Life and the Normal Distribution Curve

The chart of a typical life looks like this to an engineer. A normal distribution curve. It's part of God's plan.

Life begins on the left, a weak, undeveloped child who grows physically and intellectually until peaking at about age 39. Then life declines to the right both physically and intellectually until death at about 80. Some shorter, some longer.

Children until 13 we grow into adulthood by 26 and then peak at 39. We slowly decline to 52 then more rapidly until 66. From 66 to death we ease back into childhood and finally infancy.

Our work lives have a similar pattern of growth, peak and decline in interest in work. My 47 year work life included introduction (childhood), education (young adulthood), rise to peak, mild decline, rapid decline and finally no interest until retirement. With less than five years to work I'm into the last curve segment and easing out of the workforce at age 66.

To know and understand where we are in our cycles of life is power.