This theory is more anecdotal that scientific. I don't expect to ever prove it, nor to I expect it to ever be confirmed. It's just something I've been thinking about and thought I'd jot down a few notes. These notes, by the way, were originally jotted down in one of my notebook journals in September of 2011. I revise them every so often... here are basics.
0 to 7 is the age of learning. I've read that for the first seven years of a child's life their brain is in a theta rhythm, through which they basically absorb what they see and hear. These are the years of basic learning. (Which, includes the time in the womb.)
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| Ruby, age 1 - 2 |
8 to 14 is self awareness, which includes still higher learning. Often times these are the years of indoctrination. Unless idealism, creativity and magic is encouraged, it is in these years that the public, the state's system of rules and expectations cripple, if not destroy creativity.
15 to 21 - optimism and rebellion. Depending on what the example adults encourage the young adult will either look forward to a bright future, or they will rebel. Most people become sexually active during these years.
22 - 28 - and then, Reality sets in. Reality can be a shock if the child is not prepared. Perhaps the optimist discovers (or feels) s/he's been lied to; they played by the rules, so to speak and the rewards didn't come. Perhaps the rebel realizes that rebellion wasn't right for them and they change directions in life. The opposites might be true as well. Reality doesn't have to be ugly.
29 - 35 - Settling, conforming.. whether it's due to peer pressure, parent pressure or a matter of nature, most people in this group are in some kind of a relationship. They have kids, or pets, they are fairly well established in their lifestyles/jobs.
36 - 42 - The age of cynicism. This is my second favorite age. For some reason a lot of people I've talked to revisit their original dreams in this epoch often prompting a so-called midlife crisis, which I actually think is more of a condition for past generations. Often, the average person is, or feels they are in and dead end job/relationship or situation. Everything seems to suck during this age.
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| Post-Cynicism..40-something in Paris |
43 - 49 - Originally I called this Reflection, but now i think this comes later. I've updated it to post-cynicism after 7 years of everything sucking, we stop caring whether it sucks or not. We've attained some wisdom in our experiences. We may have an idea that our plans aren't going to pan out the way we plan, but what the hell, we'll go for it anyway, we've got a back up.
50 - 56 - It may not have been so in the past, but certainly in this era, and perhaps for the next twenty years, this epoch can be called, Renaissance. With somewhat of a heath and wellness revolution having grown since the 1980s, crossing the half century mark, with our minds and bodies in tact, we can move from a career we may or may not have enjoyed, to something that thoroughly fulfills us. If we've gotten a later start in life, this could still be a time of rebirth and reinvention, especially if we don't have an chronic ailments. If we do, renaissance can mean trying to get some kind of life back. Presuming you've made it this far, that is.
57 - 63 - Sharing Wisdom... the guru. In this era, this age group are grand (or great grand) parents by now and whether they realize it or not, they become teachers; through their memories, the stories they tell about growing up and how the world has changed, they teach those younger than themselves. There seems to be some kind of moral in every story.
64 - 70 - Perspective - this group has the perspective of the years they've lived. They generally have positive attitudes although they can feign cynicism. They've done something right to live this long.
71 - 77 - Indestructible - Those who are still standing, swimming, and even walking the treadmills or riding bikes at this age, cannot be fucked with. They've seen it all, (and I can only base this on the guys at the Y). The guru factor remains and they might tell you the same stories over and over again.
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| Jacinto Bonilla age 73 |
78 - 84 - Care takers. Whether in their home or a nursing home (or retirement home), those who are sharp at this age take on the task of caring for grands/great-grands, or friends who aren't doing as well, or, as I've read, pre-schoolers.
85 - 91 - Shadow... because I have no first hand experience with this age group. (Well, kind of). My guess is that they are wondering how much longer they will live. I will have to do more research on this. I'm sure it will come.
92 - 98 - Curios... It may be crass to describe this group as such, but if you're living into your nineties, people want to know your secret. Conversely you might be in a home waiting to die. But what if, as the health/wellness movement extends life into the 120s, what will the 90s be like for people who can still do everyday tasks??
99 - 105 - Comfortably numb. Someone said, and I've adopted this saying, "The first hundred years are the toughest." Could we get some kind of second wind when we cross this border?
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| Ida Keeling, age 99 |
105 - 111 - History. Assuming your memory is still sharp and all the selfies you ever took on your cell phone are still accessible, you become living history. Every birthday you will be assured a place in the local newspaper or a shout-out from the Centenarian Club.
112 - 118 - Elite... you become the aged elite, a curiosity, history, all of the above.
Every age above my own, I can only speculate about. Those ages below mine, I take from my own memories and from the children I've raised and watch grow up and the young adults I've worked with in the fitness industry. I reiterate, this is just a theory, not even scientific, and probably more fantasy than anything serious.
Live long and prosper.
