Beauty Tips

10 Women Get Real About Turning 40

Is it as bad as you think? Spoiler: It's so. much. better.

by Lindsay Tigar | COMMENT

PHOTO 2/11

"I believe I'm f-ing awesome and can get through anything." At 38 years old, Emily Watson-Rice, owner of Gossamer Arts, was in the best shape of her life. But due to some unforeseen health issues, she entered her 40th year far from the top of her game. Since so many warned Watson-Rice that wherever your health stood at 40 would be the default moving forward, she was anxious about missing the mark. "I felt like I had crossed some invisible line and that suddenly my body was going to start breaking down. I was never worried about being 'old'; I was worried about my body and health becoming more of a struggle," she said. But to combat this mentality, she prioritized her health and took some of the courage she naturally has in the workplace to boost her spirits and her self-esteem. "I'm so confident in myself and my abilities that I let my work speak for me, and I'm proud of what I've accomplished. I also have taken Beyonce's quote to be my mantra "'I'm not bossy, I'm the boss,'" she shared. "The best thing about being 40 is this incredible sense of 'I'm f-ing awesome.' I know I can do anything. I also know who I am. So even though I can do anything, there are things I won't do, and I'm confident enough in myself to stick to my convictions."

Image via Emily Watson-Rice

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