Do you ever think that maybe it’s too late for you? You’re watching all the young’uns do some amazing things with their lives – things that you could do too, if only you were younger, had more energy and were able to move more quickly

Wouldn’t it be really cool to travel to every country in the world, like Chris Guillebeau (he’s already visited 125 out of 192 countries and he’s only in his early 30s) or how about the these 20-something kids who are traveling to 206 countries in the the world courtesy of Coca Cola. They won a contest and are traveling to every country in the world where Coca-Cola is sold.

What about Alex Fraiser over at Blogussion. He’s only 16 years old! and already has his own company and is quickly building one of the best blogging resources (along with his partners) on the net.

Oh, to be 28 again and have James Richmond’s energy. His writing output at The Infoprenuer is amazing and very inspirational.

What about Temba Tseri – the youngest person ever to climb Mt. Everest. He was only 15 years old when he climbed it in 2001. He even lost 5 fingers trying to reach the summit the year before. Amazing!

Or William James Sidis who was only 11 years old when he attended Harvard University and graduated at age 16 – the youngest ever to do so.

Recently, we’ve had Michael Perham who became the youngest at 17 years old in 2009 to complete a solo non-stop circumnavigation around the world.

Well, I guess it’s too late for you and me, eh? I’m way past the age of majority

Wait a minute! I’ve found some interesting ‘late bloomers’ who didn’t think it was too late for them to realize their dreams.

Have you heard of ‘Grandma Moses’? AKA Anna Mary Robertson Moses. I’m sure that you have. Did you know she was in her 70s when she started painting?

Kentucky Fried Chicken’s founder, Harland David Sanders (better known as Colonel Sanders ) was in his 60s when he first started his famous franchises.

Interested in the arts and directing? Did you know that Clint Eastwood didn’t direct his first movie until he was 41?

Thinking it’s too late for you to enter politics, if you want to make some changes in the world? Yes, he was an actor, but Ronald Regan  started politics later in life was first elected to political office at age 55 and is still the oldest person ever to serve as US President.

Still want to enter politics and you’re an older woman? I’m bet that you’re younger than Melchora Aquino who was 84! and the mother of 6! who became an activist for freedom in the Philippines.

Are you still planning on writing your book ’some day’? It’s not too late. Age didn’t stop Laura Ingalls Wilder who started writing in her 40s and wrote Little House on the Prairie (heard of that book?) when she was in her 60s.

Joseph Conrad was one of the greatest authors in the English language, but didn’t learn English until he was 21. He only started writing in English at about age 32, and his first published works came out when he was about 37.

To contrast with our friend Temba Tseri (the youngest to climb Mt.Everest) we have Yuichiro Miura, who became the oldest man to reach the summit of Mount Everest at the age of 70. And then re-climbed the mountain again at age 75. He didn’t let his age stop him.

Need some more proof that it’s never too late?

One of my favourite science fiction writers, Piers Anthony, didn’t start writing until he was 42.

Is running a marathon on your list of goals? What’s stopping you from achieving it? After all, the oldest man to complete a marathon is Dimitrion Yordanidis, aged 98, who completed it in Athens in 1976. He finished in seven hours 33 minutes. While the oldest woman to complete a marathon is Jenny Wood-Allen, aged 90, in London in 2002. She finished in 11 hours and 34 minutes.

These people didn’t let their age stop them from achieving success and realizing their dreams.

Thinking of having children and thinking that you’re too old? It didn’t stop 70 year old Omkari Panwar from India. She gave birth to twins by emergency cesarean section in November 2008. 

The oldest natural birth was 66 year old Harriet Stole of Southgate, North London in the UK in April 1999.

The oldest woman to have conceived naturally is Ruth Kistler of Portland, Oregon who gave birth to a daughter in Los Angeles, California on October 18, 1956, at the age of 57.

Want more proof?

At the 2006 Hawaii Ironman, Sister Madonna Buder at age 76, became the oldest woman ever to complete the Hawaii Ironman race, finishing with a time of 16:59:03. She intends to compete again.

You have a lot of time left to complete your dreams. But, you do need to start.

The longest unambiguously documented lifespan is that of Jeanne Calment of France (1875–1997), who died at age 122 years and 164 days. Currently, the oldest documented living person is 114-year old Kama Chinen of Japan, who was born on 10 May 1895.

The Olympics start next week (Go Canada Go! Do I ever wish that I lived in Vancouver) The oldest medalist at a Summer Games was Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn, who was 72 when he won a silver medal at the 1920 Antwerp Games.

You still don’t believe me? Here’s further proof that it’s not too late:

Michelangelo designed St. Peter’s Cupola when he was 83 and remained active until he was 89.

Benjamin Franklin was past 80 when he helped draft the constitution.

Marlon Brando came back to the screen when he was in his seventies appeared as The Godfather and won a second academy award.

These people didn’t let a little thing like their age stop them. No way!

It is never too late to become what you might have been – George Eliot

What are you waiting for? It’s not too late for your dreams to come true. Go after them! It’s never too late.

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Tagged as: Belief, dreams, Giving