--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best thing about being 45 is not…" description: "\"The best thing about being 45 is not taking myself so seriously. Do I miss the package I came in at 25? I do. Gravity is no one's friend. Yet the persp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/jen-lancaster-6189_best-things_the-best-thing-about-being-45-is-not-tak_2826331.png" --- # The best thing about being 45 is not taking myself so… ![“The best thing about being 45 is not taking myself so seriously. Do I miss the package I came in at 25? I do. Gravity is no one's friend. Yet the perspective I've gained is so worth the wear and tear. What would have mortified me at 25 is now simply fodder for a funny, relatable story. Also? I was…” quote by Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/jen-lancaster-6189_best-things_the-best-thing-about-being-45-is-not-tak_2826331.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/jen-lancaster-6189_best-things_the-best-thing-about-being-45-is-not-tak_2826331.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/jen-lancaster-6189_best-things_the-best-thing-about-being-45-is-not-tak_2826331.png) > “The best thing about being 45 is not taking myself so seriously. Do I miss the package I came in at 25? I do. Gravity is no one's friend. Yet the perspective I've gained is so worth the wear and tear. What would have mortified me at 25 is now simply fodder for a funny, relatable story. Also? I was a waitress at 25, and now I'm an author. Forty-five is definitely better.” [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Aging brings humor and perspective, making past anxieties into entertaining stories and personal growth. **In simple terms:** Aging gives humor and perspective. Key Takeaway Embrace aging, share stories. Themes aging humor selfacceptance growth perspective Mood reflective optimistic Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - writing career - social gatherings - mentoring - public speaking - personal branding Key Concepts selfreflection life stages confidence Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn past insecurities into strengths? - What story will you share to inspire others? A Different Perspective Older age may limit certain physical activities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [45 Taking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/45-taking-3626499/) [Best things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-things/) [Came 25](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/came-25-1905258/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Fodder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fodder/) [Forty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forty/) [Funny Relatable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-relatable-3626501/) [Gravity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gravity/) [Missing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missing/) [Mortified 25](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortified-25-3626502/) [Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/older/) [Packages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/packages/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Relatable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relatable/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) [Waitress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waitress/) [Waitress 25](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waitress-25-3626500/) ## Related quotes > [The best thing about being 45 is not taking myself so seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lancaster/the-best-thing-about-being-45-is-not-taking-myself-so-seriously/) [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) > [I came out around 25 publicly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-bono/i-came-out-around-25-publicly/) [Chaz Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-bono/) > [Things seem to be at a boiling point all the time. 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We can accept a politics that breeds division, and conflict, and cynicism. We can tackle race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/for-we-have-a-choice-in-this-country-we-can-accept-a-politics-that-2/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [People have been starving for intellectual fodder, but the best way to get people to close their eyes and not say anything is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/people-have-been-starving-for-intellectual-fodder-but-the-best-way-to/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) > [Women are an enslaved population - the crop we harvest is children, the fields we work are houses. Women are forced into committing sexual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-dworkin/women-are-an-enslaved-population-the-crop-we-harvest-is-children-the/) [Andrea Dworkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-dworkin/) > [One must search diligently to find laudatory comments on education (other than those pious platitudes which are fodder for commencement speeches). It appears that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/one-must-search-diligently-to-find-laudatory-comments-on-education/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If you have the opportunity to meet someone as an actor, it's just great fodder for you. It's wonderful source stuff that we die…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/if-you-have-the-opportunity-to-meet-someone-as-an-actor-it-s-just/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [You are being used as cannon fodder for U.S. imperialism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/you-are-being-used-as-cannon-fodder-for-u-s-imperialism/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [Something peculiar has happened. As I write, none of the Republican candidates for Senate has become a public embarrassment. On the contrary: For the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/something-peculiar-has-happened-as-i-write-none-of-the-republican/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [I don't know how to tell it--but ef such a thing could be As the angels wantin' boardin', and they'd call around on me--…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whitcomb-riley/i-don-t-know-how-to-tell-it-but-ef-such-a-thing-could-be-as-the/) [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) > [“A young man is the perfect soldier. He has great potential for aggression and a limited critical capacity—or none at all—with which to analyze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/a-young-man-is-the-perfect-soldier-he-has-great-potential-for/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [Because I've never made this kind of movie before, so I've never even been to Comic-Con. And Hugh and Evangeline keep telling me, 'Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-anthony-levy/because-i-ve-never-made-this-kind-of-movie-before-so-i-ve-never-even/) [Shawn Anthony Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-anthony-levy/) ## More by Jen Lancaster > [“donut can give you the kind of hug from inside that celery just can’t muster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lancaster/donut-can-give-you-the-kind-of-hug-from-inside-that-celery-just-can-t/) [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) > [I never ever, ever say anything against my husband to anyone except my husband. Everyone gets in fights, and I think the natural propensity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lancaster/i-never-ever-ever-say-anything-against-my-husband-to-anyone-except-my/) [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) > [Despite my best efforts, I'm not quite perfect. Let's just say I'm like one of those Hopi blankets where they leave a tiny flaw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lancaster/despite-my-best-efforts-i-m-not-quite-perfect-let-s-just-say-i-m-like/) [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) > [Fletch then kisses me on the forehead before opening the cabinet under the coffeemaker to grab placemats and napkins. Retrieving these items is his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lancaster/fletch-then-kisses-me-on-the-forehead-before-opening-the-cabinet/) [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) > [“If I were a lesbian and had a thing for narcissistic ex-sorority girls? I’d totally do me." 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It was like thinking I was heading to a surprise party and instead it was a surprise pap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lancaster/you-know-what-it-was-like-it-was-like-thinking-i-was-heading-to-a/) [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) > [“But there's always a chance she's hiding a flask and a Nixon-esque Enemies List in her pinafore apron, which is exactly why we're such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lancaster/but-there-s-always-a-chance-she-s-hiding-a-flask-and-a-nixon-esque/) [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) > [“Cost to clean deeply soiled rugs: $200. Cost to replace shiny, black, stack-heeled, pilgrim-toed boots: $185. Cost to fix every single delicious table and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lancaster/cost-to-clean-deeply-soiled-rugs-200-cost-to-replace-shiny-black/) [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) > [“I love the French and Italian church paintings from the Middle Ages. But I'm also interested to learn more about who was the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lancaster/i-love-the-french-and-italian-church-paintings-from-the-middle-ages/) [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) > [“You know why I love HGTV? It's not just that I get a peek into other people's lives. It's that everyone's always thrilled with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lancaster/you-know-why-i-love-hgtv-it-s-not-just-that-i-get-a-peek-into-other/) [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) > [I yearn to be a woman of more depth, but I'm not so fond of the path I'd need to follow to get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lancaster/i-yearn-to-be-a-woman-of-more-depth-but-i-m-not-so-fond-of-the-path-i/) [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) > [I never sleep on the plane. I have to be awake and using my mind power to keep it in the air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lancaster/i-never-sleep-on-the-plane-i-have-to-be-awake-and-using-my-mind-power/) [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) > [“Yeah, I'm over forty, flighty, and fluffy- I'd say I'm not ideal bouncer material.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lancaster/yeah-i-m-over-forty-flighty-and-fluffy-i-d-say-i-m-not-ideal-bouncer/) [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) > [When did the cell phone become a license to be rude? And why must I be subjected to your personal conversations?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lancaster/when-did-the-cell-phone-become-a-license-to-be-rude-and-why-must-i-be/) [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) [Explore all 99 Jen Lancaster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) ## More Best things quotes > [I need the best things in life, that's women, thats cars. Cigars in Venice, bottle on ice, thats priceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-need-the-best-things-in-life-that-s-women-thats-cars-cigars-in/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [It hurt, of course, but more often than not the best things do, I've found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/it-hurt-of-course-but-more-often-than-not-the-best-things-do-i-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The next best thing to being witty one's self, is to be able to be able to quote another's wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/the-next-best-thing-to-being-witty-one-s-self-is-to-be-able-to-be/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [I really believe that our past can really hold us back from growth, so the best thing that we can do is MOVE ON…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-harper/i-really-believe-that-our-past-can-really-hold-us-back-from-growth-so/) [Bob Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-harper/) > [The best thing for you to do is shop at your local farmer's market and support the organic growers who are there. Because those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/the-best-thing-for-you-to-do-is-shop-at-your-local-farmer-s-market/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The best thing about the term 'performance artist' is that it includes just about everything you might want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-anderson/the-best-thing-about-the-term-performance-artist-is-that-it-includes/) [Laurie Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-anderson/) > [The best things in life are free. Sunsets and sunrises are free. Air is free. Love is free. Death is free. The best things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-best-things-in-life-are-free-sunsets-and-sunrises-are-free-air-is/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I always wanted to be a player, but I never had the talent to make the big leagues. So I did the next best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-finley/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-player-but-i-never-had-the-talent-to-make-the/) [Charlie Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-finley/) > [I was a 36C or D, and at 5' 1'', I knew that being a small person with big boobs standing in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/i-was-a-36c-or-d-and-at-5-1-i-knew-that-being-a-small-person-with-big/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [Each time I stop somewhere and look out, there are more people sitting there than there were the time I came before. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/each-time-i-stop-somewhere-and-look-out-there-are-more-people-sitting/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [One of the best things that happened for me as a playwright is becoming a comic-book writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-aguirre-sacasa/one-of-the-best-things-that-happened-for-me-as-a-playwright-is/) [Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-aguirre-sacasa/) > [I don't really know who I am as an actor: the best thing would be to experiment with it for the next 30 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-don-t-really-know-who-i-am-as-an-actor-the-best-thing-would-be-to/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [The best thing about time passing is the privilege of running out of it, of watching the wave of mortality break over me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-manguso/the-best-thing-about-time-passing-is-the-privilege-of-running-out-of/) [Sarah Manguso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-manguso/) > [What was the best thing before sliced bread?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/what-was-the-best-thing-before-sliced-bread/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [The best thing about waking up early is seeing the sun rise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridgit-mendler/the-best-thing-about-waking-up-early-is-seeing-the-sun-rise/) [Bridgit Mendler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridgit-mendler/) [Browse all 1,021 Best things quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-things/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The best thing about being 45 is not taking myself so seriously. 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