Melissa McNallan, Creator of 40 Fit N’ Stylish
If my late 30s are any indicator, my status during my 40s will be: It’s Complicated and I’m Happy. I am more comfortable with life’s uncertainties and more confident in who I am.
I do have a lot of roles I’m filling, so I do get confused sometimes. It’s never anything a little good humor, self-compassion, and determination can’t handle. I’m a daughter, mother, grandmother, girlfriend, that woman (if anyone knows a word for stepmom when you’re the girlfriend instead of the wife please let me know, until then I’ll take the term “that woman” with humor and pride.). Professionally, I’m a writer, actor, marketer, and salesperson.
One of the best things about approaching 40, in my humble opinion, is that I don’t get rocked by what happens in life. I’m kind of over myself, meaning I take most things lightly. I want to get on with enjoying who I’m with and what I’m doing without fretting over the little things. So I do. It’s my choice.
As each day of my 39th year passes, I find myself thinking of this scene with Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal in “When Harry Met Sally.”
I’m going to be 40 someday soon and I’m looking forward to it. My 40s will be my most fit and stylish decade yet.
The pieces dedicated to the 40 part of 40 Fit N’ Stylish are about life as a 40-something woman.
I’m Not a Soccer Mom, But Sometimes I Look Like One
“I’m so sorry,” I said. “I never carry cash.” It’s a true statement most of the time. It wasn’t true at that moment. A couple of hours ago, I’d taken the kids into a 7-Eleven that we’d just witnessed a minor robbery of (no guns or money involved) to get cash from the ATM, because 99 Cents Fresh Pizza doesn’t accept cards.
“Okay, soccer mom,” the panhandler said with a smile. “Yeah, you’re a soccer mom.” Read More.
Me and NYC, Relationship Status: It’s Complicated
In the beginning…New York City was Miss Piggy being glamorous in The Muppets Take Manhattan, teenagers dancing, singing and acting all over the place in Fame, and where the Bosom Buddies lived. I still love the Bosom Buddy theme song, “My Life” by Billy Joel. Read More.
Measuring My Blonde Ambition
The scale in the women’s locker room is not working. I am data starved. I’m sure I’m eating too much and not working out hard enough, because I can’t see the number on the scale. Am I measuring up? I’ve probably gained 10 pounds. I can feel fat jumping onto my inner thighs and refusing to let go. With every meal I feel like I’m packing the saddlebags at my hips with fat to get me through some long trek. Read More.