40 Thoughts At 40 Years
A non-existential birthday check-in of sorts.
Hey ya’ll, it’s been a minute since my last piece. Between holiday travel, the cold that everyone got(the second round of the cold that everyone got) and taking advantage of favorable weather conditions whenever possible, time to sit down and write has been truly scarce. For example, I started this piece on my fortieth birthday and here we are with it publishing a week later.
With everything else that was going on in 2025 I didn’t have much time to think about turning forty. Fine by me, I’ve never been much of a “big birthday” sort of guy. Maybe it’s because of the proximity to the holidays in general or the fact that January 2nd is typically when a sobering reality hits most people. For most of my adult life all I’ve wanted to do is go snowboarding and have a nice meal with the people I love. There are of course exceptions, like 18 and 21, that included behavior that I shake my head at in disgust now. That being said, reaching this milestone has made it crystal clear just how young(and dumb) you are at those ages. I haven’t gone full “old-man-yelling-at-the-sky” just yet, but the past decade has certainly shown me just how little I knew in my 20s. If you could permit me one wild generalization to kick things off, it’s that anyone under 30 can’t be taken seriously, both for their own wellbeing and for that of society at large.
Now then, with that out of the way, here are 39 more rational thoughts that came to mind when I set out to put this list together.
39.) Cost-per-wear buying logic has been co-opted by shitty luxury brands. If it has a logo on it, you’re going to get tired of wearing it before you get the value out of it.
38.) When you think of calling or texting a friend or family member you haven’t talked to in awhile, do so immediately. Doesn’t need to turn into a conversation, a simple “I was just thinking of you” will suffice. The older you get, the more important this is.
37.) You don’t have to drive a nice vehicle, you do have to drive a vehicle that’s well suited to your use case.
36.) Well made leather footwear is worth shelling out for. They’ll age with you and the stories you’ll gain along the way with patina are worth every dollar.
35.) You’ve probably heard this before, but don’t be so goddamn hard on yourself. I’m still working on this, but it’s worth keeping in mind everyday. As Scott Galloway likes to say “nothing is ever as good or as bad as it seems” or if you prefer the original parental wisdom “it’s not the end of the world.”
34.) Sauna > Steam Room, always.
33.) When it comes to neighborhoods, walkability trumps exclusivity every time.
32.) Dining out is really only worth if a.) you’re eating food you can’t make at home or b.) the environment merits a visit all on its own.
31.) Investing in your health early is the best investment you can make. Keep it reasonable though. You probably don’t need a cabinet full of supplements or a $300/mo gym membership.
30.) The importance of a great mattress and pillows cannot be overstated.
29.) At any event where people have been drinking, there’s no need to do the “big goodbye”. You can just take off, they won’t remember when you left.
28.) Learn how to make coffee and espresso at home, watch the savings pile up.
27.) Culture has been flattening exponentially since the advent of social media. It doesn’t take much to be the most interesting person in the room, but you’re not going to achieve that by being extremely online.
26.) There are few problems that can’t be solved by moving your body.
25.) Everyone should drive across the United States and back at least once. I-90 and I-80 are the most scenic Interstates, I-70 and I-40 are the most eye opening.
24.) A few friendly games of tennis and basketball a week will keep you in great shape.
23.) You do not always need to have the newest iPhone.
22.) If something is free, you’re the product. (More specifically, your data is)
21.) Having even just a basic understanding of how the worlds of CPG(consumer packaged goods) and digital marketing interact will save you a-lot of money. Might even make you some too.
20.) The best camera really is the one you have with you. For most people that’s their phone, but trying keeping a disposable or two in your car.
19.) Drinking on planes is dramatically overrated, especially on international flights. Have a glass of champagne or wine, have whatever protein they’re offering, then go to sleep.
18.) Do your best to stay off social media while traveling and definitely wait to post anything until you’re home. There are trips from early in my career that I barely remember because I was so caught up with posting in real time. If it’s a hosted trip, it’s okay to tell a brand this is your standard practice.
17.) Japan is as amazing as everyone says it is.
16.) Switzerland is the most beautiful country I’ve been to.
15.) 4 days is the correct amount of time to go somewhere warm, sit on a beach and do nothing. Add some activities in there and you can stretch to 10 days, maybe.
14.) Fries are better a “dessert” order than an appetizer or a side.
13.) When it comes to dining, the Italians have it figured out. The French are a close second.
12.) There are only 30-ish cars from the past 30 years actually worth owning.
11.) Assume everyone is worse at driving than you are. Once you operate from this viewpoint, your head will be on a swivel and you’ll actually be a better driver.
10.) There is absolutely no excuse for a taking a call on speakerphone in public. This is grounds for expulsion from wherever you are. Same goes for watching videos or listening to music without headphones.
9.) Debt is an amazing tool if used properly. Get financially literate, there’s no excuse not to be in this day and age.
8.) The Beatles are the greatest band of all time.
7.) You can always pivot in life, but it gets a hell of a-lot more difficult when it’s no a solo show anymore.
6.) There’s no one timeline for achievements, but there will be mile-markers if you’re on the right path.
5.) Everyone should have to work in hospitality and retail at some point, preferably when they’re young.
4.) Being a parent doesn’t automatically make you an adult, it invites you to become one, quickly.
3.) The full human experience can only be had by being a parent.
2.) This isn’t the best time to be alive in human history.
1.) The journey is the reward.
Cheers- AM
That’s It, That’s All!
I’m 46 and I agree with all of these. I’d encourage people to work in a restaurant (or at least learn to cook) rather than work in retail #5 (I did both). It saves a ton of money, people really appreciate it and can be a great stress reliever.
#5 should be tied at first place, but great read and insight nonetheless.