Growth Through the Decades

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. I could sum each decade up with a general theme.

My Twenties: "I know everything"

The statement “I know everything” perfectly sums up my twenties. Believe it or not, this is developmentally appropriate. Because of 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.” 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” summed up my thirties. 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 devoured books on topics of interest. I went to conferences. I met with people who were further along the road on 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. Towards the end of my thirties, I had more focused questions about my specific areas of interest.

My Forties: "I know something but I still have a lot to learn"

In my forties, I found that the more I learned, the more questions I had. I had specific questions because of my growing awareness regarding 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. 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?