The Best Years of Your Life?

26 and 35 were pretty good. 21 was blah. 42 was not so great at all, and 50 was so bad, it was unbelievable. Seriously, it could not get much worse. Trust me. lol

 

I actually feel like mine was around 25. That's why i started my march up the corporate ladder and had dreams and aspirations. I do feel like life has changed those dreams just a bit or maybe I've just become more realistic. I do feel financially and emotionally secure now. I don't know why, but i'm starting to feel like I don't want to get any older. I'm at a good sport right now.

 

For me it's 23. I turned 23 in April. Graduated from college in May. Found a decent job that put real money in my pocket. I could finally be fully independent which led to a nice confidence surge. There's still a long way to go for me to be where I want to be though. I read somewhere that age 33 was the happiest age. Hopefully that's when I hit a whole new peak.

 

I'm 30. My best year is probably 24. I fucked up an opportunity a few years prior and got a second chance and it was a healthier, more progressive year than usual. But several years had numerous ups and downs and may break even, at best. I get in better shape and take advantage of it by seeking lots of questionable sexual encounters like an addict, or lose motivation, or, at 17, my fairly chill and exciting final semester of high school was followed by my worst semester ever at the time (not the worst, that happened later). I think my thirties will be better than my twenties.

 

I'm still young, so all my ages have been great so far and I'm sure that I'll have many more great age milestones in the future.

My entire experience from starting college when I was 17 to now has definitely been awesome. I've had the opportunity to explore the world, meet amazing people, and become independent. So many things that I wouldn't think possible. I try to cherish each moment.

 

Yet to have any.

 

See, I was thinking I was the only one. Hoping my 30s give me more control over my life.

 

These years particularly stand out as my personal bests.

28, Went on a 8 Country European vacation and had one of the most decadent, debauched, 5 sensory enhanced fun times of my life which of course involved in one of my infamous near death experiences.


30/31, first time I lived completely alone, no partner or roommates. Discovered that sleeping and waking up alone wasn't the end of the world as I knew it and not hearing a voice in the morning was like music. I was in the best shape of my life due to non stop working out for preparedness for my job and graduated the academy. My Mother and Sister were still getting along and I'd started really "dating" for the first time.


37, After dating NYC & having met someone special, I decided to stop working so much overtime and and change work locations and get a dog and become a mon-fri, 9-5er and gained my 4 legged best friend.
The change of locations worked out perfectly, got a recommendation for the perfect post that I've been at for the last 10 yrs.


41, after a couple of close and deep losses and another of my own near death experiences, I helped deliver my Niece and got my Mother and Sister to reconcile and had a complete family again for a little while. Had to leave a few friendships behind but I discovered that it also left out a lot of passive/aggressive negativity from my world.

 

Damn!

 

I have always been the kind of guy that has set milestones for myself, particularly when I was growing up. I have always fundamentally been an overachiever, so in that respect, at age 30, I don't think I have had my best years yet. However, I have had some pretty awesome milestones throughout the years where real memories were made.

At 17, I had a Carnegie Hall Debut as a student music conductor where I led the New York Philharmonic (at the time, this was my lifetime dream).

At 21, I left the country for the first time to study abroad in Switzerland all by my lonesome. I travelled to most of Europe in that nine months while working at the United Nations and US Mission-Geneva as a intern.

At 22, I was Commissioned as an officer in the Coast Guard, served for six years, earned 13 medals.

At 25, I met the guy who would become my future husband, went to graduate school, learned French, bought a house, dropped out of law school.

At 29, I got married in Florida after being with my dude for 5 years.

At 30, I a travel the world as a Political Officer in the Foreign Service (US Diplomat, in plain English speak).

I have friends all around the world doing amazing things. I feel like I have so many more things to do, people to meet, places to go, before I can say, yes, that it, those were best years. They haven't come yet. Maybe when I am an AMBASSADOR I will say, yeah...this is it. This is the life.

 

With just turning 35, being that I've grown into appreciating everything, even the littlest thing, the best years of my life has been each day since an 11lbs, 8oz boy was born in 1981. It's been bittersweet, but I'm glad and grateful for each day.

 

I'm still a baby man, so I don't know yeh.

All my years pretty much been cool. The only one that stands out to me is when I was 23.... ....that's the year I fully started to explore myself and put myself out there both emotionally and romantically. I was scared as sh*t, I've never asked a dude out nor even kissed one (in a romantic type of way....and not a dare/pressured by horny college girls at Kappa parties way).

Plus, that year lead to a great 24 birthday and a different career opportunity.

 

Don't worry, you're still so young, there's so much in-store for you yeh....it's probably right around the corner.

 

....my fellow overly large baby.

 

Sometimes I feel like I did not make the right choices and wastes some years of my life going in circles. Its so many things I want to do before I turn 30 (which is around the comer). Sometimes I feel Im doing catch up in life smh. I hope the next phase of my life will be some of my most better days.

 

25 was the best year for me thus far because my life got completely upended. I stepped out of my comfort zone and started a new journey. Got into grad school, moved to a new city where I didn't know anyone, spent 6 months in France, opened my eyes to a new career path.

17 was a HUGE turning point for me, because that was the year Katrina LITERALLY changed my entire life. It was the best and worst thing that ever happened to me. Yes it was devastating and I went through a serious depression (that I didn't even know I was in), but had that not happened I know for a fact my life would be completely different. I'd paid non-refundable money to go to a different university, changed my mind. Ended up going to LSU where I met my best friend and had the best college experience I could've asked for.

 

After 24, I have started to reach a somewhat stagnant place career-wise; however, with this being said, I think I actually figured out what I want to do for long term, which is good.

 

23 was great. I traveled often, I was legal, sure of who I was, and deciphering who was and were not the best options for people to call "friends". I enjoyed that year very much. There are a couple more, but 23 was a turning point for me.

 

GOALS!! College has definitely been the best time of my life so far. I'm extremely grateful too. I can't wait to become independent and explore the world like you, @acessential.