I have experienced a lot of transition recently and it has provided me with some time to reflect on the last few decades of my life. Each decade could be summed up with a general theme.
My Twenties: “I know everything”
My 20s could very easily have been defined by the statement “I know everything.” Believe it or not, this is developmentally appropriate. Due to cultural shifts in the past 25-30 years, twenty-somethings are still in a time of extended adolescence and are in what psychologists call the “concluding” phase. There is a tendency to arrive at simplistic conclusions about the issues of life. I still remember working under a supervisor in my twenties and thinking “I would be a much better boss than you.” Wow, was I shocked when I actually got the opportunity to lead. I didn’t know nearly as much as I thought.
My Thirties: “I don’t know anything”
“I don’t know anything” was the phrase summarizing my 30s. I eventually became the boss and realized I didn’t know half of what I thought I did. Being the boss was much harder than it looked. During this decade, I began to devour books on topics of interest. I went to conferences. I met with people who were further along the road in their journey. I took classes – online and in person. The more I read, the more I learned, and the more I focused on areas of interest– leadership and communication. As I got towards the end of my 30s and into my 40s, I had more focused questions about my specific interests.
My Forties: “I know something but I still have a lot to learn”
My 40s could be summarized by the phrase “I know something but I have a lot to learn.” I found that the more I learned, the more questions I had. These years were defined by specific questions as a result of me growing in self-awareness as to my unique strengths and weaknesses. I continued to read in-depth in the areas of leadership and communication but I also added the area of writing. These are the three main areas I believe God has gifted me. God willing, I hope to continue growing into and beyond my 50s. I can’t imagine a life where I stop learning.
What about you? How would you define your decades? Do these resonate with you or is your experience different?
