I'm not sad at all about turning 40.

Hear, O children of time and wisdom, the voice of Halle Berry, who spoke with courage and serenity: “I’m not sad at all about turning 40.” In these words there is defiance against the fear of age, there is triumph over the illusions of youth, and there is the peace of one who has learned to embrace the passage of years not as loss, but as transformation. For the world tells us to mourn the fading of youth, but she declares: there is no sorrow in growing older, only strength.

The meaning of this saying is deep and liberating. In a world that worships youth and fears age, Berry’s words shine as a beacon of wisdom. To turn 40 is, in the eyes of many, to step beyond the golden glow of youth into decline. But in truth, it is to step into a season of clarity, of self-possession, of maturity. It is to know oneself more fully, to be less bound by the opinions of others, and to wear the marks of life as badges of survival and beauty. Her declaration is not only personal, but universal: that age is not a curse, but a crown.

History itself testifies to this truth. Consider the life of Socrates, who in his later years stood before the court of Athens, unshaken in his wisdom. He was not young, but his words carried the weight of eternity. Or think of Nelson Mandela, who at the age of seventy emerged from prison, not broken, but stronger, ready to lead a nation toward freedom. Their greatness did not belong to youth—it was forged in years, in trials, in endurance. So too does Berry’s statement remind us that life’s richest power often comes after youth has passed.

The warning, however, is clear: those who cling desperately to youth risk despair, for time cannot be stopped. To mourn every passing year is to waste the gift that each year brings. The one who fears 40 will also fear 50, 60, and beyond, and their life will become an endless lament instead of a celebration. But the one who embraces age with gratitude will discover treasures hidden in every season of life. Thus, Berry’s words are not only a celebration, but also a shield against fear.

The lesson we must take is this: do not measure your worth by the number of your years, nor by the fading of youthful beauty, but by the wisdom, strength, and love that those years have planted within you. Youth is dazzling but fleeting; maturity is quieter, yet enduring. To grow older is to grow deeper, to carry the weight of life not as burden but as honor. Every wrinkle, every scar, every memory is proof that you have lived, that you have endured, that you have become.

As for practical action, celebrate each milestone of your life. When you come to 30, 40, 50, or beyond, do not weep—give thanks. Reflect on what you have survived, on what you have learned, and on the strength that is now yours. Reject the voices of a world that worships only youth, and instead cultivate gratitude for the journey. Care for your body, yes, but care even more for your spirit, for it is the spirit that grows richer with time. And above all, live boldly in every season, without shame for what has passed and without fear for what is to come.

Thus, Halle Berry’s words remain a teaching for all generations: “I’m not sad at all about turning 40.” May we, like her, cast away the sorrow of aging and embrace the glory of growth. For the years are not thieves, but givers, each one bestowing upon us new depths of strength and beauty. To live without fear of time is to live truly free, and to greet every birthday not as loss, but as victory.