What is that one thing you’ve thought about doing for a long time, that you haven’t done because life kept getting in the way? What is that thing that you’ve started and never finished? The thing that would bring you so much joy if you ever completed it.
I read a lovely article in The Guardian recently, that was truly inspiring about Anne Youngson. While in her 30’s Anne Youngson wrote a book on her lunch breaks. She never did anything with it. She kept it in a drawer. At 70 her first book, “Meet Me At The Museum,” was published. Anne presumed that the book would be hard to promote because of her age. However, much to her surprise, her book was a huge success, and her age was never a problem. Now at 73, she’s about to release her 3rd book, 4th if you count the one in the drawer. Let Anne’s story be an inspiration to you. There are many more stories that can light a fire under your desires.
Have you had aspirations of being an artist? Anna Mary Robertson Moses, better know as Grandma Moses decided to give painting a try at 76 when her arthritis prevented her from holding an embroidery needle any longer. She went on to have her paintings displayed around the World and lived to be 101. There are two lessons here. 1. When you are doing what you love, you love life and you live longer. 2. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Her art was not my cup of tea, but obviously, it was appreciated by many.
As a physician, scientist, and expert in preventive and integrative medicine, Pam Peeke, MD has been educating people on how their diet and activity can help them lead long and vital lives. In addition to being a triathlete in the National Senior Games, aka the “Senior Olympics,” Pam is on the Board of the organization. “The average age of a Senior Olympian is 68,” Peeke says, “but their average fitness age was 43. Their bodies tested to be similar to someone 25 years younger. So if you want to whack a quarter century off your age, fitness and a healthy lifestyle is a great way to do it. Many of the people competing in the Senior Olympics weren’t active for years. Life got in the way. They were raising children, holding down jobs. Now in their fifties and sixties, they are finding time to concentrate on themselves. They’re less scared of taking on something new. It’s never, ever too late to pick up full activity again. The benefits of doing it are exquisite.”
I would be remiss if I did not mention Ida Keeling. I referred to Ida in another blog post and she is worth revisiting again and again. After her 2 sons were murdered within 2 years, Ida went into a deep depression. Her daughter eventually encouraged her to start running. After finishing her first 5K at 67, Ida was thrilled and kept running. Now 105, she still sets world records for her age group in the 60-meter and 100-meter races when she competes. “After the first race, I felt so good that I knew I wanted to continue,” Keeling says. “I figured I would go as long as I could. When I was 99, I told my doctor that I might n”Žot run anymore. He said, ‘Why? There’s nothing wrong with you.’ So I continued and set a few more world records. The key to living long is to love yourself,” she says. “God first, me second. If things or people in my life are not working out, I cut them loose. I think people must do what they need to do, not what they want to do. They must eat for nutrition, not for taste, and do some form of exercise every day.” And one more thing: “Back in 1972, my doctor suggested that I have a shot of Hennessy each day for my poor circulation, and I’ve been doing it ever since,” Keeling says. “Sometimes, I put it in my coffee in the morning to have with my meal.”
Diana Nyad is one of my most inspirational figures. Diana set a World record at 30, swimming 102 miles from the Bahamas to Florida. However, she was so burned out from years of training, that she gave up swimming for broadcasting. She had no intention of swimming another lap. When she turned 60, she began evaluating her life. “Turning 60, I never had a problem with age,” Nyad says. “I never worried about the cosmetic aspect of aging. But it hit me like an existential angst. What little had I done with my life? I became choked up with how little time was left.” She went back to grueling training sessions, spending 13 hours at a time training to achieve a failed attempt she had at 29. After four failed attempts, on the fifth try, at age 64, Nyad completed the 110-mile swim from Havana to Key West, something no other swimmer has been able to accomplish.
That accomplishment inspired her to dream bigger. Nyad created EverWalk, a walking initiative aimed to get more than 1 million Americans walking to improve their health. Now at 71″I have a vision of turning America from a sedentary society into a nation of walkers,” Nyad says. “At this age I’m a lot closer to the end than the beginning and I am in phenomenal shape. The question people have to ask themselves is, what do you want to do with these last vital years of your life? You may not be a CrossFit athlete or an Ironman triathlete, but today you can walk. And tomorrow, you can walk farther.”
She is such an inspiration in finding something you are passionate about and “if at first you don’t succeed…” You can do it! Our bodies and minds are so much more resilient than we give it credit for. You have within you the power to do anything. So dig up that buried dream and re-ignite it with your passion, belief and commitment. You can do it! It’s never too late!
Love & Light,
Renee