Tuesday, August 13, 2013

The Happiest Years Of Your Life

By Scott Shimberg


There was an article recently published by Time magazine relating to the happiest ages in life. The sub-heading states that life is one big roller coaster ride, but I think the study is reasonable - happiest ages are 23 & 69. The good news is that we have two stages of life to delight.

Do you remember 23? You have confidence and the naivet to believe that you can accomplish anything. It could be to start a job, you don't yet look at it as a career, simply a new start. Careers are daunting and infer long-term commitments. Jobs are new beginnings that are filled with new opportunities and experiences. There is no mortgage, family or obligations that lock you into a specific location - the world is your oyster. So you might choose to hike the Appalachian Trail or as our eldest son has pondered, travel across the country with no destination, just to see everything along the way, sell the car on the other coast and then figure it out. Is it any wonder that 23 year olds are one of the two happiest ages? They are carefree and ready for every new encounter before them.

If you are not yet 69, can you imagine why they are happy? If you are 69 and beyond, don't you agree? Those aged 68 underestimate their future happiness by 4.5 percent according to a study by the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics. It seems counter intuitive that happiness is decided by how people "underestimate their future happiness". But this certainly validates why 69 is happier - there aren't as many years to forecast forward or worries. Kids have moved out, financial burdens are less, and as the study indicates future happiness is better positioned.

The world is your oyster once more. You may not be as nave as 23, but you probably feel the most stress less since 23. If your body is feeling weaker, it's okay because you have the time to focus on improving it again.

It is no surprise that Encore.org and AARP are offering a lot of resources to help Baby Boomers start their Encore Entrepreneurial opportunities. 23 wasn't bad, but we are really looking forward to 69! If this sounds like the roller coaster ride, 69 is at the peak again - enjoy the ride.




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