Landmark birthday and feeling unfulfilled

Fireflyaway

I will be 40 next birthday. Not bothered about actually turning 40 that much but today I looked back at my 30's and couldn't think of anything I'd achieved or had cause to be proud of!
I want to make my 40's count. Don't have a clue what to do. Part of me also wants to make my parents proud. I hear stories of what their friends kids have achieved and then wonder what can they say about me?!

Red-Squirrel_2

Don't stress, enjoy your life.

Hardly anybody actually achieves anything significant, most of us just have perfectly ordinary lives and if we're happy why should that be a problem?

clairec79

Are you happy?
Are you a nice person?

That's all I want my kids to be

Fireflyaway

I am happy yes. I hope I'm a nice person.
I don't want to get old and look back wishing I had done more in life.
I'm lacking a sense of achievement and it would mean a lot for my parents to be proud of me. I'm their only child. Maybe I shouldn't care so much?!

lika_86

Do you have an interest you've ever wanted to take further? Now might be the time to look at pursuing that if you're feeling lacking in achievement.

Sam_Fallow

Live a good life... it's the best any of us can do.

Red-Squirrel_2

Fireflyaway wrote: »

I am happy yes. I hope I'm a nice person.
I don't want to get old and look back wishing I had done more in life.
I'm lacking a sense of achievement and it would mean a lot for my parents to be proud of me. I'm their only child. Maybe I shouldn't care so much?!

I'm sure your parents are proud of you.

What are these incredible achievements their friends' children are managing? Are they winning nobel prizes or negotiating peace in the middle east?

74jax

"One day you'll leave this world behind
So live a life you will remember.".

Putting your parents to one side, looking back on your 30s is there something you wished you had done but didn't? You say you are lacking a sense of achievement. Is that in work, your personal life etc? Maybe if we knew a bit more we could help?

You say you are happy, that is my number 1 for my DD. I don't care what she does (to a degree) as long as she is happy.

Are your parents open people, could you causally talk to them, my parents were very closed, in their words. Until dad was dying and he told me he was proud of me. Me, a then single parent who - according to mother - had brought shame on the family.

I think maybe we can help do a 40 before 40 list, depending how long we have of course.

davenport151

What do YOU want to do?
Anything you haven't done but always thought you would?

As others have said I bet your parents are proud of you. People tend to talk and sometimes exaggerate to others how much their off- spring have achieved.
My next birthday (very soon) is 50.
I now wish to do more of what I want. Go walking more, enjoy nature. Learn to play the piano because I always wanted too.
And just...be happy. Be a good Daughter and Mum.

davenport151

74jax wrote: »

"One day you'll leave this world behind
So live a life you will remember.".

Cross posted there 74jax - I like that.

And by the way, its just a number.
In my head i'm still 26!

MX5huggy

Do a Ironman, swim the channel, climb Everest.