kind, you don’t what they went through to get to where they are now.

30. A pedicure can restore your sanity. Disconnect and don’t be afraid to treat yo’self.

31. Learn how to relax, it’s not that serious. Everything isn’t a five alarm fire.

32. Feel beautiful. I finally feel beautiful in my own skin. Tiger stripes aka stretch marks are nothing to be ashamed of, they’re a badge of honor whether you’ve birthed children, gained, or loss weight. Your body is strong and resilient and you are beautiful.

33. You’re stronger than you think. Before you say I can’t, say, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if I could?”

34. It’s a brand new day. Live in the day. Look at each day as its own entity, live in the now versus waiting for someday. You have the power to make your life amazing, based on your own efforts and that you actively make it amazing.

35. I am responsible for what happens today. Own at least one part of your day. Before you react to the pressures from email, voicemail, and people knocking on your door. Carve out a portion of time that you are going to do exactly what you want to do.

36. Never accept substandard love. The guy or girl that’s a jerk to you, or tells you you’d perfect if only…___________(fill in the blank) is bitterly disappointed with themselves. You will never be enough for them. If someone finds faults with you, they will never be happy with you. Don’t try to compensate for them. Free yourself and bid them a fond farewell.

37. You can’t force someone to love you. No matter what you’re thinking. Just stop. You. Can’t. Make. Them. Don’t try.

38. If you aren’t ready for love, admit it. Know when you need to give to yourself before you give to someone else.

39. Self love is real love. Love yourself, treat yourself, take care of yourself, give to yourself emotionally, meditate, don’t talk negatively to yourself, move your body everyday, wear a great bra (if you need one), and drink lots of water daily. Eat a salad at least once a day. Eat when you feel like it and listen to your body.

40. A glass of wine a day restores sanity and balance, plus it’s just delicious. Wine helps you live longer and makes you feel wonderful.

Surprise there’s one more! #41. Don’t fight aging. Yes at 40 you won’t like your 20, you may look better, you may look different, but time never stands still. Get a facial peel, try different makeup, drink more water, visit your dermatologist, take more vitamin C, but don’t fight aging, there’s just going to be a bunch of mascara smeared pillows. From 30 to 40 not that much changes anyway. Don’t worry about it.

Be thankful your getting older, don’t be insecure and say your 30 plus 10. Just say your 40, kick ass every day, and be proud of it goddammit. Cheers to your best year ever, here’s to getting older, hotter, and better.