Returning What One Has Gained
Defining the Decade Calendar – Part 3
I’d like to state upfront that the returning decades are based solely on theory and discussions with those I have personal relationships with, who are in decades 8 and beyond. Keep in mind not as many people as you’d hope for are favored and blessed enough to reach the returning decades. In fact, those who are amongst the relatively few who reach this phase of life are quite fortunate. Those persons should be honored and respected to a whole nother level. Booma, we will discuss the returning decades using not only Russel and Anna Huxtable who we mentioned in the earning decades, but also Aunt Gramtee who visited the Huxtables on an occasion or two.
“Learn, earn, return—these are the three phases of life.” —Jack Balousek [1]
The Returning Decades
The returning decades are decades 8 & beyond. This represents any and all individuals who are 70 years of age and greater.
- Decade 8 (Age 70-79) – This decade is where you hand off what you’ve created, been working on, so that it lives beyond the hands that built it, your hands.
As we watched, grew to love, and as each character grew and matured in the Huxtable family, we noticed the progressions of life. For the phase known as returning decades, we look to Russel and Anna Huxtable. They were at a point in their lives that they needed no more learning (not that we can’t always learn more), they needed no more earning (not that we can’t earn any more), but their focus was on returning. You see once a person reaches decade-8, the shift should be on leaving a legacy. We watched Russel and Anna pass on what it means to be Huxtables not only to their children, but to their grandchildren and great-grand-children. In decade-8, a person’s focus is passing along to those that come behind them what truly matters in life. Picture your grandparents and think of the lessons they returned to you. It’s the lessons and things they shared that you more than likely think of often!
- Decade 9 (80-89) – This decade is where a person spends their time watching over what they handed off to others. A person desires to ensure that it keeps its values and purpose. The small things are no longer as important as the purpose for which things get done and time is of the essence.
By the time we get to decade-9, a hand off should occur. In other words, we’re finding that person who is able to take one’s family to the next level and handing them everything we have to be successful at doing it. This brings a book to my mind called The Ultimate Gift. The point of this book was that a grandfather needed to hand off all his fortunes to the most responsible member of his family. It happened to be his grandson, but before he could take position, he was required to pass a series of tests in order to gain the lessons that made the fortune in the first place. This is the idea of decade-9, it’s not just a time of handing off material things, but rather a time to hand off the true treasures of life. It’s passing on the treasures that help your family to reach greatness. - Decade 10 (Age 90-99) – This decade is where time gets spent removing oneself from the picture. In other words, making certain that the family, business or the organization doesn’t rely on you to continue to be successful. It’s a transfer of leadership or dependability. A person in this decade would never want to jeopardize what he or she put in place by standing in the way.
For decade-10, I had to take a breath and seek help from God as I don’t have a connection with any decade-10 individuals. However, going back to the Cosby’s, I recall the time when Aunt Gramtee visited. What stood out to me was her attitude and ability to hold no punches back. We could all use a person like Aunt Gramtee in our lives; that person who will punch us in the gut (so to speak) to ensure we’re living right. Aunt Grantee’s role was one in which she returned Cliff (in this case) back to sober thinking of himself, one’s self. It’s easy to forget that people matter regardless of their positions, accomplishments, and possessions. At the end of the day, decade-10 is where we return to what it means to have a sober attitude about one’s self and others. It returns us to caring and having compassion for those who we can touch. Those I refer to as your world. Decade-10 is the decade used to return a family back to being human-beings. A person who reaches decade-10 no longer has focused cares for learning and earning, but rather returning to the true cares of life that can not be bought.
As I conclude the phases of life and categorize the decade calendar into the learning, earning, and returning phases, I’d like to give you an idea, now that you have such knowledge. Take advantage of knowing what the phases are designed for so that you can stay on track with what each phase can bring. So often people can’t enjoy the phases of life because they get off course as well as neglect them as they either desire to be younger (return to a previous decade) or be older than they are (skip the current decade). You know folks who are in decades 4-6 who’ve decided to go back to school which should have occurred in decade-3. Or how about that person who has to work well over into decade-8 because there were no other options? It’s hard to return anything when you’re consumed with having to earn. If anything, take away from these lessons the fact that a plan for life is necessary to keep one on pace to enjoy the phases that life gives us.
Question: how many people can you think of who are great examples to follow (or not) as it relates to the returning phase of life?
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Reference1: Maxwell, John. Thinking for a Change: 11 Ways Highly Successful People Approach Life and Work. Hachette Book Group. 2003.
All Scripture references used by permission, see our Scripture copyrights.
