As I approach my 40th birthday, I’ve found myself reflecting on the past 18 months and the challenge I set myself to complete – 40 things before 40.
Some of the items were big adventures. Others were surprisingly simple. A few pushed me well outside my comfort zone, and a couple… well, they are rolling into my 50 before 50 list (I’m looking at you, pull-up!).
But looking back, I realised this list was never really about ticking boxes.
It was about making time to live.
Running a business can easily become all-consuming. There is always another email to answer, another project to finish or another deadline to meet. As business owners, we often put ourselves at the bottom of the list.
This challenge reminded me that life has to come first sometimes.
Some of My Highlights
Over the past 18 months, I’ve been lucky enough to:
- Learn to ski
- Climb a mountain
- Visit Poland and Scotland
- Snorkel in Egypt
- Drive a speedboat
- See Calvin Harris live in Ibiza
- Complete a half marathon
- Achieve a sub-30-minute 5K
- Park run with my son
- Watch the sunset on summer solstice at Rame Head
- Cosy up for an outdoor movie night
- Watch Alanis in concert and relive my youth singing her music
- Drink theatrical cocktails
- Sleep in a beach cabin
Some of those took months of planning. Others happened completely by chance. Every single one created memories I’ll keep forever.
The Ones That Didn’t Happen
One thing I’ve learned is that it’s okay not to complete every goal.
Life changes.
Priorities change.
I’ve accepted that I’m probably not going to manage a pull-up before my birthday, nor a sub-60-minute 10K, and that’s okay.
The challenge has never been about perfection.
What I’ve Learned
If I could take one lesson from this challenge, it’s this:
Don’t wait for “one day”.
Book the trip.
Say yes to the experience.
Take the afternoon off.
Learn the new skill.
Watch the sunrise.
Most of the things on my list weren’t life-changing because they were extravagant. They were life-changing because I actually made time for them.
Looking Ahead
Turning 40 doesn’t feel like the end of a challenge.
It feels like the start of another.
There will always be new places to visit, new skills to learn and new memories to make.
And if there’s one thing this list has taught me, it’s that life is far too short to keep saying, “I’ll do it one day.”
What’s on your bucket list?
I’d love to hear what’s on yours. Whether it’s travelling somewhere new, learning a new skill or simply making more time for the things you love, don’t keep putting it off. Sometimes the best adventures start with a single decision to just go for it.
