Do you use your AGE as an excuse to abandon your DREAMS? @Terri_Cole {CLICK TO TWEET}
Years ago, before I was in the Hay House family, I was attending a lecture by Louise Hay in Toronto. She starting asking, “How many of you think you are behind? In life, in your career, in your love life? Who here thinks they should be further along for their age?” Every hand, including my own, went up. She went on to say, “Perhaps the fact that I didn’t start on my spiritual path until I was 52. And I didn’t start Hay House Publishing until I was 60.” Suddenly I felt like I was right on time.
Though almost everyone has cultural, societal and personal ideas of what it means to be a certain age. This goes on to include what life should look like at any particular number. Most of you have ideas of what should happen when, particularly when it applies to your own life.
Though every day people are breaking the age barriers of what can and cannot be done, without any regard to numbers. We live in a time of extreme diversity where age has no boundaries. We see women having children up into their late forties, while twenty-five year olds are running their own companies. Though, most people still find these cases to be quite extraordinary and have a tendency to still practice ageism in their own lives, most often against themselves.
Age is just a number. It does not define who you are or what you can do @Terri_Cole {CLICK TO TWEET}
Setting up your dreams and life in accordance with your age is a wonderful way to limit yourself before you even start. While having deadlines to your goals is admirable, for most people life rarely happens as planned. Even with the best intentions and efforts, life has a way of throwing curveballs and speed bumps your way.
You may have expectations of what needs to happen by when, in order to be happy. These expectations, whether you are aware of them or not, are molded and fueled by family, society and cultural beliefs. Wishing you were further along in your career path or comparing yourself to someone younger than you will bring more power to the limiting belief that you are either ‘too old’ or ‘too young,’ to do, dream or have what you desire most.
Forgive yourself for not being where you thought you would be by now. You can even take some time to mourn the dreams that did not pan out. Then take a look at your current goals and get really honest about where beliefs about your age are keeping you from moving towards them. This process can free you from limiting thoughts and feelings that no longer serve you so you can be free to re-calibrate your dreams.
This year, at age 91, Harriette Thompson of North Carolina broke the U.S. record for the fastest marathon time in her age group. She started running marathons at age 76. Harriette and so many others (think Malala winning the Nobel Peace Prize at age 17!) are just a few of the thousands of examples of life showing you age has no limits. Whether you are 17 or 75, your dream matters. Dreaming creates hope.
We all need HOPE!
Now I want to hear from you! In the comments below share with me one dream you have that you feel is limited by your age. Then tell me one step, despite thinking you are too young or too old, that you are going to try and make that dream a reality. We are all here to support each other so don’t be shy. Ideas have a better change of becoming a reality when shared, so go ahead and post now.
Age is just an idea but life at any age, is what you make it. Keep going for your dreams no matter what and remember as always, take care of you
Love Love Love
Terri
*image courtesy of Mervyn Chua
Always Late? 3 Tools to Quit it Now!
Thank you for your important article!You certainly know how much age can limit people’s lives and it did to me as well.
I wanted to study art and was very gifted but my parents did not agree. I then did what I “had” to, but felt completely lost – and slowly slowly, I lost the thread of what I really wanted, who I really am. I thought for years it was too late for me ! How much time I wasted by thinking so !
I have decided to find the thread again, of course I am afraid to quit my job and find myself financially in a difficult situation. But I will take small steps and start painting at home by myself and see where it brings me… I accept to face what I will discover “inside me”!
And, not a detail , I also married a man 10 years younger… the opposite of my strong moral convictions! It took me Much suffering to get to change my mindset but guess what, I am the happiest woman on earth! So truly , age is What you make of it !!.
Great points! I think we need a certain amount of life experience (which equals age) to do our best sometimes. So starting something late in life might be the best time…we might not have done so well at it earlier.
I always had an attraction to writing, but never did much of it until now (I’m 61) and have started a blog. I really feel that what I’m writing about could not have been possible when I was younger. And I’ve done some other types of writing that I wouldn’t have been as successful at in my youth.You are so right…no matter what your age, it’s never too late.
Thank you for writing this. Society and Hollywood tells me that I am too old to be an actress, I am 33. And that I should be married with children and settle down, but I have no desire to do any of those things. I just want to make films and travel the world. And many people that I talk to tell me that it is impossible to do those things at my age. I am glad The Universe gave me this reassurance.
I am gong to set up an etsy shop to sell my 3d printed jewelry and purses.
Dear Terri,
Thank you so much for this tune up tip!
I am age 55 and was told since my forties that I am too old to change for another job.
I never gave up to believe in me -not easy, I really felt alone, no one to encourage me- and started to work as manager for an American jewelry company in Paris at 53.
You are totally right, age is just a number, you just must not listen all this negativity that surrounds you, even from women that are the same age.
A special thank for this post, un Grand MERCI Terri!
I always wanted to be a teacher when I was in college, and I tried it but felt so much financial pressure to do otherwise that I gave in and ultimately did not do it. Now, I am a teacher and I absolutely love it! It has taken me a while to get here, but it is the greatest gift – the students are a gift to me, and I am a gift to them. I am considering furthering my education regarding teaching, but in the meantime, I am so happy doing what I feel I have always been born to do. Thank you for this post, Terri!
Love this one. How ’bout another blog Terri, a spin-off that looks at how we tend to compare ourselves and our “status” in life based on our age “box.”