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My five favourite decades – how to live your best life!

Decades seem to come and go with rapid regularity – or is that just me?

What is your favourite decade?

Denyse has asked this question for #Lifethisweek and her post was very interesting with her choosing the 1960s as her favourite decade due to the large amount of change in her life at this time.

I immediately thought of the current decade, my 50s.  Why?

I am now:

  • more confident in myself
  • more happy with who I am
  • more settled financially
  • free of the stresses that go with working for a living
  • a grandmother
  • a blogger!

But then I thought of how much sadness this current decade has brought me – the loss of my career and so many of my loved ones – my brother-in-law, my father, my father-in-law, my sister’s recent breast cancer diagnosis and ongoing treatment and how the ageing process marches on regardless of whether we’re ready for it or not.

I like to think of the happy moments to balance out the sadness and these include my daughters’ weddings, our many adventures, fun with family and friends, the birth of our granddaughter…

Granny Debs and Emilia
Granny Debs and Emilia – at Tumbafest 2019

So upon reflection I think each decade has much to offer.  Off the top of my head these are my brief and immediate thoughts from each decade.

1960-70:

Being born into a loving family, growing up with my sister and brother, spending time with both sets of grandparents, cousins and friends, riding my bike, starting school, moving into our new house, moving schools, becoming a Brownie, being the tallest girl in the whole primary school (something I’m very proud of)!

Siblings
Siblings

1970-80: My teens

So much change and growth in this decade, which is funny because I stopped growing taller. I started High School, became a runner, enjoyed being a Girl Guide and then a Venturer, discovered AC/DC and ‘real’ music, met my husband to be, learnt to drive and got my driver’s licence, survived a tragic school excursion and received a Bravery Award from the Queen,  became an aunt, a bridesmaid, finished school and started working in a bank, became engaged, left home and moved to the city.

Sweet 16
Sweet 16

1980-90: My 20s

Got married, bought a house, renovated the house, had my three baby girls, became a Breastfeeding Counsellor, did it tough financially, made friends for life, spent time with my parents, grandparents and other relatives, supported my husband in his further education and touch football career, introduced our daughters to bike riding, our eldest daughter started school and we enjoyed spending time with friends.

With my three girls in 1990
With my three girls in 1990

1990-2000: My 30s

Moved our family to a small country town, daughters started school in a new town, made friends, then moved our family to England for a year’s Teacher Exchange when youngest was only three and a bit, had a great year travelling England and Europe in every spare moment, made friends for life, enjoyed parents visiting from Aus, returned home, bought a house, got a dog, then some chooks, then another dog and some ducks and a cat.  Teenage years with 3 girls was an experience I’d like to forget sometimes but they turned out fine.

Act mindfully, accept entirely, move strongly, think softly, speak beautifully, live simply, love completely

I became a Brownie leader then a Guide Leader and later the Regional representative. We became host parents to a Danish exchange student who is still a member of our family today.

Returned overseas with husband, leaving the girls with friends and relatives, then later in the decade took them all to Europe with us.  Much time spent enjoying time with family during this decade.

I had lots of jobs, a babysitter, a waitress, a check out chick, a personal assistant for a local business, an Adult Education Centre coordinator and then I started a job in Education in a minimum security correctional centre (prison) which became a long and rewarding career.

Living in the UK in 1992
Living in the UK in 1992 – visiting with my aunt

2000-2010: My 40s

I studied by distance education while working several part time jobs and raising my family and finally became a teacher (I’d always want ed to be one).  I progressed through the ranks in my job and took it all very seriously, attending conferences and learning as much as I could about educating prisoners to improve their lives after release.

I joined the local  Rotary Club. We travelled some more, the girls finished school and went onto university after all taking a GAP year overseas. We became empty nesters but continued involvement in youth based programs through Rotary.

I lost my grandparents during these years but realise I was lucky to have had them until I was in my 40s.

A white Christmas in Livigno in the Italian Alps with the family
A white Christmas in 2007

A favourite?

My daughters still want to know which of them is my favourite but of course I don’t play favourites and so it is with my decades.  Without all these experiences, and many more I’ve forgotten, I wouldn’t be who I am today.

I am happy now, all things considered, and although I’m fast approaching my 6th decade I don’t feel that different to how I felt all those years ago.  I’m happy with my choices throughout life, I consider myself fortunate with the family I am a part of and the family I have created with the Mathematician.

I can only look forward to what comes next.

Live your best life

What was your favourite decade? Feel free to leave a comment below. I always like hearing from you!

Deb x

You can pin this post for later:

Living your best life, looking back at the decades and into the future

Also linking up to Denyse’s #Lifethisweek and the weekly Midlife Share the Love party #mlstl

You can also find Deb’s World in lots of other places – stay in touch by clicking any of the buttons below.

Debbie - mother of a 40 year old

Everyone has a story to tell! Deb is a young-at-heart & active 60+ blogger/retiree, after being made redundant from her 22-year career managing education programs in a men’s correctional centre (jail). She now spends her time reading, blogging, riding her ebike and travelling. Deb was awarded a Bravery Award from the Queen when she was 17 after a tragic accident – a definite life changing moment! She is married with 3 grown-up daughters & has 4 grandchildren. She never imagined being Granny Debs would bring so much joy to her life! You can read more of Deb’s story here

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81 Replies to “My five favourite decades – how to live your best life!”

  3. I’m with you, Deb. Each decade has it’s own ups and downs. For example, this current one has included several rewarding years in educational leadership, then starting off on an exciting new adventure in retirement..and our first grandchild. But it has also meant the loss of all three of our remaining parents and Dan’s dear sister. I don’t think I can, to want to, choose a favorite.

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  4. What a life, Debs! Overall it sounds like a pretty wonderful life, so how could you choose. Strangely, I was also incredibly tall in primary school and then I stopped growing at 12 & everyone else over took me!

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    1. I’m glad you understand my tallness issue! It was fun sharing just a snippet of my decades here. It’s certainly been an interesting time so far and I’m actually very happy with things now. Thanks again for your lovely comment.

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  5. Thanks for sharing the highlights of your decades, Debbie. It was fun to get to know a little more about you. So far, I feel blessed to believe that each decade I am in is the best one. I admit to not loving all the physical changes that come with aging, but I am actually caring for myself better now than I ever have — physically, emotionally, spiritually — as a result I am healthier than I have ever been. I am more confident and mindful, with more free time (though I’m still working) and more financial freedom than ever before. Life is a journey and each moment has its blessings and lessons. Certainly, there are times I am glad to have behind me, and I know there will be trying times in the future, but overall I love my life. Thanks for triggering memories of my own decades. It was fun.

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    1. Thank you Christie, that’s a great comment! I enjoyed sharing a snippet of my life so far and am glad it resonated with you too. I like your summary of your life so far and agree, the physical changes are a bit of a worry at times 🙂 . Enjoy your memories!

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  7. I’m with you, each decade is so different but so special. That said, I still think my current decade, my forties is my favourite. It hasn’t been without it’s challenges but it’s brought so much happiness and I’ve finally found my groove!

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  9. Thanks, Debbie, for sharing the highlights of your decades. There is always so much happening in each decade, isn’t there? I like your image that says ‘Live your Best Life’, and how happy you look with your granddaughter in the stroller. Enjoy the present! #lifethisweek

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  10. Hi Deb, I have beautiful memories from each of my decades but I think when I turned 50 I came into my own and started to gain confidence in who I was. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your life – so interesting and varied. You certainly have achieved so much and I’m sure you will continue to do so in all areas of your life. I think my bitter/sweet moment was in the 80’s. It was March of 1981 and I was due to give birth to Rachel in April. My Dad had bowel cancer and was hanging on to see the baby but unfortunately fell short by a month. As you say there are decades that have both happiness and sadness in them but that is life isn’t it? Have a great week and thanks for a lovely read. xx

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    1. Oh thanks so much Sue. I didn’t intend to write all that much but it just started to flow and I thought, why not!!?? I agree about the turning 50 feeling and I’m the same, I love who I am now whereas before I struggled. I understand your bittersweet feeling as Emilia missed out on missing her grandfathers by a short amount of time too. Every year we live we learn things and some aren’t always happy things to go through. Make the most of what we have now is my motto. Have a great week ahead, I’m just off to the hairdressers 🙂

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  11. You’re right that each decade holds special times and memories. I guess we just keep building on what has gone before. We grow, we learn and we gain some of that wisdom that is the bonus for getting older. I laughed at you being the tallest in primary school – obviously I kept growing when you ran out of steam 🙂

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    1. Thanks Leanne, I just had to mention that bit of important information and I’m so glad you noticed it 🙂 My mother, to this day, still becomes quite perplexed when she says “but you were the tallest girl in the school in 6 grade”, as if I stopped growing on purpose! Life is all about building on experiences as you say and hopefully gaining some wisdom in the process. It was fun to ramble on 🙂

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  13. What an interesting post – and it’s got me thinking about which I would pick! So hard, each decade brings good times and bad. It makes me want to get out the old photos and do something similar – how to condense 10 years into one paragraph though – that’s a real challenge. You certainly packed a lot into the decades leading up to now!

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  17. Hi, Deb – I greatly enjoyed this recap of your past decades. I agree that it is hard to choose just one. This past Hallowe’en in Palm Desert, we were asked to dress-up in clothing from our favourite decade. Seeing the wide range of costumes that this task inspired was incredibly fun….especially noting the two women who dressed in pregnancy clothes — declaring the 80’s to be their favourite decade! :0

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    1. Thanks so much Donna! I must admit I also have a love of the 80s, I think it was a combination of my age and the times being just right although challenging in many ways. I do love a dress up party too 🙂

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  18. I loved reading about your decades Deb. What an interesting and rewarding life you’ve led so far. We’ve moved internationally 11 times, so my decades have been full of packing and unpacking brown cardboard boxes! But it’s been fascinating. I can’t say I have a favourite decade though as I’ve enjoyed them all for different reasons. #MLSTL

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    1. Thanks so much for your comment Jo! I can’t imagine all that packing and unpacking, but as you say it’s fascinating! I’ve had a ball so far and love looking back at what I’ve done over the years. This is only a brief snapshot as you can imagine!!!

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  19. From the time I was 56 till I was 66 was probably my best 10 years. I married my husband at 55 and other than the few years when one son was in rehab twice for addiction life was good. We moved to our current home, I retired, then he retired and we traveled.

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  21. Wow, Debbie, what a great life you’ve created for yourself and your family! I loved reading about your decades, and the activities you found time for over the years. I would say that my 40s were a great decade (I’m now 52 so I’m at the beginning of a new decade, more or less), because I got married at 42 and my husband came to live with me in Moscow. My 40s were incredible years, and I’m hoping that my 50s will be even better – I’m planning for this as we speak 🙂 Visiting from MLSTL and pinned. 🙂

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    1. Thanks for your comment and for sharing my post Cheryl, I must admit it’s been a good life so far! Your 40s sound incredible, so much happening for you. I’m sure your 50s will be great, you’re on a roll now!

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  23. Hard to pick a favourite decade – I think my 40s (& hopefully 50s) for the same reason as you – I am more confident, more patient, sexier, I married for the 2nd time at 39 and have been happier this time round… My youngest boys were born when I was 40 & 41 …. I started a new career at 50, my blog I started aged 47 😊 I enjoyed aspects of the other decades too but I prefer the “older” me 😊

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  24. I just smiled and nodded through your post. It is true each decade brings us a mix of the great and good and the not-so. I am totally in awe of your roles and that you got into teaching with much discipline and hard work. We have some similar connections, I was in Nursing Mothers back in the late 1970s and early 80s but I am afraid my local group was very judgy about my return to work when my son was 18 weeks. I continued to breast feed him (and express for bottles) till he was 8 months. Full-time teaching was the only option back then so I think I did well.

    Thank you for linking up for Life This Week. Next week’s optional prompt is the first Taking Stock in 2019. Denyse

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    1. Thanks so much Denyse, I always enjoy your comments and we seem to have much in common! You did extremely well to continue feeding considering all you had to contend with and I feel sad for you being treated like that from fellow nursing mothers.

      I’ll be linking up again this week so many thanks for your generosity in hosting us.

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  27. This was such a fun read. Happy I found it. You and I are experiencing the same decade and so much of what you said is true.

    For me this is a much more confident decade. I seem to have left my self doubt and stress to my decades of the past. I know those two were popular in my 20’s. In fact they pretty much ran the show.

    The one downside to this decade is the loss that we face. We know it’s coming but that doesn’t make it any easier. The one thing I enjoy the most is watching my two daughters grow. They are becoming their own person and making their own world. So I guess in the end I am becoming an observer. That’s what I love the most.

    Thanks!!!!!

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    1. Hi Bryan, many thanks for stopping by and not only reading but also commenting on my post!

      I agree this decade sees me as a much more confident person but the loss is hard to deal with.

      I like your thought that you are becoming an observer, that’s a great way of looking at it all. My daughters are growing up and live far away but we still maintain contact and I love how close our relationship has become over the years.
      Lovely to have you drop by for a chat 🙂

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  28. Nice one Deb, interesting to read all about your decades and have a few thoughts about mine. Although every one has been special I’d have to say the current decade is my favourite as I like to feel that life is all about looking forward and living in the moment. Really liked the 1980s though.

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  30. What a lovely recap of your life Debbie. Like you I feel more confident now than I ever have but also, like you, I don’t have a favourite decade. Each one holds its own special memories. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I really enjoyed reading. xx

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  31. What a fun post to read through! (Go AC/DC!!) I enjoyed it. Chuckled at some parts, felt sad at others – but isn’t that the roller coaster of life? I really enjoyed this peek into the journey you’ve had in life.

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    1. Thanks so much Trisha, that’s so lovely of you to say! It was just a glimpse into my decades but I’m glad you got the drift – it’s typical of many of our age group, with lots of ups and downs along the way. Yes AC/DC were the bomb back in the day!!!!!

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  32. I completely agree with you Deb, choosing a favorite decade would be impossible for me too. Reading your post got me to thinking about my decades, and I can say that there are milestones and great memories in every one of them. It is such a blessing to be on this side of 5 decades and still be able to smile. I enjoyed your post. Thanks for linking up with us at the #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty 35

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    1. It’s so good to stop and think back on things we’ve done isn’t it Sylvia? I’m happy to have written the post and shared some of my many stories and to hear you’ve also got to thinking of past decades. All the best 🙂

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  34. Debbie, have you read and worked through any of Julia Cameron’s books? I am slowly reading and working through It’s Never Too Late To Begin Again and one of the exercises, if you are not familiar with the book, is to write your memoir in 5 year increments. It has been an interesting activity for me. One that has brought to mind things I had long forgotten. Or thought I had!

    What a lovely life you have enjoyed. Thank goodness the tough times of loss and change are balanced with the good that life has to offer. My father died on 04.22.2012 and my daughter married 3 weeks later. The sad with the happy, the sour with the sweet.

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    1. Hi Leslie, no I haven’t read any of her books but that sounds very interesting way of writing about your life. I know I enjoyed just writing this snippet and was amazed at what I managed just off the top of my head. You’re right the sad with the happy, the sour with the sweet – a lovely way of looking at our lives. I’m fortunate to have lived the life I’ve had but it’s a work in progress isn’t it?? Thanks for joining in with me.

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  35. Debbie,
    Thank you for posting this reflection on the stages of your life. Through everything, I’ve learned to breathe and live my life in the best way possible. To attend to my responsibilities and to be as kind and as fair as I can be to others. We all travel through life with so many burdens and challenges, often invisible to others.

    SSG xxx

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  36. That’s a tough question. I probably enjoyed the 2010s the most as I become an empy-nester, travelled overseas a lot, started the blog, ditched my job and travelled around Australia for 7 months, finally found a job that suited my interests, turned 50 and started to become more of my own person. Let’s see what this decade brings!

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  37. I think this current one is my fave, but I wasn’t upset to leave my 40s behind – they were full of so much restlessness and, I don’t know, angst. I feel as though I’m settling more into myself now.

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