Comments on: On turning 40

By: Brooke Desrofiers

Brooke Desrofiers — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 09:13:56 +0000

This one makes sence “One’s first step in wisdom is to kuesstion everything - and one’s last is to come to terms with everything.”

By: Mermade

Mermade — Tue, 22 May 2007 14:18:56 +0000

Happy birthday!!

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 22 May 2007 12:54:05 +0000

Happy 40, Hugo.

As for you being lucky, I disagree. You’re right where you chose to put yourself. That’s determination, not luck. I would agree that you’re very fortunate to have overcome the things you have, but making a conscious decision to change isn’t luck.

Anyway, best wishes and thanks for how you’ve helped me.

By: Treifalicious

Treifalicious — Tue, 22 May 2007 05:58:06 +0000

“I’m going to be 40 tomorrow, and people have been asking me if I feel 40. I do feel 40, and I think 40 feels amazing.” - HS

What does “40″ mean? Most of all, what does “40″ feel like, look like?

I just turned 35 last week. People tell me I don’t look like a 35 year old. What does a 35 year old look like?

A friend of mine asked how old I was at a little birthday celebration I had. I didn’t tell him exactly how old but said I was slightly older than he was (He turned 34 in February - I told him how much older I was than him last year but he apparently forgot). He said he was old. I said that I was not.

Personally, I think these ideas of what 30, 35 and 40 (or any age save early childhood when there are clear developmental goals people have to meet) are supposed to look and act like are arbitrary and ultimately meaningless.

I admit that for a while I had been angsting about all the things I feel like I should have done by this age and have not (like having a serious, long term relationship, a dazzling career on Wall Street). Somehow, I got over it in time for my birthday.

Still, it would be good if you could elaborate upon what it means to feel 40. Granted, you don’t have so much experience being 40 as of yet but it would be good to get your imnpressions so that I know what to look forward to in 5 years.

By: annaham

annaham — Tue, 22 May 2007 04:54:29 +0000

Happy 40th, Hugo! Rock on.

By: Hugo Schwyzer

Hugo Schwyzer — Tue, 22 May 2007 04:21:53 +0000

Love it! I’ll be a hell of a Lear!

By: Kate

Kate — Tue, 22 May 2007 04:03:49 +0000

Hey, happy birthday Hugo! An Uncle Monty quote from Withnail & I for you: “It is the most shattering experience of a young man’s life…when one morning he awakes and quite reasonably says to himself, “I will never play the Dane.”

By: Hugo Schwyzer

Hugo Schwyzer — Tue, 22 May 2007 03:11:39 +0000

Oh, I am a great sunscreen user. (Trying to buy cruelty-free, staying away from parabens, etcetera). But even with all the sunscreen in the world, it can’t prevent the damage done by wind and hours and hours of beating up the body out doors.

But I like my wrinkles. I wouldn’t give up one of them. I care about how my body works on the inside, not so much about how it looks on the outside. I’m vain, mind you, just about different things…

Tyler thanks, and thanks Mr. B!

By: Mr. Bad

Mr. Bad — Tue, 22 May 2007 03:10:27 +0000

Congrats on reaching the Fore-oh! mark - may you see many more.

And from this side of the century, you still look like a babe. ;)

By: Tyler D

Tyler D — Tue, 22 May 2007 01:18:45 +0000

Well congratulations on the big four-oh and best of luck for your fifth decade!
I haven’t been reading your blog for too long but I really appreciate your willingness to grapple with tough issues with candor and frankness in your writing. That honesty is what keeps me reading what you have to offer, and I am sure that your intellect and wisdom will increase and deepen over the next few years.