\"At 40, I Don't Shrink. I Expand.\" - Lucy Peace Nantume

This year, I turn 40.
Four decades of life.
Of becoming.
Of learning and unlearning.
Of embracing the beautiful, the broken, and the becoming.

As I step into this new chapter, I find myself not just reflecting, but deeply honoring the lessons life has gently (and sometimes fiercely) taught me.

Because 40 isn’t just a number. It’s a mirror.
A mirror reflecting the roads I’ve walked, the battles I’ve fought, the grace I’ve been gifted, and the woman I’ve become.

So today, I pause.
To celebrate not just the years, but the lessons.
To share the wisdom that has shaped me.

In my last year on the 3rd floor, I found myself drawn to writings about what happens when a woman turns 40. One theme kept echoing, the conviction and confidence that comes with truly knowing yourself. And I can tell you, it’s true.

I have never felt as confident, as grounded, and as appreciative of who I am as I do now.
I know who I am at a deeper level. First, as a child of God.
I am clearer about my priorities and how to actually prioritize them.
I understand and embrace my personality, how it shows up, and how it colours my world.

And while I’m committed to growing into a better version of myself, I’ve also accepted that not everyone will resonate with me - and that’s okay.
I’ve learned to cherish friendships, but also to recognize when some relationships are simply for a season. They came to fulfill a purpose, and it’s okay to let them go.

My answers? They are layered.
My life has been a classroom, sometimes graceful, sometimes brutal. I’ve learned from observing others, from reading, from retreats, seminars, and most importantly, from my anchor-God.

So, in gratitude to God and in celebration of 4 decades of grace, I am stepping into a deeper giving of myself.
I’m saying yes to sharing more, to supporting more, as I continue to be supported myself.

As I stand on the threshold of this new season, I feel a stirring in my heart.
Because thriving was never meant to be a solo journey.

A movement.
A community.
A sacred space where women, wives, can gather to grow, glow, heal, and thrive,
In our faith, our marriages, our personal callings, and in our souls.

Every 19th of the month, for 90 minutes, I will open a space for honest conversations, answering the above questions and more. A space for learning, unlearning, and sharing. A space where women can feel seen, supported, and strengthened.

Though our focus will be wives, every woman is welcome, because most women get called into marriage at some point in life.

Follow The Couple Binders on social media for details or contact me by WhatsApp at +256702569757

Women play a profound role in how marriages, families, and societies turn out.
It’s a sacred calling we cannot run from.
One of my recurring frustrations, echoed by many, is that women tend to get more prepared for marriage, while men often do not, especially in our culture.

That’s why my husband and I, through The Couple Binders, work together to support both men and women, and pray that more spaces focused on men will keep rising.

But as a woman, I choose to focus on what I understand best.

Here’s a glimpse of some of those lessons. Join me online this Monday, 19th May, for more.

At 40, I’ve learned:

• 1. God’s timing is perfect, even when it feels painfully slow. 

• 2. Growth is rarely glamorous, often uncomfortable, but always sacred.

• 3. Thriving is a daily, deliberate, sometimes courageous choice.

• 4. Joy is a discipline - not just a feeling.

• 5. Not everyone is meant to journey with you into the next season. Boundaries are sacred.

• 6. Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s showing up scared, shaky, but still standing.

• 7. You can begin again, at any age, in any season.

• 8. Your voice matters. Use it boldly and kindly.

• 9. Dreams don’t expire, and neither do women.

• 10. Self-care is not selfish. It’s stewardship. Honoring the vessel, the voice, and the purpose God entrusted to me.

Because thriving isn’t for a select few.
It’s for every woman who dares to choose herself, her joy, her healing, and her purpose.

So, sister, as I celebrate my becoming, I invite you to celebrate yours.
Honor your journey.
Embrace your lessons.
Step boldly into your next chapter.

Because at 40 - and beyond - we don’t apologize for thriving.
We own it. Together.