40 things to do before turning 41: my personal journey of learning to celebrate myself through new experiences, faith, creativity, and joy.
I turned 40 on September 24.
And yes, I’m only writing about it now, at the end of October. Apparently, turning 40 doesn’t magically make you more organized. 😂
But this birthday feels different.
I’ve come to realize something about myself: I don’t really know how to celebrate me.
I celebrate the people I love. I show up for them, recognize their milestones, and try to make them feel special. But when it comes to myself? I’m not nearly as intentional.
And I want that to change.
Four decades of life, experiences, lessons, mistakes, growth, and blessings. That’s worth acknowledging, isn’t it?
So I’ve come up with 40 things to do before turning 41. Not a bucket list or another set of obligations to add to my already busy life, but 40 ways to make room for myself.
Some will challenge me, others will help me grow, and a few will simply bring me joy.
Will I accomplish all 40? I have absolutely no idea. But that’s part of the adventure, isn’t it?
So here are my 40 ways of celebrating 40!
📚 Books, Writing & Creativity
1. Read a genre I’ve never explored: horror. ✅ Done!
I’m stepping outside my literary comfort zone. My first horror novel was Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin. And I wasn’t even scared! Should I be concerned about myself? 🤣
2. Write a book, novella, or collection of short stories.
I’ve got stories in my head. It’s time to give at least one of them a home on paper.
3. Take a reading retreat. ✅ Done!
An afternoon in a quiet library with The Royal Librarian by Daisy Wood and some snacks. No distractions, no responsibilities. Just me and my book. Pure bliss! Will do it again for sure.
4. Buy one book every month.
Twelve months, twelve books. Not that I need encouragement to buy books. 😂
5. Visit five independent bookstores.
Because every bookstore has its own personality, and I’d love to discover more of them.
6. Visit every public library in my town.
A little literary exploration close to home.
7. Write at least 24 blog posts before my next birthday.
Two posts a month. Ambitious? Absolutely. Impossible? We’ll see!
🙏🏾 Faith & Spiritual Growth
8. Read and meditate on The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.
Not just read it to finish it, but really reflect on its message.
9. Read and meditate on the Bible at least 15 times a month.
Consistency over perfection. I want to make more intentional time for God’s Word.
10. Start and regularly update my prayer journal.
A place to record my prayers, reflections, and answered prayers.
11. Write one thing I’m grateful to God for every day.
Even on difficult days, I want to train myself to recognize His goodness.
⛸️ New Skills & Physical Challenges
12. Learn how to skate.
I live in Canada. It’s about time. 😂
13. Learn how to ride a bike.
Yes, at 40. Better late than never!
14. Run outdoors during winter.
Canadian winter and I are about to have a very interesting conversation.
15. Learn how to swim. For real this time.
I’ve attempted this before. This time, I’m determined to actually learn.
16. Run a 2 km race in my community.
I’m not chasing a record. I just want to cross that finish line!
17. Learn to play five complete songs on my bass guitar.
Not just a few notes or a catchy riff. Five entire songs.
18. Take a class completely unrelated to work.
Writing? AI? Interior design? Something purely for my own curiosity.
🌍 Adventures & New Experiences
19. Attend a festival in my community.
Time to experience more of what happens around me.
20. Visit somewhere I’ve never been in the Greater Toronto Area.
A little adventure without necessarily travelling far.
21. Discover ten new places in my own city.
Parks, cafés, trails, restaurants, museums… There is still so much to explore close to home.
22. Watch the sunrise somewhere beautiful.
Intentionally. Being awakened at 5:17 a.m. by a child does NOT count. 😂
23. Cook a new non-Cameroonian dish every month.
Twelve months, twelve opportunities to explore other cuisines.
24. Try something that scares me a little.
Nothing dangerous. Just something that makes me nervous enough to know I’m growing.
25. Do something my younger self always dreamed of doing.
I want to make the 10-, 16-, or 20-year-old version of me ridiculously happy.
26. Do something I’ve been postponing because I don’t feel ready.
Because maybe being ready isn’t always a prerequisite for starting.
💆🏾♀️ Self-Care & Personal Growth
27. Spend a day at a spa by myself.
No rushing, no responsibilities. Just relaxation.
28. Take myself on a proper solo date.
Not errands followed by coffee. An actual date. Outfit, destination, and everything!
29. Spend one entire day intentionally offline.
No scrolling, no social media. Just being present.
30. Give myself a glow-up.
Learn a quick makeup routine, experiment with my style, and dress the way I truly want to.
31. Try hairstyles I’ve never worn before.
Because why should my hair have the same personality all year?
32. Write a letter to my 41-year-old self.
I’ll seal it and read it next September. I wonder what I’ll have to tell her.
❤️ Family, Friends & Community
33. Volunteer at three different community events.
I want to contribute more to the community I call home.
34. Volunteer at a food bank or similar organization with my children.
An opportunity to serve others and teach my kids the importance of giving back.
35. Have twelve intentional one-on-one dates with my children.
Simple moments, individual attention, and memories that belong just to us.
36. Host a gathering at home.
Brunch, dinner, book night, or games evening. Something fun without turning it into an Olympic event.
37. Have one completely ridiculous day with my kids.
No elaborate plans necessary. Just laughter, silliness, and unforgettable memories.
38. Surprise my friends with unexpected gifts.
Not for birthdays or special occasions. Just little reminders that they’re loved and appreciated.
✨ Reflection & Celebration
39. Celebrate my 40th year before turning 41.
I’ll sit somewhere I love, revisit this list, and reflect on everything I experienced. Not to calculate a score, but to appreciate the journey.
40. Write a blog post reflecting on my 40th year.
What did I accomplish? What didn’t happen? What surprised me? What did I learn about myself? I want to document it all, including the unexpected turns.
Here’s to 40!
Looking at this list, I realize that some of these goals will require planning, others will require courage, and quite a few will require me to stop saying, “I’ll do it when I have more time.”
Because, realistically, when does that magical moment ever arrive?
I don’t want my 40th year to become another exhausting to-do list. I already have enough of those. I want it to be a year of trying, learning, discovering, creating, giving, and enjoying life a little more intentionally.
And if I only complete 25 of these 40 things? That’s still 25 experiences I might not have had otherwise.
So here’s to 40. To new adventures, small victories, unexpected discoveries, and hopefully a few good stories along the way.
💭💭 If you could choose just ONE thing to accomplish before your next birthday, what would it be?