This is 40.

When I was in elementary school, all my teachers seemed old. Hella old. They were probably only in their 40s. Or 30s even. I mean, 25 seemed old in 1987. But here we are. Now it takes longer than I'd like to acknowledge to scroll down (all the way down) to my birth year when filling out forms. I find myself saying, "When I was a kid, we didn't have cell phones" or "I remember when DVDs were invented." Huh. I want to throat punch the college kids that live around the corner for having drunken 2am foot races outside my bedroom window and thinking it's funny to knock over the Sani Hut like a bunch of little dick bags...because now I'm concerned about the person that has to clean it up or that there's shit all over the new sidewalk. My skin is lacking some elastin that it once had and sometimes when I walk by a mirror, I see my mom. I'm a brunette, but my hair is damn near blonde so that it takes you a little more time to realize I have gray hair. And I just can't handle a hangover anymore.

I'm actually okay with a lot of this because, having found yoga 3.5 years ago, I'm actually in better shape than I was when I was 20. So there's that. I've also had enough life experience to have learned some important things:

- The friends you made when you were young might still be your most favorite people in the world.

- You will not find self-worth by sleeping around in college. In fact, just the opposite.

- You don't get a prize for finishing your undergraduate degree in four years.

- When you find The One, you'll know it the first time he holds your hand.

- Taking big risks are scary. But they're often scarier for the people trying to protect you. Take the leap. It may be hard, but you won't regret it.

- It honestly really doesn't matter what other people think.

- You will never be sorry for investing in yourself.

- If he doesn't call or text, he's truly just not interested.

- You really are only as old as you feel.

- Trust your intuition.

- Don't be afraid to ask for what you need/want. People won't always give it because they either don't know or don't care. But you deserve to be happy and fulfilled.

- There are some things about your body that you just cannot change. And trying to change them, day in and day out, is a race that you'll never win. Learn to love yourself...because there are people wishing for what you have.

- How you talk to yourself is just as important as how you to talk to others.

- You can shape your entire life with your mindset and the positivity or negativity you attach to things.