“Age is nothing but a number,” says 77-year-old bodybuilder, Ernestine Shepherd. With no sign of slowing down, Ernestine is an example of what’s possible no matter how old we are.
Yet, so many people let age define their lifestyle.
It’s all about beliefs. Our beliefs can either move us forward or hold us back. It’s amazing how many people use age as a reason they can’t fulfill a lifelong dream.
For some, the magic number is 40. For others 50. Yet for others 60 and beyond.
Yet, like with Ernestine Shepherd, a quick look around will reveal some amazing men and women who are not letting age stop them from raising the bar of life.
What’s even more exciting is that many men and women are writing their first book at an age when society says we should slow down.
Wendy Ida
A great example of someone defying the odds is Wendy Ida. At the age of 65, rather than slowing down, Wendy is ramping things up.
Author of Take Back Your Life, Wendy is also an 8-time award winning National Champion of the NPC Body Building and Figure Championships. She is also a Strive to Thrive Fitness Expert who tours around inspiring others to achieve more in their lives than they thought possible.
But it wasn’t always this way for Wendy. At one point, she was extremely overweight, in an abusive relationship and had no direction in her life.
Deciding she had to make changes, Wendy went on a quest to create a life that is night and day from what it was.
Joan Lubar
Another incredible role model of what’s possible as we age is Joan Lubar. Joan’s first book, Rock and Roll at Any Age, was published when Joan was 74. Now 75, Joan shows no signs of wanting to slow down.
Joan has more energy than women half her age. In her book, Joan shares her own journey of what drives her to be a great model of what’s possible as we age.
Joan also shows that you’re never too old to write your first book. A favorite on podcast and radio shows, Joan loves presenting to various size groups about how to live a vibrant life.
While others are resigning to the fact life slows down as we age, Joan proves this does NOT have to be your reality.
David Lee
One of my favorite examples of someone who is shattering stereotypes is my friend, David Lee. Author of The Happiness Handbook, at the age of 87 there’s no indication that David plans to slow down.
Often referred to as the man of many visions, David Lee is the quirky, visionary, inspirational creator of the absurdly insightful collection of amusing messages called True Fortunes.
David Lee’s colorful career spans over six decades and includes an array of expertise including designer, marriage and family therapist, hypnotherapist, inventor, marketing executive, mechanical engineer and entrepreneur.
David’s background includes supervising the mechanical design of the rocket engine for Lunar Excursion Module that landed the first astronauts on the moon. Additionally, he designed a hermetically-sealed explosive release mechanism for satellites.
There is so much to the amazing man. More than I can put in this post. You can read more about David at http://truefortunes.com/who-is-david-lee/.
Let Your Age Propel You
Your life is either a warning of what not to do or an inspiration of what’s possible. Much of it has to do with the daily choices you make.
Like Ernestine, Wendy, Joan and David, you can choose to be an example of what’s possible. What I love most about Wendy, Joan and David is that they wrote their first book late in life.
Don’t use your age as an excuse. Rather, use it as fuel to inspire others to live their fullest life.
Looking to take things to the next level? Check out my next live event, Rock Star Visibility taking place in Portland, Oregon on January 10, 2018. You will learn some amazing mindset insights, as well as step-by-step strategies to take your life and your business to the next level.
Kathleen, I expect to publish my first book at age 88. Meantime I’ve done some preliminary marketing. I rented a table at an art and craft show, gave out flyers and got names and email addresses for my mailing list so I can send excerpts of the book in advance of publication. Also I’ve been giving out flyers where ever I go … health club, doctors, restaurants, barber shop, you name it. The book is called, “Indefinite, The Woman Who Regained Her youth and more.” Since aging healthy is part of the story, last summer, I entered a mile and a half ocean race plus a one mile bay race. I meddled in both. I did this as part of my PR program.
Love it! Love it! Love it! Way to go Jim. I especially love the mile and a half ocean race. And yes, good PR opp. Be sure to get my free report – Hit #1 on Amazon. http://www.oneonamazon.com Best of luck with your book. I’m confident you will do GREAT!
Good post…..
My associate and I really started publishing in earnest in our seventies.
It is so much easier the older we are.
Awesome! What do you publish James?
Thanks, so much, Kathleen, for writing this post and highlighting people in the third act of life who are rocking it! I was just saying to a friend yesterday that I need and want role models of people in their 70s and beyond who are living full and fulfilling lives.
I will be 70 this coming spring and in many ways feel that I am entering the best years of my life. (I was blessed to publish my first book last year, a 536-page historical novel inspired by a legendary eighteenth century mystic rabbi and healer. It has been so heartening to hear from hundreds of readers of “The Tremble of Love: A Novel of the Baal Shem Tov” that the book is a pilgrimage to the heart, strengthening them from the inside out. I am eager to write until my last breath!
First, congratulations on your book Ani. What a great accomplishment. I do believe it’s important to find those who are out there rocking it to see what is possible. There are some amazing men and women who live such full lives no matter what age. Thanks for your comments.
Now I’m feeling like a spring chicken at 63! Very encouraging words, Kathleen, especially when I get down because of my age. Then I realize that age discrimination can happen to anyone and I don’t have to let my aches and pains, whether emotional or physical, define me.
Awesome! You are welcome to post the link to your amazon page on this.
A lot of it is our mindset too Anna. Take care of the mind, and so much is possible.
Katleen, I love you. Thanks for talking to me. My WWII memoir “We Don’t Talk About That”, was published when I was 80. Wrote a short story book “Forget Me Not” released in 2016 and am now working on the (much requested) sequel to the memoir. Writing is easy – marketing is tough! http://www.giselleroeder.com
You are most welcome! My absolute pleasure.
What a great post and comments!! I love the people you highlighted (including me!!) We are never too old to write and to live our passion. Keep sharing, Everyone! We need to get our messages out to the world!
I totally agree! I encourage everyone to get a copy of your book Joan.