The 3 stages in life

I’m about to embark on my 3rd stage in life. Whether I could complete this last stage only time will tell. Many don’t cuz our average life span is only 78 yrs. Some could not even make it to the 3rd stage.

W Shakespeare says there are 7 stages (ages) in a person’s life. I would rather break it into 3 stages with 30 years in each stage based on the assumption that he lives a full life without any terminal illness or fatal accident that cuts short his longevity. As I see it, natural life span of a person should be 90 years. Divide this 90 into 3 parts will give you 30 years at each stage.

I ever told my son before that the first stage will decide his next 2 stages in life. This is the crucial part of a person’s life where he sets his foundation for the rest of his life. Many parents realize this. That’s why they force their children to excel in school with massive investments on tuition and other activities to ensure their children excel in the system at the expense of their innocent childhood and other meaningful activities such as helping out in housework, charity work etc.

The end result, our children wear thick glasses, exam smart not street smart with zero EQ and selfish with one track mind of scoring well in exams. The child is taught from young to score as many ace as possible with the rest of his needs taken care of. Even his own school bag is carried by the maid or parents.

The second stage in life from age 30 to 60 is his best years when he starts to work, set up a family and career. That’s the time when he will experience the real world. He’ll go thru life and accumulate much experience in his work place and in life. His tribulations and success at this stage are prelude to his last stage in life.

By the time he enters the last stage of his life, he is already 60 yrs old, he would have known much about living in the real world. He’s now wise and world weary. Many, having fallen along the way due to sickness or some freak accident will miss out this stage of life. Some may even limp or wheelchair to this last stage. Even if you have reached this last stage in life, even many more will not be able to complete the full 30 years since our life expectancy is only 78 years. No amount of wealth or tears would set you back in time. My parents have passed 78 but their health is failing and the end is near.

Even before the time they hit the last stage, many of my friends are already “medicine-men.” They need to take pills to sustain themselves. Many are having the 3 common health issues – high blood pressure, high cholesterol or sugar in blood with some even having gout or arthritis etc.

It is not uncommon to see some of my friends taking 4 to 8 pills per day to control these health irritants. Without these pills to sustain them, they may even expire earlier. My parents are given tons of pills whenever they go for their regular medical check-ups. But then they are reaching the finishing line soon. But for those not yet finishing stage 2 in life and are still actively working are more worrisome.

Fortunately, I am not on any medication. I can’t even recall when was the last time I took a panadol. I always refuse to take any medication fearing any side effects. But I could sense that I may have to be a “medicine-man” soon as I march towards the last stage. That’s life beyond our control. But according to my good fren Wilson, we could slow down this process if we exercise regularly and watch our diet. He’s still as fit as a fiddle even though he has entered his 3rd stage.

Actually, it’s not the number of years a person lives that counts. It’s the quality of years having lived. What is the point of living till 100 years if there are no accomplishments or legacy once you are gone?

Nearly 40 yrs ago in 1982 I wrote an article on China when she was so poor and backwards having just opened up their economy. Click the link here to read. Within my life time, China is now a super power overtaking every country on earth. We are beyond comparison with China’s might. Now that’s what I meant by great accomplishments within a short life-time.

On a personal level, hopefully I shall leave a legacy on my 10 year old blog and also tons of memories behind and I pray that I could successfully complete the last stage before I finally reach the finishing line and prepare to, in the words of Lord Alfred Tennyson “cross the bar!” So help me God!

Crossing the Bar

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crost the bar.

BY ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON

All the world's a stage,     
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. 
At first the infant,     
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.     
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel     
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. 
And then the lover,     
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. 
Then a soldier,     
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,     
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation     
Even in the cannon's mouth. 
And then the justice,     
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;     
And so he plays his part. 
The sixth age shifts     
Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,     
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. 
Last scene of all,     
That ends this strange eventful history,     
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything. 

W Shakespeare