Turning 40

When playwright, Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder, asked me to participate in her 40 Lunches project, I was hesitant at first. Don’t get me wrong; I said yes right away. Elyzabeth’s side project and the side website to go with it is the kind of idea I wish I had thought of myself. To celebrate turning 40, Elyzabeth committed to scheduling 40 lunches over the year with the 40 people who had contributed to her life in a significant way. You can read more about her full plan here.

Since Elyzabeth wanted a weekly post, not only 40, she reached out to others to help fill the gaps. I believe it was my friendship column that got her attention, but honestly, I am not sure. She asked me many months ago if I would take a week, and I put off the assignment by asking if my date could be as close to my birthday as possible. (My birthday is this week.)

Perhaps I worried I wouldn’t have anything new to say about a big birthday. Perhaps Elyzabeth’s writing bio intimidated me too much. Then as the post date got closer, I made the choice to get over my self-deprecating bit and simply (hah!) write what was on my mind. Here it is: “The Last Days of 39 and Coming Home to 40.” See you there!

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Nina Badzin hosts the podcast Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship. She's been writing about friendship since 2014, co-leads the writing groups at ModernWell in Minneapolis, and reviews 30+ books a year on her website.

Hi, I'm Nina

HI, I’M NINA BADZIN. I’m a writer fascinated by the dynamics of friendship, and I’ve been answering anonymous advice questions on the topic since 2014. I now also answer them on my podcast, Dear Nina! I’m a creative writing instructor at ModernWell in Minneapolis, a freelance writer and editor, and an avid reader who reviews 50 books a year. Welcome to my site! 

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Hi, I'm Nina

DEAR NINA: Conversations About Friendship is a podcast and newsletter about the ups and downs of adult friendship. I’m the host, Nina Badzin, a Minneapolis-based writer who accepted a position as a friendship advice columnist in 2014 and never stopped. DEAR NINA, the podcast, started in 2021, and has been referenced in The Wall Street JournalThe Washington PostTime Magazine, The GuardianThe Chicago TribuneThe Minneapolis Star Tribune, and elsewhere

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