“THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE”

Life has in it, four major successive stages. A proper understanding of these stages will help you in appropriating whichever one you are in right now. Please read with all seriousness.

STAGE ONE – PLAY
All life activity for every person begins with play. At this stage life is just simple and carefree. This is when the person is yet a child – between the ages of 0 - 7. But it is important to note that at this play stage, the child is passing through installation and storage of information and character building from people and the environment. The kind of play the individual is exposed to, is therefore very important for the next stage.

STAGE TWO – LEARN
At the initial point of the learning stage, life is though simple but approached with a little more consciousness than before. Here the individual is between the ages of 8 and 20. Though play stage gives way to learning; it does not mean the person no longer indulges in plays, but learning becomes more paramount than the former. However, the initial kind of play the child was exposed to, comes to influence the kind of interest, capacity and level of learning of the child in this stage. Here, character and value is being shaped and guided. But time is of great essence. One thing to note is that all the plays and learnings acquired from these two stages is what enhances the next stage.

STAGE THREE – WORK
This stage in life is a bit crucial than the previous. It is approached with utmost consciousness, diligence, etc. the individual is around the ages of 21 - 50, in this stage, there is very less play, a little of learning (only where necessary), and much of work, work, work. Work is done for three major reasons. They are; to earn a living, to cater for the family, and to provide a sustainable platform for life when retired. Work here involves working for and with people, working on and for yourself, and most especially, working ON people. The adequate plays, learnings and works in these three stages are what enhance the next and last stage.

STAGE FOUR – PLAY, LEARN, WORK, PLAY, LEARN, WORK…
At this fourth stage, the person is believed to be around 50 – infinitum. What characterizes this stage is that the individual is fitted to live up all three stages in one. Here the play (the mature kind), the learning, and the work is needed. For some individuals in this level, their work still takes highest place. But they still find times to play and learn at leisure. But to others, they just find themselves doing one simple activity that basically defines their play, their learning, and their work life. It is in that same work that they learn and also play. This is the ultimate definition of true happiness and must be the state everyone should crave to enter into. It is called the state of YOUR REST; not because you are tired, but because you are SATISFIED.

WHAT STAGE ARE YOU NOW? HOW ARE YOU FINDING IT?