How Turning 40 on Thanksgiving Changed My Life (And Could Change Yours Too)

Philip Blackett

Thanksgiving 2024 wasn’t just another holiday to me.

It was the day I turned 40. And it hit me like a freight train.

While others were piling plates and sharing stories around the dinner table, I was quietly battling a storm inside my mind — searching for meaning, staring down my own mortality, and wondering what the second half of my life was supposed to look like.

I wasn’t where I thought I’d be. My body felt slower. My energy wasn’t the same.

I had accomplishments, sure — but I also had questions. The kind that can’t be answered in a single moment or by checking off another to-do list.

The Crisis I Didn’t See Coming

What surprised me most wasn’t the physical changes. It was how my priorities had changed.

In my younger years, I chased performance, validation, and hustle. I was constantly striving — better grades, more degrees, job promotions, more recognition from friends and family.

But at 40, none of that felt as important anymore.

What mattered most now was:

Legacy. What am I leaving behind?

Family. Am I present and healthy for those I love most?

Longevity. Will I be around — and thriving — for decades to come?

Purpose. Am I doing something that actually matters in the end?

I knew one thing: I didn’t want to spend the second half of my life just surviving.

I wanted to thrive.

The Shift: Life After 40

That was the spark.

I made a commitment to make the next 40 years better than the first.

Not just personally — but physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and professionally.

I went on a mission to master four key pillars to thrive after 40:

1. Nutrition. I stopped following extreme diets and started focusing on foods that fuel me for energy, metabolism, and long-term health.

2. Exercise. I moved away from punishment-based workouts and began building strength, flexibility, and mobility for the long haul.

3. Mindset. I built systems, habits, and communities (both internally and externally) to help me stay consistent when life gets busy or motivation fades.

4. Recovery. I invested in practices and products that restore energy and fight stress — like massage chairs, cold plunges, saunas, and better sleep routines.

From Me to We

LifeAfter40.com was born because I knew I wasn’t alone.

There are millions of people worldwide — just like you — who are:

• Tired of feeling stuck or sluggish...

• Looking for simple but powerful ways to feel good again...

• Searching for a deeper sense of purpose, energy, and clarity...

• Ready to age gracefully with confidence, strength, and optimism.

You don’t need to do this alone. And you don’t need to settle.

This site, this community, this mission — it's for us.

To share what works.

To inspire each other.

To create lasting transformation in the second half of life.

Ready to Thrive After 40?

If you’re over 40 (or approaching it), and you're looking for:

• Expert guidance on nutrition, metabolism, and weight loss

• Sustainable fitness routines that build strength without burnout

• Mindset and accountability strategies that work in real life

• Recovery tools to help you feel like you again for the long-term

Then you're in the right place.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress.

Let’s make this next chapter your most energized, healthy, and meaningful one yet.

Welcome to Life After 40. The best is yet to come.

P.S. For a great resource on how to thrive in the second half of your life, I invite you to check out my book "Life After 40: Master the 4 Pillars for Lifelong Vitality" available on Amazon now.