Hello Marcella: Yes, I can't tell you how many times I've read, here on PC, where some of us folks who are a bit older feel so sad about the way our lives have turned out. I certainly feel this way. I'm in my mid-sixties now. But I stopped working around 15+ years ago. At this point, I guess I'm more-or-less reconciled to the way things have turned out. But for many years I was very sad & not just a little bit embarrassed...

You may very well be correct that you'll never recover the wage level you had at your last job. But, hopefully, you enjoy the type of work you went back to school for. And, perhaps also, having that additional education will mean you will be better able to seek promotions once you get back to work. Who knows what great things might happen?

Anyway, from my perspective, at least, being 40 is not that old. You have years ahead of you. (Hopefully that sounds challenging, not depressing...) I wish you much success as you move back out into the work force...