The Abundance of 25, the Prime of Your Life
It’s All About Perspective
“My dad says life begins at forty, but I think it begins at 3, because that’s when school gets out.”-Hee-Haw Variety Show
The Prime of Your Life
We often hear the expression, “the prime of your life.” The age twenty-five is right in the heart of the most flexible time of life. Some researchers consider the prime of your life to occur between 35–65. During that phase of your life you can reap the benefits of decisions and actions taken during your twenties. Ideally, this is a time of high productivity and contribution. But it doesn’t always work that way. It can also be a time of setbacks and disappointment in any or all aspects of life. If this is the case, it may be time for a reset, to review and assess your experience and mindset.
The actual time period for the prime of life depends on your perspective. Just as your view of a mountain will change with the movement of clouds and storms and from dawn to dusk, your perspective is constantly influenced by your location in time and space.
My Twenty-five
By the time I was twenty-five I had experienced successes, setbacks and failures. I had lived and served outside the country. I grew up in a large city where the last remnants of a cowboy culture barely hung on, then as teenager I lived and worked in a farming community . Though I went through hardships and trials I grew up in a relatively stable environment. I was confident in my career, and considered my career path to be rather routine and predictable.
I followed the standard advice to get a college education as “the key to my future.” While in my studies there was significant recession. But safely tucked away into the safety of the university environment, I was temporarily sheltered from its effects. Then, by sheer luck, I was offered a great job without even searching. It happened to be in a city where my wife and I didn’t really want to live, so I casually rejected the offer. In my sheltered world I assumed there would be more similar offers. Nope, that was the only one.
My perspective had to evolve and adapt as I began my search for other jobs. It was a tedious search, forcing me to change direction several times. The world was more challenging than I had realized. As I put together my resume I really began to assess who I was. I had a lot to learn, but grew in confidence, recognizing that I had a lot to offer.
I kept positive. After all, I was in the prime of my life. I had excellent health, a beautiful wife and young family. We had the mobility to move where ever we wanted to. I had an education and enough experience that I could go any number of different directions.
The twenty-five time in life is a time of choices and decisions. Here are some of the advantages of living in your twenties:
Attributes of ‘Twenty-Somethings’:
- Experience and education: You know how to analyze and communicate.
- Social Skills: You know how to respond, interact and influence.
- Achievements: Your achievements give you confidence.
- Hardship: You have learned to overcome loss, trauma, and disappointment
‘Twenty-Something’ Tools:
- Mind: It’s fully developed by age twenty-five.
- Body: Whatever your limitations, your body is typically at its peak of performance.
- Spirit: You have developed one or more strategies for connecting with deity and have experienced spiritual connections with others.
- Freedom to Choose: This may be your most valued treasure. It is also a challenge with great responsibility.
- Mentors: People of all ages are willing and anxious to offer inspiration and advice.
Twenty-five Again
Knowing the attributes and tools of being in Twenty-five mode, with moderate modifications you can put yourself there again. You can rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit, and exercise your freedom to choose. You may be surprised at the people willing to support and motivate you. Seek out, and find mentors to get you back in the twenty-five mode. They are out there.
When my career became flat, that is exactly what I did. The most substantial place to start was to physically get back in shape and work out with ‘twenty-somethings.’
I have been exposed to the mind and spirit of people in their twenties for most of my life. I have worked with and studied with people from all phases of life, from teenagers to post-retired. But most of my life I’ve been around and influenced by people in their twenties. I look toward them for enthusiasm and validation as I continue to learn and serve. They even help me keep up with current trends in language. As I learn from them, they tap into my experience and historic perspective. It is a true win-win relationship. I continue to work with people in this age group in both a mentoring role and as a learner.
Whether you are in your teens, twenties or beyond, the advantages of a Twenty-five mode are real.
