Chapter 6: Your Sixth Decade
Write Your Life Story for Posterity - Ages 50 through 59
This is the sixth newsletter in the A Journey of a Thousand Miles… series.
By Maureen Santini © Copyright 2017-2025 All Rights Reserved.
Everyone’s journey is different but researchers believe happiness starts a long upward slope beginning around our fifties.
There is increasing evidence that happiness falls in our 20s and 30s, hits a low in our late 40s and starts increasing until our 80s, according to Jonathan Rauch, author of “The Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better After 50.”
Your sixth decade spans ages 50 through 59. If you were born in 1950, for instance, your sixth decade began in 2000. Begin writing as of your 50th birthday.
If you’ve written about your fifth decade in this series, the end is in sight. Keep going!
For those who are new to my method of writing your life story, read A Journey of a Thousand Miles … Next Steps.
Decade-by-Decade Method
The mission for this decade is the same as previous decades: capture as much information as possible to preserve your story and your lifestyle for future generations and, along the way, to explore your life.
Review Your Fifties
According to a survey by AARP, some people in their fifties have more concerns about health and aging than those aged 60-80. Interestingly, the concerns decreased with age.
"The list of worries wanes significantly as people age," AARP said. Researchers believe the anticipation of aging is greater than the reality, or that acceptance of these changes grows as time goes on.
Basic Information
List the addresses of your residences during this decade.
Write down the names of others in your household and their relationship to you.
Name places you attended or visited frequently, such as churches, schools, restaurants, parks, clubs, and libraries.
Name teams, clubs, and organizations you belonged to.
Family
Describe major events and activities involving you, your partner, children, friends, grandchildren, parents, siblings, and extended family.
Detail family rituals pertaining to holidays, birthdays, vacations, as well as other occasions.
Explain your basic routine on ordinary days.
Given the rapid shifts occurring across society, remember that future readers, living in vastly different times, may be unfamiliar with your lifestyle or occupation. Explain accordingly.
Relationships
Describe in detail the main relationships in your life during this decade.
Identify those you spent the most time with and the ways in which you spent time.
Note major transitions in your inner circle, such as births, deaths, weddings, divorces, health events, and major moves. How did these events affect you?
Work
Describe in detail the jobs you held during this decade or the way you occupied your time.
Write down the names and addresses of the companies or organizations and the names of your bosses.
Explain the skills and duties involved in your work. If you changed jobs, explain the circumstances.
How were you feeling about work in your fifties?
Hobbies, Interests, and Skills
Recount your main skills, hobbies, and interests.
Mention if they are longstanding or recently added to your life. Rate your skill and/or enthusiasm.
Pinpoint hobbies and interests that you especially favored such fashion, food, games, music, art, movies, books, sports, exercise, coaching, crafts, travel, and/or volunteering.
Health and Welfare
Describe the state of your physical, mental, and emotional health during this decade.
Write down the details of your health history, especially major medical events.
Mention your approach to exercise and nutrition.
Include the state of health of close friends and family members, especially if you were involved in care giving.
Current Events
If you lived through major events, describe the experience and your role, if any, and your opinions.
Characterize the political environment of the times and your positions on issues.
Explain how events in your community, state, nation and/or the world impacted your daily life. Select the most relevant categories and explain what happened in detail.
Expectations
Describe the expectations you harbored for your life and family at the start of the decade and whether they materialized or changed.
Explain your expectations for the future, even if it was just taking a day at a time.
Conclusion
Add information about any person, place, event, or issue that mattered in your life during this time. Devote most of your attention to the most significant activities and events.
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The Chapter 7 newsletter, covering your sixties, will be published on Friday.
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Maureen Santini is a writer, researcher, and former journalist whose goal is to prevent the accumulated knowledge and life stories of millions from ending up in the dustbin of history.
For those who find value in this process, consider commenting below to encourage others to write their stories.