How have you changed in different decades of your life?

[hitrewind]

I'm approaching a not-very-significant birthday (35) that for some reason feels like a big jump forward. It's not logical, but for some reason it feels weighty.

And I'm reminding myself of how every year I feel like I'm 'getting older' and then I look back at those ages and think how young I was – and what a different person in many ways.

So much as this birthday feels odd, I'm also getting excited about heading toward my 40s and 50s and beyond, to imagine what I might do and who I might become.

What did you enjoy most, and how did you change, in different decades of your life?

I don’t know how much I have changed but my life has had various stages. I married at 18 and my 20s were taken up with two young children. In my 30s I was at uni and in my 40s I was studying for a PhD. I loved my 50s. the children were grown up and I got a new , stimulating job that gave me the opportunity to grow intellectually and to travel. when I was 60 I took up painting and through that made new friends. In the last 15 years I have become a carer to my DM and DH but I still love to travel and plan to do as much as I can while I am still able. I was always independent and I think I have become more so, despite still being married.

@mdh2020 this is gorgeous to read – it sounds like you've really embraced every decade! What a full life.

I think this is what I need to remind myself of – culturally there's this idea that as you get older life slows down, and it doesn't have to be the case.