"...À quoi sert l'Art? À nous donner la brève mais fulgurante illusion du camélia, en ouvrant dans le temps une brèche émotionnelle qui semble irréductible à la logique animale. Comment naît l'Art? Il s'accouche de la capacité qu'a l'esprit à sculpter le domaine sensoriel. Que fait l'Art pour nous? Il met en forme et rend visibles nos émotion et, ce faisant, leur appose ce cachet d'éternité que portent toutes les oeuvres qui, au travers d'une forme particulière, savent incarner l'universalité des affects humains...
...Mais lorsque nous regardons une nature morte, lorsque nous nous délectons sans l'avoir poursuivie de cette beauté qu'emporte avec elle la figuration magnifiée et immobile des choses, nous jouissons de ce que nous n'avons pas eu à convoiter, nous contemplons ce que nous n'avons pas eu à vouloir , nous chérissons ce que nous n'avons pas dû désirer. Alors la nature morte, parce qu'elle figure une beauté qui parle à notre désir mais est accouchée de celui d'un autre, parce qu'elle convient à notre plaisir sans entrer dans aucun de nos plans, parce qu'elle se donne à nous sans l'effort que nous la désirions, incarne-t-elle la quintessence de l'Art, cette certitude de l'intemporel. Dans la scène muette, sans vie ni mouvement, s'incarne un temps excepté de projets, une perfection arrachée à la durée et à sa lasse avidité - un plaisir sans désir, une existence sans durée, une beauté sans volonté.
    Car l'Art, c'est l'émotion sans le désir."

Muriel Barbery, "L'élégance du hérisson"

    Yes, confirmed, there is life after 40. In fact, there is much more life than what we might think there is. Life crisis at 40 does not exist. It is not a crisis as such, but rather I believe it is a renaissance of condensed energy. It has to do with the need to do whatever you have not done until then either because you did not dare to, did not have the time to think about it, did not think you needed anything else or could not afford to do anything else. And I am not referring to merely needing to do things before it is 'too late', but doing them out of a conscious choice and getting pleasure out of them. I think the key lies on streaming that overdose of energy and doing something with it, finding your true task in life.

    In my case, my 40-something life renaissance came along with a whole list of events: a baby-boy to start with, a husband -in that order, a health hiccup, learning new sports and last but not least, a revolution in my professional situation (very popular theme judging from what I hear around).

    Contrary to people saying 'you can't start something at 40!' Well, maybe they are right but at least I can try! I will also strive at accumulating more energy and doing whatever I feel I need to do because 40 is just 40 - will tell you more in a decade or so! And so, I have had a try at surf - no need to confirm that the only ones who have learned are the kids, I am not sure I will ever be able to surf but at least I had fun while I tried; Fresh powder skiing I am still enjoying very much (although it has cost me a couple of injured meniscus, and a few ligaments damaged, including typically LCL and ACL...); running - almost 10 km three times a week; diving (strongly recommended); canyoning...

With regards to my search of a new professional activity, it is a result of deep search, cognitive thinking, ruminating, inner introspecting. And deep, deep down there I found my way: painting. Painting is what I want to do and what I was meant to do. It is my task now and will be for some time. It is here to stay and I will construct my future from it. My future at 40+.