I’ve been searching for the correct words to describe the stages of life for a very long time. I think I now have them, but that will likely change sometime in the future. I am a wordsmith and it is totally in my nature to constantly be on the lookout for a better description of almost everything. Anyway, here  are what I think are the best description of the stages of life:

• Formative Years – During these years we usually spend with family in familiar surroundings.
• College Years – are usually the first time we have left the nest and are exposed to things that are not fimiliar to us. They are years where “enlightenment” is front and center
• Middle Years – These are the years we spend building on the foundation from the previous two stages. This is usually our years earnings years
• Encore Years – These years are where we finally get to live life on our own terms, and I can tell you up front that these can be your happiest and most joyful times if you have prepared for them ahead of time.

I know these terms are different than most. But let me explain why I chose the name for each stage. 

The Formative Years are primarily about a very small world that embodies primarily family. It is where we establish our first “rules of life”. The list above does not mean that everyone will go through all four stages.  Some will remain in their formative years throughout their lives. They will never venture out to see what is beyond their doorsteps.

For those of us who are fortunate enough our College Years will be exposed to a much larger world. This is the stage where our unique personality is shaped. Since not everyone goes to college, I was tempted to name this stage our Enlightment Years, but I will keep it as is for now.

The Middle Years include when we enter our “work years”, marriage years”, “parenting years”. The list is almost endless.

Retirement years just sound like the end of things. Given that I entered this mode in the year 2000, I will soon be living in this mode longer than I was in the corporate work world. This is the period where we answer primarily to ourselves. We, often for the first time in our lives, choose how we spend our time. An Encore performance happens after your scheduled performance ends. In an encore you choose what you are going to do or say. It’s up to you. So, why not call this stage of life your Encore Years? In my mind, that seems to be the perfect description.