I see a wiser person than when I was younger: having babies and passing 30 were the turning points. What women in their 40s - I am 39 - lack in gorgeousness they make up for in wisdom. I love ageing despite the drawbacks - thinner drier skin.
Luck is a component that a lot of people in the arts sometimes fail to recognise: that you can have talent perseverance patience but without luck you will not have a successful career.