Why Age Is Just a Number: My Journey of Starting Over at 40

In this post, I want to get a bit personal and talk about something that’s been on my mind lately: why it’s never too late to start over, no matter what your birth certificate says.

The Expiration Date That Doesn’t Exist

Here’s something we need to talk about. Somewhere along the way, society convinced us that dreams have an expiration date. Hit your 40s, 50s, or beyond? Time to “settle down” and accept whatever life you’ve built, even if it feels like wearing shoes two sizes too small.

We tell ourselves it’s “too late” for big changes. That starting over is only for the young and reckless.

But can I let you in on a secret? Your 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond can actually be the most liberating decades of your life. You finally know who you are, what you want, and most importantly, what you’re not willing to settle for anymore.

My Leap of Faith

When I moved to Europe in 2021, I was 40, single, and had no kids. I can almost hear what some of you might be thinking: “She must have been lonely, depressed, maybe desperate?”

Nope. Not even close.

I was actually at peace with myself and how my life was unfolding. Financially stable, emotionally balanced, mentally ready. I knew I was prepared for my next chapter, so I took the leap and started over on a continent I’d never even visited, in a country where I knew absolutely no one.

Crazy? Maybe. But also the best decision I ever made.

While My Friends Were…

At 40, most of my friends were deep in the family life trenches—building homes, raising kids, attending school events, living the “traditional” dream. And you know what? That’s beautiful for them.

But me? I was packing my entire life into suitcases, saying goodbye to everything familiar, and boarding a plane to complete uncertainty.

Four years later? Zero regrets. Not a single one.

How I Got Here

Let me rewind a bit. My journey to this point wasn’t exactly conventional.

Back in 2015, I quit my corporate job to travel through South America. That’s when I discovered the world of remote work. For 14 months, I lived my dream until reality hit—I ran out of money and had to head home to recover financially.

But here’s the thing about catching the travel bug: once it bites you, you can’t shake it. I kept traveling, going back and forth, working to save up, then hitting the road again. It was exhausting but addictive.

Then COVID happened. While the world paused, I planned. By October 2021, I was on a flight to Croatia with a Digital Nomad Visa and no return ticket. Mind you, this was my first time ever setting foot in Europe.

Age Was Never the Issue

During all this planning, not once did I think, “Am I too old for this?” Actually, even when Spain rejected my non-lucrative visa application, I didn’t let it stop me. Some people might panic at 40, single, no kids, starting over in a foreign country.

But me? I was at peace. I never felt like I was missing out by not being married or having kids. I’d envisioned a different life for myself, and honestly, everything just fell into place.

Running Toward, Not Away

The beautiful thing about making a major life change at 40 is that you’re not running away from anything—you’re running toward something. You have clarity. You’ve lived enough to know that comfort zones are nice and cozy, but they can become prisons if we’re not careful. COVID really hammered that feeling home for me.

The Power of Being a Beginner (Again)

If uncertainty scares you more than age does, let me tell you: an open mind is your greatest strength. Moving abroad later in life requires courage, but honestly, that courage often deepens with age. It’s the willingness to be a beginner again.

When you’re young, being a beginner feels natural. When you’re older? It can feel vulnerable, uncomfortable, even scary. But here’s the secret—that discomfort is where the magic happens.

Moving gave me a clean slate. I had to learn a new language, navigate different cultural norms, figure out healthcare systems, make new friends, and yes, even learn how to use a different type of washing machine. Each small victory felt monumental because I was proving to myself that growth doesn’t have an age limit.

Your open mind becomes your superpower. You approach situations with curiosity instead of judgment. You ask questions without embarrassment. You laugh at your mistakes instead of beating yourself up. This mindset, built over decades of life experience, is actually your greatest asset.

Stop Romanticizing the Past

Here’s my key takeaway: once you decide to go all in and start over, you’ve got to stop romanticizing the past and give your present a chance. Otherwise, you’ll be miserable.

One of the biggest traps when considering major life changes is remembering only the comfortable parts of what we’re leaving behind. We forget the Monday morning dread, the relationships that had run their course, the feeling of being stuck in patterns that no longer served us.

But comfort isn’t the same as happiness, and familiar isn’t the same as fulfilling.

Moving to Europe was an easy decision for me. No doubts, no sleepless nights. What made sense was realizing I wanted more out of life, that I needed to give myself the chance to create the life I envisioned.

Because of that mindset, embracing the new culture and adapting to local customs became second nature. No struggle, no crushing loneliness—just freedom and joy from experiencing so many new things.

Let’s Be Real: It’s Not All Rainbows

Don’t get me wrong—some days are tough. Some days you’ll feel lonely. Some days you’ll wonder if you’ve made a terrible mistake. Some days you’ll miss the simplicity of knowing exactly how everything works.

But here’s what nobody warns you about: the unexpected joys. Like discovering you’re braver than you thought. Like realizing that home isn’t a place—it’s a feeling you can create anywhere. Like finding out that the person you become when pushed outside your comfort zone is someone you genuinely like.

Age also brings incredible advantages. You have better judgment about people and situations. You’re more comfortable setting boundaries. You have enough life experience to put challenges in perspective. And perhaps most importantly, you’re less concerned with impressing others and more focused on impressing yourself.

To Anyone Wondering “What If?”

If you’re sitting there with a dream that feels too big, too late, or too scary—listen up. The only thing standing between you and that life is the story you’re telling yourself about why it’s impossible.

Age is not a barrier; it’s an advantage. Experience is not a weight; it’s wings. And that comfortable life you’re afraid to leave? It’ll still be there if you decide to come back, but you’ll never be the same person who left.

The question isn’t whether you’re too old to start over. The question is whether you’re brave enough to find out who you become when you stop letting age define what’s possible.

Your Life Isn’t a Dress Rehearsal

Every day you wake up is a chance to write a new chapter, move to a new country, fall in love with a new version of yourself.

And 40? 50? 60? Those aren’t numbers that limit you—they’re years of wisdom, strength, and self-knowledge that finally give you the power to create exactly the life you want.

One Final Thought

Hitting 40 put everything in perspective for me. I felt anxious realizing I have limited time left, that I have more years behind me than ahead of me. That realization scared me because there’s still so much I want to do, so many places to see.

That’s why, year after year, I challenge myself to take risks and get comfortable with being uncomfortable. I want to keep growing and becoming the best version of myself for as long as I can. Because isn’t that the whole point?

I hope my story inspires you to create and live the life you want—the life you’ve envisioned, the kind of life you’d be proud to share with anyone. And if you don’t believe me, believe Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Once you make a decision, the Universe conspires to make it happen.”