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40 things to do BEFORE you turn 40

They say u have a mid life crisis when u turn 40. I’d be lying if I claimed not to have gone through one myself. I couldn’t quite grasp this term in my 20s and 30s, thinking why would someone have a crisis at 40? By then, life would be set, and I’d have exactly what I had envisioned. That is precisely the root of the crisis. 

The chasm between what you had imagined life to be and what it turns out to be is the crucible where the crisis dwells. It swells and subsides periodically; but, it’s important to remember that you, alone can control the intensity and existence of the crisis. Much like in school, you can focus on the 95 points you scored, or the 5 you lost.


Inevitably, first my mind wreaked havoc on me - all the things I had *ASSUMED* I would have by 40 that were now amiss came flashing into my head. I didn’t have a spouse, or children, a company listed on the stock exchange, a dream home, and yes, that island in Hawaii now seemed far out of reach. Had I failed? Had I not lived up to my potential? Interestingly, I have always taken great pride and ownership in making my life decisions, never regretting my choices. Why now, at 40, was I taking a step back? 


To steer myself out of this sudden avalanche of self-doubt, I began reflecting and wondering where did the years go? Did I snooze them away, laying ensconced in a dreamy siesta? Or had I lived life, placing weightage on adventure, experiences and people? 


This thought propelled me into making a list (and I suggest you make your own!) of all the milestones I had hit over the years. Sharing my bucket list of 40 things to do BEFORE you turn 40 with you. Do remember to share yours with me :)



  1. Study at an Ivy League college
  2. Jump off a plane
  3. Become financially independent; save & invest systematically 
  4. Balance on your head/hands
  5. Learn to sing/play an instrument
  6. Start and build a successful business
  7. See the pyramids of Giza
  8. Go vegan 
  9. Accept your parents the way they are
  10. Pamper your nieces and nephews 
  11. Swing off a bridge 
  12. Get scuba certified in Jamaica
  13. Camp in the woods
  14. Do a 108 surya namaskaras 
  15. Build a moral code of conduct
  16. Donate annually
  17. Climb Machu Pichu
  18. Accept your body and focus on staying fit
  19. Indulge your friends
  20. Sail the high seas
  21. Mount a double humped camel in Ladhak
  22. Play boardgames; keep the child within you alive
  23. Publish a book
  24. See a tiger/lion in the wild
  25. Witness the Northern lights
  26. Cook your favorite dish
  27. Ski in Switzerland 
  28. Back pack across Europe with your bestie
  29. Ride a horse on a black sand beach
  30. Thank your sibling for being your rock
  31. Get certified as a Yoga teacher
  32. See a live volcano in the Kamchatka peninsula
  33. Ensure you can drive on both sides of the road
  34. Keep in touch with your school friends
  35. See the penguins in Ushuaia, Argentina
  36. Pick up a new skill - it’s never to late
  37. Speak a foreign language 
  38. Travel solo
  39. See the Tectonic rift in Iceland
  40. Get featured on the front page of the Economic Times


In may ways, you think of 40 as sort of a mid-point in life. Assuming all goes well, it’s a stark reminder that half your life is over. What’s important to note though is that half still lies ahead, and now enriched with skills, experiences and resources, you are poised to conquer!


Remember, age only reflects in your ATTITUDE.

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