I've given this a lot of thought, and at 36 I'd have to say that, with a few exceptions, each year has been approximately my best year yet. Not that it has all been smooth sailing. It has been like the stock market--up and down, but the overall trend is up. I have reached a few peaks of self-development and then surprisingly changed course, lived overseas a few times, overall getting stronger and more seasoned along the way.
A number of these posts mention "experiences with women" as factoring in to your best years. Having grown up extremely religious, I never sowed my wild oats, but instead just worked really hard and was pressured into an early marriage. Turns out it was all lies except for the hard work, and when my wife left it was a financial disaster. But getting such destructive and toxic people out of my life has been a big improvement longer term. I now find peace staying away from it all (since others are calling it out: women), in pursuit of health and self-improvement, and it is making life much more rewarding every single day. In fact I am fairly confident this will be my best year yet.