I turned 40 back in 2004. My anticipation of August 21st that year was only matched by the let down when the date actually came. 40 felt an awful lot like 39. I had anticipated something life-changing from 40 and it hadn’t happened. Life on the other side of 40 actually felt a little better…a little more relaxed.

I’ve felt that same dread that I felt back in 2004 for the last year or so. It started back in July 2017 when my professional world was upended and I moved from “the best job I’ve ever had” to a job that was brand new at Microsoft.  Everything since then just added to my unease.  I finally noticed the new source of my latest “life-changing” date… July 20th, my 25th anniversary in Michigan.