“You’re too young.” “You’re too old.”
Age is used as a limiting factor our whole lives. While meditating, a thought came to me that I was 10 years younger than I am. Suddenly I felt great! I once again felt young, as if my life was still ahead of me rather than mostly behind me, which is how I was feeling at the time. I realized if I take away my age number and put another one in its place, like trying on a new coat, I will feel totally different!
Do you let your age stop you from going for what you want? Have you given up on goals or dreams because you think it’s too late? Imagine, like I did in my meditation, that you are 10 years younger. Does that change your view on whether that dream you put out to pasture could become a reality?
We, as a society, place enormous significance on what number our age is. Women feel this pressure especially, but it has become an issue for men as well. On the other hand, society’s view on age keeps changing, usually because someone—who didn’t let their age stop them—did something spectacular. In May 2015, 92-year-old Harriette Thompson kept to a tradition she started when she was 76 years old…running a marathon!
On a personal note, my grandfather at age 87 fulfilled a life long dream of being his own boss. He started and successfully ran a small business, using his skills as a designer in the garment industry.
While there are real limits that come with age, there are many, many more perceived limits we tell ourselves because of how “old” we are and what we believe that means. Age does not necessarily determine what is possible for us. Honor the strength of your mind and its powerful ability to affect the way we feel and perform. Instead of letting society dictate how we feel about our age, let’s just feel good about it!
“I have a dream to climb Everest at this age. If you have a dream, never give up. Dreams come true.”
~ Yuichiro Miura, oldest man to climb Mt Everest, at 80 years old
Encourage your youthfulness of spirit, dream on, and enjoy the possibilities!