The division of different stages of life by the Cat Pen Knife#
Last night, during a discussion, we talked about a very interesting topic, which is the division of different stages of life: childhood, adolescence, youth, middle age, and old age.
My first reaction was that age should not be used as a boundary because everyone's maturity process is different, and the age at which they enter each stage is also different.
Take myself as an example, I think the biggest characteristic of childhood is seeking low-level stimulation and entertainment, such as watching cartoons, climbing walls and drilling holes, playing with toy guns and slingshots, playing marbles and making paper flowers. I only cared about how to please myself, just playing.
This stage lasted until the second grade of junior high school. One night, I had a wet dream and woke up to find my underwear wet. I was embarrassed that at such a big age, I actually wet the bed. After that, my sexual awareness gradually awakened. The comic books I used to love couldn't hold my interest anymore, and I became more and more interested in the women around me, thinking that they were more attractive. At this stage, I started to care about appearance, both mine and the girls', and often daydreamed about how to attract the opposite sex. I think most teenagers are like this.
I think the starting point of the third stage, youth, is 1-2 years after graduating from college, entering the melting pot of society. Everything around me reminds me that money is very important. I realized that the things I used to care about would be lost if I didn't have money. This is another major change in my outlook on life.
I believe the starting point of the fourth stage, middle age, is the birth of my eldest son. It is at this point that I feel life is starting to be complete because I have my own child and the responsibility to take care of him. I also realize that I grew up under the care of my parents and now I have the responsibility to care for them. From the bottom of my heart, I no longer see myself as a boy, but as the core of the family, responsible for both the past and the future. In this stage, I become afraid of death and try to avoid potential dangers, fearing that any mishap will affect the future of my whole family.
I don't know at which point the next stage will come. Some say it is when my child goes to college, some say it is when my child gets married, and some say it is when my grandchild is born. I think it is probably when my child can survive independently in society. At that time, I will let go of my responsibility towards them. If my parents are still alive, I will take care of them until the end. If they are no longer here, I will essentially return to my adolescence and childhood, with no worries or obligations, having both leisure and money. I will have a few more years to play, haha, old age is all about enjoying life.
I hope that in every stage of life, people can follow their instincts and fully experience this life without any regrets. Don't delay anything.