Reflections on milestones, meaning, and becoming
How often do you think about milestones and what actually defines one? We tend to picture big birthdays or major life shifts. Turning forty had me thinking about that idea in a deeper way and wondering whether all milestones carry the same weight. As a health coach, I could not help connecting what I was experiencing personally with the conversations I have with my clients every day.
On September 14th, 2023, I officially hit forty. People are often surprised and guess I am closer to 30, so as that date approached it sparked a lot of conversations. People asked how I felt and shared their own insights from reaching similar moments. Those exchanges naturally expanded my perspective. I started thinking about markers tied to health, like reaching certain lab values or avoiding health setbacks, along with life events like weddings, starting a family, or watching kids move through each school year. Each one represents becoming something new, even if it does not feel dramatic in the moment.
What I have noticed is that many of these moments feel ordinary while they are happening. It is only through reflection that they take on meaning. We often realize later that we were building memories without knowing it at the time.
As forty approached, it felt like standing at a crossroads and looking forward and backward all at once. There was excitement about what comes next mixed with a natural pause to take stock. It felt surreal. I found myself asking how I arrived here more than once. When people asked how I felt, there was no single profound answer. Instead, there was curiosity and a sense of growth that felt ongoing rather than complete. That is why I wanted to share what has been on my mind in case it resonates with you too.
One thing I know for sure is that I do not feel how I once imagined forty would feel. It has become a favorite game to let people guess my age and watch their reactions. That always brings me back to something a close friend and colleague says. This is forty. Or in her case, this is Seventy. When we talk that way, we shape our own perspective and invite others to rethink it too. This is what forty looks like now. If I live to 125, I am still early in the story. That realization has encouraged me to let go of comments like you do not look your age or the urge to round down a number. There is power in owning where we are. This is forty and as I continue in my life, my late Forties and Fifties will be a far cry from what we saw on the Golden Girls. I am willing to bet yours will too.
Another moment that stayed with me came from a quote shared by a friend from William Arthur Ward. The adventure of life is to learn. The purpose of life is to grow. The nature of life is to change. The challenge of life is to overcome. The essence of life is to care. The opportunity of life is to serve. The secret of life is to dare. The spice of life is to befriend. The beauty of life is to give. I have read those words several times, each one landing a little differently depending on the day. They offer a grounding reminder that becoming is not about a single moment. It is about how we show up again and again.
Looking back at the six months since turning forty feels like flipping through a scrapbook filled with learning, laughter, and meaningful change. Each day has carried its own lesson and momentum. You, my readers, clients, and podcast community, have played a huge role in that. Sharing this space with you has added depth to the experience and reinforced my belief that there is so much ahead to look forward to.
Now I want to hear from you. How do you mark meaningful moments in your life, and what reflections have stayed with you from reaching one that mattered.