The Over 40 Handbook

I've noticed there seems to be no shortage of books on your infant, toddler or teen, but none that I've seen that address being older in the same way. Plenty of stuff on specific issues such as medications, menopause, diabetes and so forth. However, no single book that talks about common issues, questions or concerns that arise after 40.

Why after 40?

• It's the second half of average life span.
• Concerns or problems come up that have less to do with poor decision making or impulse control (like accidents and injuries and bad choices in kids and teens) than they have to do with entering "elephant country": the time where you start to see chronic diseases like heart problems, cancer, diabetes and dementia affecting your parents, siblings and friends.

More importantly, there are also a lot of assumptions that get made that are not correct. Examples include assuming that as you get older you have to slow down, lose strength, lose your memory or enjoy sex less.

I get to ask people how old they'd like to be if they could start over quite a lot. How often do you suppose the remark "getting old's a b**ch" comes up?

In nearly every case (with one specific exception, and you know who you are), folks over 65 say 40 or 50 would be it. That was when the kids were grown up and on their own (or at least out of the house...), they were at the peak of their work, and before health problems really got going.

So, bottom line is enjoy over 40 while you're there, and focus on what you can do to be strong, happy and independent at 80. It can be done!

I'll be posting on this regularly, so feel free to comment or request specific topics.