Have you ever felt that age is a barrier in finding a job? Learning new skills? Travel to unexplored territories? Pursuing your childhood dreams? Do you feel that you are inadequate because either you are too young, or too old to start doing things differently? Here are some examples of people who despite their age has pursued their passion and became successful late in life.
Vincent Van Gogh was a major post impressionist painter, a Dutch artist whose work had a reaching influence on 20th Century art. Vincent drew as a child but did not paint until in his late twenties. He completed many of his best known works during the last two years of his life. It was said that he only started to paint when he was at the age of 27 years old.
Vera Wong is one of the most renowed women’s fashion designers, but did not enter the fashion industry until she was 40 years of age.
Colonel Sanders at the age of 65 found himself penniless and received his first social security check of one hundred and five dollars. With little money at his disposal, he traveled door to door from houses to restaurants all over to share his fried chicken recipe. He was turned down one thousand and nine times before his chicken was accepted. By 1964, he had 600 franchises selling his trademark chicken.
Susan Boyle was 48 when she was discovered for her incredible and powerful singing voice on “Britian Got Talent”. Her first album, I Dreamed a Dream (2009) was a huge hit, selling over a million copies in six weeks, and topping charts in United States and United Kingdom.
Ray Kroc sold paper cups and milkshake mixers before building McDonald’s at the age of 52. He built the business into the most successful fast food operation in the world and was included in TIME 100 (published in Time magazine ) : The Most Important People of the Century.
Sharing another story closer to home, my Dad is not highly educated, he spoke Peranakan Malay, and simple English. He is almost 80 years old this year, however, he has a desire to learn new languages, so I bought him an iPad and showed him how to use it. Initially, he was apprehensive to use new technology, however now he is enthusiastic to learn new stuff, he started learning Japanese, Spanish and simple Mandarin via Youtube. Times have changed dramatically, now we have the introduction of the internet. He once thought that mastering more than 3 languages is unimaginable and impossible given his age and education level, however in the past year, my Dad has mastered Japanese quite fluently and was able to speak simple Mandarin, Spanish and most recently he picked up basic Arabic. Somehow, if you are determined in your endeavours, you will find the means to make the impossible, POSSIBLE !.
(Video credits TEDx Talks)
Be inspired by 96-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch: She is one of the oldest yoga teachers in the world. She started dancing competitively in her 80s and has received almost 600 first place awards.
There is nothing you cannot do. Nothing is impossible if you tune in to the creator of life within you. –Tao Porchon-Lynch
Read more about Tao Porchon-Lynch on my blog :You can Do Anything at Any Age
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