You are not too old for anything – even if you think otherwise due to societal norms and expectations. Did you watch the opening ceremony of the 2022 commonwealth games in Birmingham? If you did, you might have noticed the many senior citizens from different countries marching excitedly in the procession. The picture stuck with me and piqued my interest enough for me to want to know more.
So to satisfy my curiosity, I did a quick research on the oldest person to ever win an award at the commonwealth games. My discovery shocked me as I learned that 68-year-old Ken Hanson won a gold medal at the 2018 commonwealth games held in Gold Coast. He made history by becoming the oldest gold medal winner in the commonwealth games! Can you believe that?
We often hear people say, “You’re too old to do this”, or “You’re too old to do that”. But the truth is, there are no limits. You are only as limited as you believe you are. That’s right. The only person who can legitimately tell you you are too old to do anything is You.
You can achieve anything at any age with hard work and perseverance. History is filled with stories of people from all walks of life who have accomplished incredible feats in the latter parts of their lives. There are those who got additional degrees, those who discovered new passions like art, and still others like Sir Richard Branson, who fulfilled their lifelong dreams in the second half of their lives.
How to accomplish the dreams in your heart
You do not have to do something as big as bowling on a world stage or flying in outer space. All you need to do is ensure that you’re not living a short-changed life because you feel you are too old. Age is just a number. Don’t let it dictate how you live your life. You can achieve all your dreams (both old and new) if you set your heart to attain them.
So take some time to revisit that dusty old vault in which you locked up those fantastic dreams. Take them out one by one and pick one with which to run. Just one is enough – don’t overwhelm yourself with ‘could haves’ and ‘should haves’. Instead, pick the one dream, and be persistent with it. And when that voice attempts whispering that you are too old, shut it down quickly.
Make the choice to be persistent and never give up on your dreams. Every new day in your golden years offers you a fresh opportunity to pursue them and bring them to reality. Will you rise to the challenge? Or will you keep holding on to ‘old age’ as an excuse?
The ball is firmly in your court. Remember you are not too old for anything!
