re: 40s, the best decade of Adulthood

47 now...in the last couple years I've changed mentally. Changes I didn't deliberately make so I suppose they're just part of the aging process.

1. I don't sweat the small stuff as much. I've learned what matters and what doesn't matter. My wife or one of the kids comes to me with some stupid drama or bitching about something unimportant? I tell them I just don't want to hear about it and proudly tell them they shouldn't give a shite about it, either. I used to think it was my job to be a sounding board for that kind of stuff...a means of people having someone they could vent to. frick that...I'm not going to allow YOUR pettiness to ruin my mood.

2. Other than at work, where politics in management come into play and the people I lead need me to be a strong example, I really don't care what anyone thinks about me. I know I'm a good person, have lived a good, ethically sound life. You don't like me for some reason? Go frick yourself...I really don't care.