Was listening to this song on the way home from the gym, and got to thinking about which years truly have been the best years? (My mind tends to wander like that )

Part of me enjoys the moment and so feels like it just keeps getting better....what are your best years so far and why? Or are you convinced that they are yet to come?

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

In my thirties I finally left my multi-time cheating husband,met my current dh, raised my kids. It seemed year after year things got better for us. Now we are in our forties and seem to be struggling again. Maybe it is because our kids are all teens right now (all 7 of them) but right now life seems harder then it ever has been,

What about the years before teens? Those were my best years.No worries,all fun and games,and family vacations.Those were my best years.Since then its been nothing but hard times and struggling filled with worries and health problems.

It was hard to choose, because I have truly been blessed. My life has been good so far. Great Hubby 2 great kids, all relatively healthy. Good jobs, kids have been good in school. I chose the 30's I guess because my kids were little, and that is some of the most fune with kids.

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Freedom Stands...Because HEROS Serve

Mary

I voted 20's

Well - I am still in my twenties - but I don't want to turn 30 this summer. This vote has been somewhat encouraging...I just think I bought my first home, got married, survived cancer, will have had all four of my kids...etc. in my 20's - my 30's seem to be setting up for dull or mondane compared. Maybe once I am ion my 30's I will understand a diffrent kind of accomplishment or fulfillment - at least I really hope so!

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saraedawson@yahoo.com

Mommy to Jake, Alexis, Abigail and Joshua, Wife to Matt

Sara -

I bet that you will find a new sense of accomplishment in your 30s as your children enter school and get involved in more organized activities and sports. In any event, I'm pretty sure that with four kids that your life will not be dull or mundane!!

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

CJ you always ask those "thinker" questions.

I didn't do the poll because you didn't have down "all my years have been the best years of my life".
And that is what I believe.

Have I lost people and animals that I loved dearly? Yes.
Have I had my heart broken? Many times.
Have I had to scramble to keep my head above water in the money dept.? Often.
Have I had tough times emotionally and physically? Who hasn't?

But from all the "bad" things that have happened, I get a lesson, memory, and strength.

Daddy always said "We make our own Heaven or Hell right here on Earth." So maybe it's all in perception. Maybe I'm just an opptimist. Maybe I'm just too dopey to know better.

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Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass
It's about learning to dance in the rain.

For me after 30 it's been down hill. Hopefully my 30's will be better I am 33 so only 3 years into 30. Right after my 30th birthday I was diagnosed with MS and my babies weren't babies anymore . I just miss that young body I had the one that worked. I worry about the future but I love to hear that others have enjoyed their 30's 40's and so on. Hopefully this old womans body will lighten up on me and get back to the right age.

Honestly, I love life and I love each day that I have with all the people I love so I guess I should say I enjoy any age anytime!

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cmemaloy@yahoo.com


I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not.

Life! is a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once.

I LOVE the song by the way.

I think these are in a way but I am sure the best is to come because each time of life should be the best.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

This is a good question. I enjoy chatting about topics like this. I chose my "twenties" as the best years of my life-so far. I accomplished alot in my twenties. I married my high school heart, had my 2 kids and became a SAHM. I'm turning 31 in August. Last year, I wasn't ready to turn 30. Now, it's not a big deal being in my thirties. I try to stay positive about any situation that comes my way. I feel I am truly blessed cause life has been good to me, so far.

I voted for the 40's - from someone who just turned 50, I hope I will be able to change that in 10 years and say the 50's!

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Mary

I voted for the twenties also, not because these years arent good, but it was in those years I did a lot - it seems whirlwind, in a few years I dated up a storm, bought my own car, got married, did a lot of traveling, bought a home, spent tons of QUALITY time with friends and family etc.

I'm (gulp) 51 and I have to say the late 40's until now have been my best. I"m happily divorced, my 16 yr old son lives we me and we laugh every single day, my 23 yr old is working and sometimes living at home (anytime he wants to he can come back). I have a peace in my life now that I have sturggled with since my dad died suddenly when I was 15. The zoloft is helping! lol lol That probably is part of it since I have battled anxiety all my life. But I have to say life is grand!! I was always so afraid of being alone but it dawned on me that as long as I have God I'll never really be alone. That's been the biggest thing. I have my health (so far), two great sons, my extended family, extremely good friends, a fun job, a house that should be paid off in less than 5 years so I'm pretty happy! You just have to have faith! To all you young ones - enjoy the kids, they grow up so quickly. Each stage brings new experiences and great memories!

Thanks for the repsonses! I might be looking at this with rose-colored glasses, but I'm wondering if the "best years" are mapping to everyone's current age for the most part. How cool and uplifting is that to look at any age as the best? (excepting those 50s... ) Everything to look forward to and no regrets!

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

My thirties were great - finished school, got married, had three kids, wrote a children's book, and taught piano from home to make ends meet.

My forties have only started, but since my dad just passed, I'd rather right now be back in my 30's. I'm hoping to move on to peace and happiness in this decade soon. I know I'm getting there. My goal for this decade is to join an all "girls" over 40 band! I've been wanting that for a while! I think that will be my consolation once I go back to work full time in the real world. I've been loving being at home with my kids - that's been a gift for me.



<<<<<< I was always so afraid of being alone but it dawned on me that as long as I have God I'll never really be alone.>>>>>>>>>>
kathytheshopper, great words!!!

I'm thinking that the best are yet to come as far as my adult years ... I'm early 40's (43) and I believe that the 40's will be the best because of how well they are starting!

Honestly though, my childhood (pre-teens and before my folks got divorced) really was THE best so far! No responsibilities. I just really loved being a kid.

I didn't pick any time, From as early as I can remember to now, I have enjoyed it all, we have definatley had many moments that were not great, but they have helped to mold me into who I am.....I try and enjoy every moment of everyday.....When Dh got hurt, it was like a slap in the face, and realized that the here and now is what matters.

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"You can never really pay back. You can only pay forward."

Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes

O-H-I-O

I have to agree with you mabear74

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Brenda

GO #24 JEFF GORDON

to me, the question is kind of like asking "which of your children to do you love the best/most?"

Every time in my life has had it's ups, it's down, good times and bad. I've enjoyed the good, cried during the bad and survived (thus far) that has been the roller coaster of life. I have significant memories during each "time" of my life.

Just like I love my children--even when they are being little squirts. I have good memories and times, as well as the not so good w/ each child. I love my oldest because he's such a tender-hearted boy, he's quiet, he's respectful...I love the youngest because he's passionate, because he's affectionate, because he's so comedic--

So, I don't think there IS any time that has been the best years--they've all been good, bad, fun, sad, etc.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I had to say my 40's even though I'm only 41. It's like when I turned 40 I realized that life is life, and you have to take the bad with the good, no matter what. I think in my 30's I was always waiting for things to get "better", whatever that means. I do miss my kids and wish I could say that my 20's and 30's were better, but I can't. I never thought I'd say this, but I LOVE being 40 something!!

Alright, who is forcing people to answer questions they don't like? That's so mean!!

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

I said my 20's--- Scott and I were just married and had the world by the tail. We got to travel alot, didn't have kids to worry about-- we could just up and leave at the drop of a hat!

Not that I don't adore my children-- but I miss those carefree days.

Holly

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Forgiveness is love in its most noble form. -Anonymous

I wish I was in my 20's but had the mentality and knowledge that I do now.

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l/ l/ l/
Dont go through life,
GROW through life

Real eyes...realize...real lies.

We've also had very good times, and very bad times. Even the good times had their trials and tribulations, so I can't say it's ever been perfect. Seems like there is always some sacrifice. So, I'm going to say the best years are yet to come. I mean really, if you've already had the best times of your life (and your only in your thirties), isn't that kind of sad? What's to look forward to KWIM? I always chuckle a bit, when I hear someone say, "This is the worst day of my life." Not to sound insensitive, but I just want to say, "Trust me, it's not. You'll have one way worse." Yes, just call me a ray of sunshine, but sometimes when we think times are so rough, and we look back, we can think, "Wow, that was an easy one, wish I had THOSE problems now." So hopefully, for you all that said that you have already had the best years of your lives-I hope that's not true. Hope you all have lots and lots more of the best years of your lives coming!

I couldn't answer either, even though I had some fun when I was a teenager, I can't compare that to what I have now. I have my kids and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. Sure I think it would be fun to be a teenager again for one day, the only difference is I would go to school with my DD and show her how to deal with certain situations.

I really couldn't give an answer because my kids are still growing.

You could be describing my kids.........except I have a middle one who is coming into his own and is so considerate, smart, and has the most infectious smile and also my oldest is only quiet around those he doesn't know too well but is so funny around those he knows!

While I'm in my 40's now, I am going to say my late 20's to early 30's were my favorite because my kids were just starting to be born, I lived on a very close-knit military base family w/ my hubby and had so many friends. I loved doing all the things that went along with having "little ones" and miss it so much. I enjoy seeing them grow into wonderful young men (they're still under 18), and I am so happy that they are still home, but to me there's something so special about those young innocent smiles and minds that I would love to revist every now and then along with getting to carry them around too.

I was reading the new issue of More magazine last night and there was a short article that I thought was cute and relevant to this topic -

10 Reasons Why We're Really Glad We're Over 40


We know our style. We are not afraid to wear black. Or use double negatives.

We've honed our ability to allow things to roll off our backs. In our twenties, if a friend of a friend snubbed us at a cockatail party, we'd stew for a week........Now, we don't even remember the snub the next morning.

We feel absolutely no compulsion to have a MySpace page, and no need to apologize for not having one.

We've grown to appreciate the singularity of our own selves, rather than cursing our wide shoulders, pointy elbows, or whatever else we've wasted our younger days despising......

Sex is better than ever, largely because we're not afraid to ask for what we want and realize that faking orgasm only reinforces male ineptitude.

We are able to embody the confidence and wisdom of Coco Chanel who once quipped, "I don't do fashion, I am fashion"

It's a cinch to say no to: throwing huge parties for people from work we barely know, cochairing the school auction, and allowing our husband's little brother to move into the basement. Like a bad fever, our hyper-dutiful sense of obligation has run its course.

Younger men are now old enough to have real careers and order a round of martinis.

We've finally absorbed the reality that no pair of $3000 sandals will ever be as sexy as quarterly dividend.

We've regained all the time we used to spend freaking out about turning 40.


Hollywood women turning 40 this year: Sarah McLachlan, Lisa Marie Presley, Molly Ringwald, Celine Dion, Patricia Arquette, Ashley Judd, Kylie Minogue, Debra Messing, Naomi Watts, Lucy Liu

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

That's great CJ! but I think I'm 10 years behind ... maybe I'll fit that list when I turn 50! LOL.