"Now You're Too Old..." but That's a Lie!
When I was a teenager, we lived on a Danube island in Budapest. This might sound much more romantic than it actually is, for the whole island is a big industrial district. You didn't feel you were on an island at all, unless you walked down to the riverside. That's what I did one day, when I got the idea that rowing would make for a good upper body workout. So, I headed towards the national boat club. There they told me that they only trained professional athletes, and at the age of 14, I was too old to start.
I complained that there was no opportunity to take up rowing as recreational sport, but never questioned their judgement that I was "too old," that is until yesterday, when my friend Richard pointed out that Olympic Gold medalist Helen Glover didn't start rowing until the age of 22!
Inspired by that, I started asking myself, what is really going on when "they" are telling you, you're too old to do this or that... is that ever the truth, or just a convenient excuse for those, who fail to take their lives into their own hands?
I complained that there was no opportunity to take up rowing as recreational sport, but never questioned their judgement that I was "too old," that is until yesterday, when my friend Richard pointed out that Olympic Gold medalist Helen Glover didn't start rowing until the age of 22!
Inspired by that, I started asking myself, what is really going on when "they" are telling you, you're too old to do this or that... is that ever the truth, or just a convenient excuse for those, who fail to take their lives into their own hands?
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☼ In your teenage years, they tell you, you're too old to train for an Olympic sport. When you pass into your 20s, they start telling you, now you're too old to audition as a movie star...
but that's a lie! Do you remember the movie Amadeus? F. Murray Abraham, who so brilliantly portrayed Salieri, Mozart's frustrated rival, won the Academy Award for his acting. But he only got his first proper screen role at the age of 45. Two years before that he almost gave up, because they told him, he was too old, but luckily he knew it was a lie. |
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☼ When you pass into your 30s ... maybe you missed out on a decent education, or find yourself in the wrong career, but they might tell you, now you're too old to become someone truly creative, like a writer...
but that's a lie! Umberto Eco wrote his first novel, The Name of the Rose at the age of 48. Frank McCourt published Angela's Ashes, which won the Pulitzer Prize, at the age of 66. When the best-selling book A River Runs Through It was published in 1976, the first-time author Norman Mclean was 74. Even Tolkien did not publish the first volume of Lord of the Rings until he was 62!
but that's a lie! Umberto Eco wrote his first novel, The Name of the Rose at the age of 48. Frank McCourt published Angela's Ashes, which won the Pulitzer Prize, at the age of 66. When the best-selling book A River Runs Through It was published in 1976, the first-time author Norman Mclean was 74. Even Tolkien did not publish the first volume of Lord of the Rings until he was 62!
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☼ When you get into your 40s and start to see all these people around you with great wealth, to you they might tell, now you're too old to become a millionaire...
but that's a lie! John Pemberton invented Coca-Cola at the age of 55, Harland Sanders started Kentucky Fried Chicken at 65. Forbes ranked Taikicsiro Mori the richest man in the world both in 1991 and 1992, but he only started his business in his mid 50s. |
Coca Cola's Early Advertisements 1922
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☼ When you get into your 50s, they really tell you to be serious now. You certainly won't make it as a pop star now... but that's a lie, too! In 2010, Buranovskije Babushky, the "grannies of Buranovo," most of them in their 70s, started an ethno-pop band to fundraise for rebuilding their church. Two years later, they represented Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest and made 2nd place. |
☼ When you get into your 60s, they say, now you're certainly too old for extreme sports and expeditions,
but that's a lie! Barbara Hillary, after having survived cancer, reached the North Pole at the age of 75. Teiichi Igarashi climbed Mt. Fuji at the age of 99.
☼ When you reach your 70s, they will most certainly tell you that you're too old to go to space now,
but even that's a lie! John Glenn, so far the oldest person to do so, went into space at the age of 77.
but that's a lie! Barbara Hillary, after having survived cancer, reached the North Pole at the age of 75. Teiichi Igarashi climbed Mt. Fuji at the age of 99.
☼ When you reach your 70s, they will most certainly tell you that you're too old to go to space now,
but even that's a lie! John Glenn, so far the oldest person to do so, went into space at the age of 77.
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☼ When you reach your 80s, they will tell you, now you're way too old to start a brand new, glamorous career which will make you famous,
but, of course, that is non-sense! Grandmother Moses took up painting when she was in her 80s. During her 90s, her exhibitions became so popular, that they broke world-wide attendance records. She celebrated her 100th birthday by looking at her own photo on the cover of LIFE magazine. |
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☼ When you reach your 90s, well, no one tells you that you can't run a Marathon, because they assume you wouldn't even dare to think. But if they did it would be
just another lie! Fauja Singh ("Running Baba") is the current Marathon running record holder in his age group, which is the over 90s. By the way, he also carried the Olympic Torch at the age of 101. |
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☼ So, when you reach 100 years of age, you're still capable of wonderful things. They certainly will tell you, however, that now you're really too old to get married.
Again, that is just another lie! Hazi Abdul Noor from India married his young bride (age: 60) when he himself was 120 years old! |
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☼ When you're dying, they tell you, now it's certainly too late for everything, and that sounds depressingly convincing. But I still would suggest, check out the statistics first, how many people actually believe in reincarnation,
... before you fall victim to yet another lie!
... before you fall victim to yet another lie!