Three Stages of Life: After 55

Every person goes through three stages in their lives.  The exact age in which a person moves from one stage to the next will vary with the individual, but everyone goes through these stages at some point in their lives.

Stages of Life: After 55
Around the age of 55 people tend to move to the third stage of life.  The children move out and suddenly the couple is living alone again – sometimes as virtual strangers.  Aging parents demand more time and resources to face the issues of declining health and a diminished quality of life.  The person retires at some point from their career and looks for ways to remain useful.

After age 55 the focus shifts from identity and purpose to the question of legacy.  The key questions are no longer “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?”; instead, the individual starts to wonder “How do I finish well?”  The person intuitively knows, and hopefully comes to accept, that at some future point their own death is certain.  It is no longer a question of “If I die . . . .”, instead the person realizes that the fundamental question in life is “When I die . . . .”

Some people enter this final stage of life and all but give up on life.  Others refuse to give up, but in reality they are coasting through life waiting for the inevitable.  Both approaches present severe dangers that can lead to a cycle of depression, despair, disease and declining physical and emotional health.

Individuals in the investing years need to serve as downward mentors to the next generation.  They have knowledge, experience and wisdom that younger people need, but often are afraid to ask for from their elders.  A mentoring relationship with a younger person can be a rewarding and enriching experience for both individuals.

The investing years are about making our time on earth last beyond our death.  Every person wants the impact of their life to live on into succeeding generations.  Each of us wants a legacy that extends beyond our brief time on earth.  The final stage of life should focus on making the meaning and impact of our lives count beyond our earthly days.