What Has Age Got to Do With It?

Are you telling yourself that you are "too old" foryet, many people restrict themselves, because they
this, that or something? If you are you are creatinghave a belief, "I'm too old for that."
your reality by those thoughts and spoken words.Other things we say we are "too old" for are things
Did you hear about the 101-year-old man whowe think are too challenging, such as: going back to
recently ran a marathon? Do you think he wouldschool, changing careers, starting a family, learning a
have been able to run a marathon at age 101, if henew language, or developing a new hobby. You are
had told himself that he was too old? I doubt it. Wenever "too old" for challenge.
believe what we tell ourselves and when we believeWe often say, we are "too old" for scary things like
it, we experience it. "I am not doing anything unusual.moving to a different state or country, traveling
I am just running a marathon," Buster Martin told ABCoverseas, starting a business, writing a book, dating,
News. Age is no more an obstacle to Martin's runninggetting married, getting divorced, going to a movie
than that strip of winners tape at the finish line. "Youby ourselves, skydiving, race car driving, playing on
are never too old to do what you enjoy," Martinthe monkey bars and the list goes on. Many people
stated.have discovered when they challenge themselves to
Henry Ford is attributed to have said, "If you thinkdo new things, they feel younger and more vibrant.
you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing,If, however, you have already challenged yourself to
you're right." US automobile industrialist (1863 - 1947).do many challenging activities, you might not be
Wayne Dyer wrote a book, "You Will See It Wheninclined to do more, but that does not mean you are
Your Believe It. Dr. Dyer clearly explains that people"too old." It is simply a preference to do other things.
are thoughts and that thought is the ultimate realityWhen you have not taken many risks, you did not
of life.put yourself out there, you did not challenge yourself
Have you or your friends, family members, boss orand you are thinking your desired options have
therapist suggested something, to which youdisappeared, that, again, is not you getting "too old,"
responded, "I'm too old for that"? Without thinking ofbut rather, getting hopeless, remorseful, and regretful
the consequences we tell ourselves and others thatand those conditions are just as dangerous as
we are "too old" to do certain things. It thenwhatever the feared activity might be. You are
becomes a reality.allowing fear to control you, but, you are using your
The fact is: There is little that is truly limited by aage as an excuse.
maximum age.I am not suggesting to fall in love with a charming
There is plethora of things that are restricted basedstranger, who might swindle you out of your life
on a minimum age. You cannot take child caresavings, living year after year alone with your money
responsibility until you are at least a mature 12 oris not necessarily a better life.
drive until you are 15 1/2 with a licensed driver in theAlthough the business you start may not make you
car in most states. You cannot vote until 18, drinka multimillionaire, like Colonel Sanders, of Kentucky
alcohol until 21, get a rental car in your own nameFried Chicken fame, who catapulted his modest
until 25. You can not be President of the Unitedrestaurant into a mega-franchise, when he was 62, it
States until 35, or begin collecting your Social Securitydoes make you a business owner. Living 20 years
until age 62. However, there really are no formal limitsbetween 65 and 85 wishing you had done something
that declare a maximum age. It goes without saying,more with your life, only makes you a bitter old
that if you are 65 and your eyesight does not meetperson.
minimum requirement you can not get a driver'sAlthough, hiking the Grand Canyon rim to rim at age
license. However, you can be 101 and if you meet all85 might result in death, living every single day of
the requirements to have a driver's license, you canyour 85th year in the house, doing nothing but
obtain one in every state.ruminating on all your regrets may also result in death.
There are minimum requirements to join someSo, which would you consider, dying at age 85 -110, a
occupations such as: You cannot join the Marines forself satisfied person, or dying at 85 - 110 a bitter
the first time if you're over 28 (you can join theperson with many regrets?
Army up to age 42). Most police and fire crewsWhen you are tempted to say that you are "too old"
discourage starting that career after 35, and youto do something, ask yourself if you mean you are
might be limited in your professional practice as atoo experienced and too smart to do something that
lawyer or doctor over the age of 70, but chanceswill injure, over extend your physical capabilities, or if
are, those are not the things you are talking aboutyou are just becoming hopeless of ever fulfilling your
when you say, "I'm too old for that."dreams. If it is the latter, and you are still breathing,
Often, the types of things we say we are "too old"get off the sofa/couch. You have more time to
for are fun activities, such as: going on amusementaccomplish your dreams than you think!
park rides, celebrating birthdays noisily in restaurants,Remember-- "If you think you can do a thing or think
or getting all dressed up for a night out on the town.you can't do a thing, you're right.
There is no rule that you are "too old" to have fun,