I don't think this progression is universal or is strongly linked with specific ages. At least, it wasn't for me. For instance...<p>> When you’re young, you think life is a straight line.
School, job, success, retirement. That’s the plan.<p>I absolutely didn't think this when I was young. I certainly heard that sales pitch, but even as a child, just looking around made it clear that the sales pitch wasn't reflective of reality. That "at 40" realization wasn't something I ever experienced because I knew that was how things worked from the start.<p>(I believe I'm roughly the same age as the author)