In Praise of Women over 40

"A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, "What are you thinking?"

She doesn't care what you think."

A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, "What are you thinking?"

She doesn't care what you think.

If a woman over 40 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And, it's usually something more interesting.

A woman over 40 knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom. Few women past the age of 40 give a hoot what you might think about her or what she's doing.

Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it.

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated.

A woman over 40 has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends. A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best friend because she doesn't trust the guy with other women. Women over 40 couldn't care less if you're attracted to her friends because she knows her friends won't betray her.

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40. They always know.

A woman over 40 looks good wearing bright red lipstick. This is not true of younger women.

Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk if you are acting like one! You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.

Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of 40+, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year-old waitress.

Ladies, I apologize. 

(Some say that Andy Rooney, is the author of this piece, but according to Urban Legends, its source is a mishmash of authors.)

So many of my girlfriends say that their 40’s have been the best years of their lives, and I’m beginning to see why. With age and experience, we women grow into our own sense of self. While most of my mature female friends are strong and confident in this modern society that idolizes youth, many 40+ men act as irresponsible as teenagers, especially here in Asia.

I admire women like Eleanor Roosevelt, Frida Kahlo, Georgia O’Keefe, and Gertrude Stein whose strength and determination allowed them focus on their art and mission. These great women influenced the world of art, politics, literature, and philosophy, and were deeply affected by powerful men and women. Kahlo had her Diego. O'Keefe had her Stieglitz. Eleanor had her Theo, and Stein had her Picasso and Toklas.

I’m approaching the day when I pass from one decade into the next. All I can say is:  I feel on top of the world. I have so much to do in this second half of my life.

"I am writing for myself and strangers. This is the only way that I can do it..." - Gertrude Stein

“There have been two great accidents in my life. One was the trolley, and the other was Diego. Diego was by far the worst.” - Frida Kahlo

"I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best." -Frida Kahlo

"To create one's world in any of the arts takes courage." - Georgia O'Keefe

Comments

[Terry]

This is incredible. I suddenly feel much better about my age.

[Jeff Hess]

Shalom Shamash,

Ah Mein.

B'shalom,

Jeff

[Billie]

I'm like Terry: feeling better about my age. Thanks!

[Amelia]

Enjoy your age - and your next year passing!
xx

[Lamamamajama]

I saw Ned tonight and saw the invitation. Sorry we can't make it by the 26th.
I cannot believe you're heading into your 4th decade, to me you're forever 35.

Happy decade changing!!!!

[Dutch Treat]

Dear Shamash,

Happy birthday! I wish you a very nice weekend with lots of fun, plenty of parties and no headaches whatsoever!

Regards from Amsterdam,

Dutch Treat

[shamash]

Lamamamajama: ... and in my eyes, you will always be 19 years old, the "baby". :-) That's very cool that you got the invitation.

Dutch Treat: Thanks for the birthday wishes; French Contesa and I both wish you could have been here. :-) You would have loved all the "sparkles" and F.C. singing "Happy Birthday", along with Dancing Shoes and our favorite Savoy band.

Thanks for stopping by. :-)

[tish grier]

Hi Shamash! Happy B-day! (albeit kind of late)

Turning 40 is *so* *much* a passing into a new life. Perspective changes at 30, but 40 is a whole new deal!

You will also discover that your b.s. meter is now finely tuned and you will be able to judge it, and eradicate it, far quicker than in the past. It's a good thing.

I don't mind being over 40. It's the first time in my life I'm not paranoid about my body, even though I'm hardly thin. I don't care if I go out without makeup, and I know that I can still carry off wearing something low-cut and making men my own age a bit nutty.

There are major things to consider--the whole kid thing, and if you want to change careers, it's good to do it as soon as possible. As much as we love 40, the world around us still has some serious preconceived notions of who we as women are supposed to be, and bucking those notions takes a whole mess o'psychic energy. But, it can be done!

Enjoy! you're 40 only once :-)
T.

[Esther van Lange]

Just as i say 0n my blog in the footnote:
"live in the now and not in the past."

I like your text woman over 40.

[Ms Sicily]

When you are 25:
A woman who is 25 has to go through a continous list of exams, university exams, then master exams, then job applications, then job interviews...it seems like it will never ends (well, you can tell I am having my masters' exams these days).
on the other end, to make matters worse is the fact that the men around her can't generally be bothered about her career. rather- in order to please them- the woman must also have a nice fit body (which can be achieved only through daily sessions in the gym, and hours spent on the step while she is reading articles for the seminar the day after), nice long hair that take ages to untangle under the shower and a bank investment of hair products, and so on... And it might as well be the case the the woman doesn't even give a sxxx about being perfect for the men around her, she does it only for herself. Even worse, and she looks forward for that age when the society wont require her to be perfect anymore, but rather, WISE. The only thing that comforts me about being 25- and moody, emotional, unstable and all that- is that I know it's plenty of older guys out there that will come after me with just a whistle. But these days I much rather be wise than go whistling around!
Happy birthday shamash!

[shamash]

Hi, Ms. Sicily!

I wouldn't want to be 25 again- unless, of course, I could know what I didn't know then. Remember: you are beautiful with long hair, or bald, expensive hair products or not, perfect-gym-body, or not. I wish you could see yourself as I see you: fun, lively, spontaneous, and a caring friend. These qualities have little to with looks, and everything to do with what really matters. After all: youth fades. Fast. And, as for being "moody, emotional, unstable and all that": well I have a those qualities,too. These qualities have little to do with age, and more to do with being passionate women who love (perhaps) just a little too much. It's kind of hard to be passionate without being emotional. :-)

Good luck on your exams, and perhaps I'll see you soon in the UK?

[morris]

I don't get to your sight often. Between feeding a child and a husband and "keeping house" I find my mind too much like mush to read. I REALLY hope this is just a phase. But beyond that I wanted to wish you a Happy Belated Birthday and I'm glad it was so fun. I love the poetry on here but mostly when I come here I'm always curious as to where you find the wonderful pictures. They're so diverse yet...I don't know they make me feel happy. Thanks

[shamash]

Hey, morris! Good to hear from you! One of the best sites I've found is moon's blog, where I get about half of my images. (Everything I get from that site, Moon River, I place a hyperlink to it.) The rest is found via google images, the best invention since sliced bread. As to the "brain being mush": mine's mush right now, too, and I'm convinced it's a phase. :-)

[Gina]

I loved what you had to say. Us 40something's know what confidence means - and it's not the latest fashion fad explored either! I've linked back to you, great read!

[Michael Gannotti]

My wife is over 40 as am I and I agree. She has never been better and I am a paunchy balding fool.... just not with any 20something woman.... Luckily for me the Mrs. still lets me hang around :-)

[Wyn]

I enjoyed the writing, but I love the picture with the woman in bold colors. Can you tell me where it originated?
Thank You

[Poetry]

4 June 2007

After the storm, my mind cleared.

And a high wind arose and blew the tropics north.

running quartz crystals through a blender.

sand through your engines.

bubbles in your bays.

estuaries reaching out toward forbidden seas…

sand through your eyes.

5 June 2007

Calm as baby’s breath

as peaceful as the storm’s eye

Clouds spread and drawn with rough strokes of stratospheric winds

a warm and windy tropical day.

7 June 2007

Black water at dusk.

Lighting on the horizon.

Warm winds coming in across the darkening waters.

A flash of white wings as an egret takes flight.

And Thunder like God clearing his throat.

8 June 2007

Morning star in the still of the clear, dark waters.

a sky as clear eyed as a young girl.

bruised and tattered storm remnants limp off in the gathering light.

9 June 2007

Tickled her fancy.

giggling all the day long.

pretty good for a Saturday.

Clouds on the lake floating aimlessly by.

She smiled big–grinned really.

12 JUne 2007

A silver sky

ripe for the mirror.

you can not see yourself in this mirror

you can only see others

moreover, you can only see what others choose to expose.

Their houses, their boats, their sea-doos.

Birds skimming low over the water could

like as not

see them selves if they were to look down

as they skim low over the water

but they never do.

Rather they allow their reflections to chase them

quick and sharp over the still, glistening waters

while the bird’s mind remains ever fixed on

food, or other birds, or escaping those damn noisy humans.

A dense forest impenetrable as a gaze.

13 JUne 2007

Like angry bee’s eyes

the metal screen seen through the bamboo blinds.

A million insects dot the lake spreading micro ripples

14 June 2007

Of Fly Catchers and hidden lakes.

Of sleeping lizards and morning dew.

It is of birdsong and misty dawns

and fleeced clouds floating in a still pool.

The waters ripple awake in the gathering morn.

The first water birds head out for the far shore.

[Vicki Flaugher]

Here, here for the praise of women over 40! I run a blog focused on the Emerging Woman Entrepreneur (35-55 year old females) and these ladies are sharp! They use their brains, wisdom, hearts, and experience to the fullest. I love knowing them, reading about them, and being one of them. Thanks for the positive view. The times are changing and we are the ones that are making that happen!

Together, we are stronger.
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

[Cindy Smith]

http://shamash.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/womanbig1.jpg

Where can I get this artwork.