“Age doesn’t matter: an open mind does.” – Tim Ferris
“It’s not about how much time you have, but how you use it.” – League of Legends
When I think about time, I consider it from a couple of different points. First, I tend to think about time over time. This is the long-term vision that entails looking ahead to imagine what might yet be and looking behind to learn from what got me to this point. Second, I evaluate the immediate or shorter term – as in, “How much time do I have to do the things I want/need to do today? What about this week, month, year, and beyond?”
I love looking for examples that challenge my assumptions and expectations of what is possible. A few years ago I got to see Angela Lansbury perform live on Broadway opposite Catherin Zeta-Jones in A Little Night Music. It was a great production. I remember walking out of the theater and thinking was that Angela was my new role model. Why? At 84 she was still performing and doing what she loved. Defying stereotypes and setting new standards. I am also inspired by Louise Hay, who wrote her first book at age 50 while she continued to grow her company and her reach. Today, her teaching practices and concepts heal people all around the world. She opened her publishing company (which included offices in two other countries) in her 60’s, and launched Hay House Radio in her 80s.
These are just two in a long list of stories that show IT’S NOT TOO LATE to go after what you want. And, succeed while you’re at it!
Let me end with another story that I’ve watched unfold, up close and personal.
One day I was talking with my then recently retired husband (first retirement after 26 years in law enforcement). I asked him what he was thinking about doing with his time. He said he was thinking about many things, including going back to school and studying the law. For him, the drawback was that it would require a number of additional years in study and college, and he would effectively be starting a second career in mid-life. He just wasn’t sure he wanted to invest that amount of time studying to for a career he might not ever want to practice. His passion for police work, however, never faltered.
Time passed. He decided to get a real estate license. He had no real desire to sell, but he wanted to know more and learn the industry. He then obtained certification in another skill to help in his brother’s business. All the while, he continued to volunteer and work part time with law enforcement.
Then, in 2015 an opportunity to serve the community surfaced when he accepted an offer to come out of retirement and serve on the Sheriff’s executive team as the Chief Deputy of Operations. He accepted, came out of retirement, and rolled up his sleeves. That might not sound like a big deal, but it was. Along with the chance to serve the community in this new role, came the requirement that he get recertified as a sworn officer through Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST). This meant attending an academy and then passing both written and physical tests. It was pretty straight forward. He had solid knowledge in the subject areas (operations, weapons/defensive tactics/ use of force, legal education, and self-improvement – which covers topics such as ethics, health and fitness, professionalism, press prevention/management, and professionalism). HOWEVER, in addition he had to pass the physical fitness requirements of ANY new recruit. The same standards applied regardless of age. And, it was Pass or Fail – no grading on the curve! Pass, you get your POST certificate and the ability carry a fire arm. Fail you don’t. No certificate meant no ability to continue in the new position.
I’ll cut to the chase and tell you he succeeded. It took consistent physical training over a series of months. Sit-ups, push-ups, jumping, and running – each to be completed successfully within a specified time. It took the comradery and support of friends, colleagues, and classmates along the way. It took confronting the lie that it was too late and he was too old to succeed in POST. It required silencing the mental chatter that was saying, “training and testing are a young person’s game – what are you thinking?” In short, he had to expose the lie that it was too late for him to achieve a dream.
What about you? What dreams are laying latent because you’ve believed the lies that “it’s too late” or “I’m too old”? What passion or gift have you given up because the timing seems wrong? Is it time to dust it off and look at it with fresh perspective? How will Angela Lansbury and Louise Hay inspire you to action today?
