Climbing higher in years means you’re eventually going to have to look over the hill, which is an intimidating proposition for most men. And no age bears as much weight as 40. In the larger cultural narrative, turning 40 is signaled by crisis. Ferraris might be purchased. Divorces might be finalized. Freakouts might happen. But the midlife crisis is more of an exercise in good branding than an actual phenomenon. Are there men who arrive at the age and succumb to these clichés and experience a general restlessness that is met with rash decisions? Of course. But each man arrives at life’s presumed midpoint with his own unique perspective.

So, what do some feel about turning 40? We spoke to 40 men about it, and what they’ve learned along the way. Some are about to turn 40. Some just did. And some have been wearing it comfortably for a few years. All of them shared what arriving at, or knocking on the door of, the age has meant to them, mentally, physically, and emotionally. They had a lot of wisdom to share. Because that’s the thing with growing older; you know a lot more than you used to.