The singer reflected on turning 40 and thanked fans for their support and birthday wishes in a handwritten letter posted Thursday on her website.
Beyoncé referenced recent challenges, saying 2021 is the first year she’s really understood “what it means to be alive and to live in the moment.”
“It’s the first time that I have an understanding of how fragile life truly is, how hard life can be at times, and therefore how important it is to stop and smell the roses during the good times. I thought I knew that at 21 or 30… but I didn’t,” the star wrote.
“The more mature I become, the more I understand and the deeper my joy grows,” she said. “There’s a freedom and liberation knowing that I’ve made it to the other side of my sacrifice. I’m finally giving myself permission to enjoy the seeds I’ve worked so hard to plant my whole life.”
Beyoncé dismissed the notion that women should feel “old or unhappy” when they turn 40.
“This has absolutely been the best I’ve felt in my life. I’m so grateful to be GROWN, GROWN!” she said.
Beyoncé officially turned 40 on Sept. 4. In her letter, Beyoncé said she “cried tears of joy” after seeing all of her birthday well-wishes from friends, family and fans.
“I’m grateful to everyone involved, especially the fans, for the time and level of detail it took to organize such beautiful tributes,” she said. “I admire and respect all of you and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Beyoncé came to fame with the girl group Destiny’s Child. She confirmed in the September issue of Harper’s Bazaar that she is working on her first solo album in over five years.
“With all the isolation and injustice over the past year, I think we are all ready to escape, travel, love and laugh again,” the singer said. “I feel a renaissance emerging, and I want to be part of nurturing that escape in any way possible.”
Beyonce arrives at the Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., January 21, 2001. Photo by Russ Einhorn/UPI | License Photo
Destiny’s Child, left to right, Kelly Rowlands, Beyonce and Michelle Williams, perform for a near capacity crowd in Vancouver on September 26, 2001. The group said goodbye in 2005, but continue to make appearances together with Beyonce, including at Coachella and Super Bowl halftime. Photo by H. Ruckemann/UPI | License Photo
Cast members Beyonce (L) and Michael Caine pose at the premiere of “Austin Powers in Goldmember” in New York City on July 24, 2002. Beyonce portrayed Foxxy Cleopatra in the film. Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce won four awards, including Hot 100 Female Artist of the Year at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, December 12, 2003. Photo by Roger Williams/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce performs the nation anthem at Super Bowl XXXVIII on February 1, 2004. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce won five Grammys at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 8, 2004. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
Jay-Z (L) and his girlfriend at the time, Beyonce, pose for pictures at the MTV Video Music Awards in Miami on August 29, 2004. The couple would marry in 2008. Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/UPI | License Photo
Left to right, Rowland, Williams and Beyonce, members of the singing group Destiny’s Child hold replica plaques of their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during an unveiling ceremony in Los Angeles on March 28, 2006. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Cast member Beyonce arrives for the premiere of the “Dreamgirls,” in Beverly Hills, Calif., on December 11, 2006. She portrayed Deena Jones and the film would go on to receive Oscar, Golden Globes and NAACP Image honors, as well as the No. 1 soundtrack. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce holds her Grammy for “B’Day” at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 11, 2007. Photo by Phil McCarten/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce arrives at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles on February 25, 2007. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce won the International Artist Award of Excellence at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on November 18, 2007. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Solange Knowles (L) arrives with her sister, Beyonce, at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 10, 2008. Later that year, Beyonce would share how proud she is of her sister’s success in the music industry. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
First lady Michelle Obama (L) dances with U.S. President Barack Obama as Beyonce sings at the Neighborhood Ball in Washington, D.C., on January 20, 2009. Beyonce also performed for the president’s second inauguration in 2013. Photo by Suzanne Day/U.S. Air Force | License Photo
Beyonce arrives at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles on February 22, 2009. Photo by Phil McCarten/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce performs “Ave Maria” the BET Awards in Los Angeles on June 28, 2009. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce arrives in the press room for the MTV Video Music Awards in New York on September 13, 2009. The show highlighted Beyonce’s win of Video of the Year for “Single Ladies” and Kanye West infamously interrupting Taylor Swift claiming Beyonce deserved the prize for Best Female Video. Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce won six awards at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on January 31, 2010. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce performs during the taping of “Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular” in Chicago on May 17. 2011. Photo by David Banks/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce, pregnant with her first child, makes her announcement as she arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles on August 28, 2011. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce (R) and her mother Tina Knowles attend the launch of their clothing line “House Of Derion” at Selfridges in London on September 17, 2011. Beyonce would go on to launch Ivy Park in 2016. Photo by Rune Hellestad/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce performs “I Was Here” at the U.N. for World Humanitarian Day in the General Assembly Hall at the United Nations in New York City on August 10, 2012. UPI File Photo | License Photo
Beyonce (L) sings the national anthem after U.S. President Barack Obama is sworn-in during his public inauguration ceremony at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., on January 21, 2013. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce performs during the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show at the in New Orleans on February 3, 2013. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce appears backstage with the Grammy she won at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 10, 2013. Photo by Phil McCarten/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce arrives on the red carpet at the Costume Institute Benefit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 6, 2013. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce appears backstage at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on January 26, 2014. Photo by Phil McCarten/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce preforms at the MTV Video Music Awards Inglewood, Calif., on August 24, 2014. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce poses with her awards backstage at the MTV Video Music Awards in Inglewood, Calif., on August 24, 2014. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce wins awards for Best R&B Performance, Best R&B Song, and Best Surround Sound Album at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 8, 2015. Photo by Phil McCarten/UPI | License Photo
Ed Sheeran (L) and Beyonce perform onstage during the “Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life – An All-Star Grammy Salute” in Los Angeles on February 10, 2015. Later that year, Beyonce and Sheeran headlined the 2015 Global Citizen Festival. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce arrives on the red carpet at the Costume Institute Benefit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art celebrating the opening of “China: Through the Looking Glass” in New York City on May 4, 2015. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce (L) performs with Bruno Mars during the Super Bowl 50 halftime show which celebrated the past, present and future in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 7, 2015. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce arrives on the red carpet at the Costume Institute Benefit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art celebrating the opening of “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” in New York City on May 2, 2016. Later that year, Beyonce performed her song “Daddy Lessons” with the Dixie Chicks at the Country Music Awards. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Beyonce appears backstage while pregnant with twins with her awards for Best Music Video for “Formation” and Best Urban Contemporary Album for
“Lemonade” during the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 12, 2017. In 2019, Beyonce released a live album and documentary featuring her trailblazing Coachella performance. Photo by Christine Chew/UPI | License Photo
Cast member Beyonce attends the premiere of “The Lion King” in Los Angeles on July 9, 2019. Beyonce provided her voice for the role of Nala, as well as the film’s soundtrack. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
