I’m in them right now. I’m also keenly aware they are passing and it’s just a matter of time before I’m looking at pictures of me now at age 66 and saying “ we were so much younger!”
I’m having a pretty good time right now in my sixties.
I also enjoyed my thirties, forties, and fifties but for different reasons.
In my thirties, I was going to grad school and raising my kids and starting on my career and buying a home and was so busy, I barely had time to breathe, but it was all very exhilirating.
In my forties, I was established in my career, but enjoying it fully and also taking on various challenges like marathon running.
In my fifties, I was newly divorced, and undertook two more post-graduate degrees, which was great because I was doing them for pleasure not advancement at work or anything. Also, met my current partner and traveled quite a bit.
In my sixties, I’m retired and enjoying doing whatever I want every day.
So I guess the best years were from about 31 years old to whatever I am at this moment (and continuing!).
The best years of my life were between 1995 and 2005, 33 and 43. I played music in Ireland, England, Egypt, S. Korea and China (as well as New England and Montreal). I started a business and patented a violin bow design for fiddlers. I met the love of my life and married her (we’re still married). I had a couple kids.
When I think of answering that question, my mind goes to all the happy memories and tries to identify when they were. But then I realize that every happy memory is matched with a difficulty or challenge. Every Joy side by side with a frustration. That’s what life is about. I loved my years as a family man and dad to my children. So if I had to pick a time, I would say my forties and fifties. But then there was all the fun I had as a radio DJ in my twenties. Single and carefree – with the crushing memory of being a jilted lover by my first fiancee. The best of times come alongside the worst of times. This is life.
my 20’s – (AKA the 90’s) – no disrespect to my 40’s which was when I got married
The music was better, I was more free – I played in bands, I could do whatever I wanted and live on little – the friends were great, and hell, I liked the mood – life was just easier – my truck gave me trouble I could buy a 100 dollar part, get under it, and replace it no problem
My 40s have been great so far! I imagine I’m probably going to cap them off with some devastating losses but why borrow trouble.
I sort of try to see every time that I’m in as the best time, though. To be insanely cheesy it really is a gift to be here and I have so little to worry about compared to folks who aren’t keeping warm and able to access healthy food.
42 to 55. Perimenopausal for part of it with incredibly light symptoms. Still tall and thin with no hormonal weight gain yet. Lots of energy so I took on a number of design projects, commissioned portraits and donated promotional artwork for a number of charities. My children were still in our house so it was full of young people coming and going. I hadn’t yet had lingering problems from COVID.
Nope. Every year, every age, has its good and bad points.
20s: Usually broke and worked lots of crappy jobs, but I also had a hell of a lot of fun and I had boyfriends by the barrel.
30s: Happily married, career on the upswing, got into distance running and triathlon. But my husband and I were still trying to find our financial footing and we had been priced out of where we wanted to live, so we were trying to sort that out.
40s: Peak earning years, peak conference-going years, peak awards and accomplishments, and I finally was able to buy a house. But these were also also peak meeting and office politics years. This was also when loved ones close to me in age started to die from reasons other than car accidents and suicide. One a year. I began toasting NYE with a silent question, “Who will it be this year?”
50s: Decided to downshift and coast on into retirement, which took a lot of work pressure off, but my husband got a cancer diagnosis. I was able to retire, but losing him was hard. However, I love being retired and living solo again. I finally learned Latin. I started indulging hobbies that I’d never had time for in my working years. I began really exploring where I live and I found that there had been a lot I’d been overlooking when I was working and then caring for my sick husband. A whole new world opened up.
My 20’s, for example, I lived in poverty and had all the stresses that come with it, but I had the best friendships and life was at its most exciting. Later life, things are much more stable and mellow, but except for my wife and youngest, relationships are noticeably less common and less intense.
Comments
Never an entire decade. Something always blows up over 10 years.
Any year I wasn’t married.
I’m in them right now. I’m also keenly aware they are passing and it’s just a matter of time before I’m looking at pictures of me now at age 66 and saying “ we were so much younger!”
I’m having a pretty good time right now in my sixties.
I also enjoyed my thirties, forties, and fifties but for different reasons.
In my thirties, I was going to grad school and raising my kids and starting on my career and buying a home and was so busy, I barely had time to breathe, but it was all very exhilirating.
In my forties, I was established in my career, but enjoying it fully and also taking on various challenges like marathon running.
In my fifties, I was newly divorced, and undertook two more post-graduate degrees, which was great because I was doing them for pleasure not advancement at work or anything. Also, met my current partner and traveled quite a bit.
In my sixties, I’m retired and enjoying doing whatever I want every day.
So I guess the best years were from about 31 years old to whatever I am at this moment (and continuing!).
30-40
height of my career, had cut the worst of the toxic people out of my life and was still healthy
20-25 in many ways but in general they’ve all been good
I’m in my 40s now, and they’ve been great. Some bumps here and there, and some unexpected challenges, but on the whole, pretty great.
Though my 30s were pretty awesome too. A couple of rough seasons, sure, but on the balance, great.
And my 20s were really fun. A few tough parts, but pretty great.
I’m pretty optimistic about my 50s too. I expect that they’ll be some tough bits, but I’m optimistic it’ll balance out on the good side.
I’m 35. Looking back they were happy and carefree years: 13-15, 20-22, 26, 31-32.
My 40s were
The best years of my life were between 1995 and 2005, 33 and 43. I played music in Ireland, England, Egypt, S. Korea and China (as well as New England and Montreal). I started a business and patented a violin bow design for fiddlers. I met the love of my life and married her (we’re still married). I had a couple kids.
When I think of answering that question, my mind goes to all the happy memories and tries to identify when they were. But then I realize that every happy memory is matched with a difficulty or challenge. Every Joy side by side with a frustration. That’s what life is about. I loved my years as a family man and dad to my children. So if I had to pick a time, I would say my forties and fifties. But then there was all the fun I had as a radio DJ in my twenties. Single and carefree – with the crushing memory of being a jilted lover by my first fiancee. The best of times come alongside the worst of times. This is life.
I don’t know. I’m not dead yet. I’m gonna give this retirement thing a try and then I may be able to answer your question. LOL
my 20’s – (AKA the 90’s) – no disrespect to my 40’s which was when I got married
The music was better, I was more free – I played in bands, I could do whatever I wanted and live on little – the friends were great, and hell, I liked the mood – life was just easier – my truck gave me trouble I could buy a 100 dollar part, get under it, and replace it no problem
My 40s have been great so far! I imagine I’m probably going to cap them off with some devastating losses but why borrow trouble.
I sort of try to see every time that I’m in as the best time, though. To be insanely cheesy it really is a gift to be here and I have so little to worry about compared to folks who aren’t keeping warm and able to access healthy food.
The last 23 since I met my spouse and created our life and family together. Still going.
My 40s were pretty fun.
I think I’m in them now and I’m trying to enjoy the hell out of it! 50ish with a 12 yo child and a loving wife.
42 to 55. Perimenopausal for part of it with incredibly light symptoms. Still tall and thin with no hormonal weight gain yet. Lots of energy so I took on a number of design projects, commissioned portraits and donated promotional artwork for a number of charities. My children were still in our house so it was full of young people coming and going. I hadn’t yet had lingering problems from COVID.
Nope. Every year, every age, has its good and bad points.
20s: Usually broke and worked lots of crappy jobs, but I also had a hell of a lot of fun and I had boyfriends by the barrel.
30s: Happily married, career on the upswing, got into distance running and triathlon. But my husband and I were still trying to find our financial footing and we had been priced out of where we wanted to live, so we were trying to sort that out.
40s: Peak earning years, peak conference-going years, peak awards and accomplishments, and I finally was able to buy a house. But these were also also peak meeting and office politics years. This was also when loved ones close to me in age started to die from reasons other than car accidents and suicide. One a year. I began toasting NYE with a silent question, “Who will it be this year?”
50s: Decided to downshift and coast on into retirement, which took a lot of work pressure off, but my husband got a cancer diagnosis. I was able to retire, but losing him was hard. However, I love being retired and living solo again. I finally learned Latin. I started indulging hobbies that I’d never had time for in my working years. I began really exploring where I live and I found that there had been a lot I’d been overlooking when I was working and then caring for my sick husband. A whole new world opened up.
Ages 8-12 and age 40ty, maybe my 70ties will be good?
My late 30’s to mid 40’s
My 40s were the best!
Every decade has its virtues.
My 20’s, for example, I lived in poverty and had all the stresses that come with it, but I had the best friendships and life was at its most exciting. Later life, things are much more stable and mellow, but except for my wife and youngest, relationships are noticeably less common and less intense.
45-55