The Three Ages Of Humans

Humans have three ages. Each of us lives them daily, but at different times, moments, and for different reasons. Annelise Lords

Fiona Maxwell was chosen to head the company’s New Year party this year. For most of the people she knew and worked with, the new year often began with regrets. She grew tired of the complaints and what-ifs they all shared with her. Tony Linton, her boss, said he didn’t care what she did. Just change something. Make the new year happier and more welcoming in their present work environment. He promised her an incentive if she pulled it off. None of the other managers or their assistants manage to use their New Year’s party theme to promote, inspire, or instill change.

“Why do so many people start the new year with regrets?” She demands from life.

Life answered, “They make mistakes and can’t go back to change them, so many can’t move on from their mistake age.”

“Say what!” she screamed. Getting no answer, she glanced around, and the silence reminded her she was alone.

“We have a mistake age?” she asked as Life continued the insanity of talking to herself and answering back.

“Humans have three ages,” Life informed.

“Ah!” she almost screamed. Then she quickly covered her mouth with her left hand and glanced around. “Damn,” she said, remembering she was alone inside her office.

“Tell me more about the three ages of humans!”

Life explained it simply, flooding her brain and igniting a fire in her imagination. Fiona sat and allowed life to feed her creatively and innovatively.

A few days before the party, she sent messages to everyone in the company: “Our New Year party theme is ‘The Three Ages of Humans.’ Pick your age and dress accordingly.”

That started a frenzy as many employees cornered her the next morning, demanding to know where their other two ages came from.

“It’s the new year in a few days. Start thinking about your life and ways you can make it better. Change must begin with you, not what someone did, not your missed opportunity, what you didn’t do, wanted to do, should have done, reason, or why. Start it with change, positive change,” she encouraged.

“So, you are telling us we really have three ages?” Crystal from HR asked.

“And at the party I will tell you about them,” she informed.

“But we were born only once and live one life,” Brad from downstairs said, curiosity furrowing and unfurling his brows.

“Believe me,” she tried to convince, “you have three ages.”

“This better be good or we are going to eat you alive!” Deana, from her department, called out from behind her.

Fiona giggled and quickly exited before anyone else could battle with her. She bumped into Tony, her boss, who was smiling too widely.

Fiona quickly said, “I didn’t tell them, and I’m not telling you.”

“Damn!” he grumbled. “Not even for a double incentive.”

“Nope,” Fiona said, sliding into her office as excitement surged through her body.

At the party, all thirty-eight employees, including HR and various senior employees, dressed too young for their age. Fiona took the cordless microphone from the DJ. “Welcome, everyone.”

Reading the fear in their eyes, which slowly moved from eyes to heart, she said, “I hope you had a damn good Christmas and are ready for the New Year.”

Everyone glared at her.

Reading the curiosity, she said, giggling, “Sorry, folks, but after you enjoy your young selves, I will reveal the secret.”

“Let’s kill her!” Angel shouted, easing towards her on stage.

Tony stopped her, then suggested with a grin, “She isn’t the only one who wants your head on a platter. Talk now or die!”

Fiona giggled, swaying her body to Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best” lyric. She danced for a few moments, then elaborated after the DJ turned the music down. “Humans have three ages. The first age is your Turning Point Age. That’s when your life changes, turning in the wrong or right direction. Years later, after hell visits, many of you wish you could go back in time and change your direction to what you think is right. You can’t, so that action breeds regrets that grow, foster, bear fruit, and stifle your lives.”

Eyes popped, mouths agape as reality competed with blood in veins surging through hearts, minds, and souls. Fiona didn’t have to wait long for pain and regrets to rise to the surface, flooding eyes with tears.

She made the connection.

Satisfied, she continued, “The second age is the perfect age. That’s the age you were when your life is exactly how you planned or wanted it. When hell visits and ruins it, many want to go back to that age to enjoy their lives.”

She paused again; this time, the pain intensified.

“The third age, many of us fear……” She stared, reading the anxiety on faces. “It’s the real age. Many fear their real age. None of us can go back to change anything. No matter what the New Year does or says. None of us can change our ages, but we can change our lives and the decisions we make that hinder or harm us. We can improve, heal, and help ourselves through the decisions, situations, circumstances, or challenges life sends our way. You all know life. None of us know death. Live your best life no matter your age or what the New Year says. Don’t let anyone dictate how you live. Your life is your decision. Your decision is your life!”

Silence embraced the entire room; only heartbeats could be heard as more than forty pairs of eyes stared at Fiona. Tears flowed from every eye as, one by one, someone walked on stage and thanked her. Tears found her too, and as she wept, Tony took the microphone away and said, wiping his eyes, “She is right. We all have three ages. Start living your real age, folks. That’s the only age happiness will come into and have reasons to stay. The others are life lessons that will heal and help us to live and be happy with our real age. We really don’t know death. We know life, so start living the life you know!”

The rest of the night was perfect. The new year started with a different attitude for the entire company, and Tony pulled Fiona inside his office and handed her a check.

“Thank you,” he said. “Your words were powerful and true. It broke down doors and eliminated barriers and boundaries in hearts, souls, and minds because of how many of us chose to live. Thank you for giving them something better than New Year’s resolutions. They owe themselves a better life, and they all want it.”

Fiona smiled. “Thank you too.”

Humans do have three ages. They can only live one. The real one that many fear is the only age that happiness will accommodate. It’s the happy age. Live your real happy age.

Thnak you for reading this piece. I hope you enjoyed it.