Think you're at the wrong age to do the thing that calls to your soul?
Fauja Singh, who completed his first marathon at the age of 81,
went on to become the first 100-year-old to finish one
The Call to Adventure doesn't discriminate by age. Whether you're bursting with the vibrant energy of youth or sitting back and reflecting with the seasoned wisdom of years, that inner nudge towards something new, something more, can still beckon with compelling force.
For many, the number of years we've accumulated can feel like an insurmountable limitation that can and will prevent us from doing something that is meaningful to us. We might hear discouraging voices (internal or external) nagging, "You're not old enough to do that." "Shouldn't you be slowing down?" "That's not appropriate at your age." These societal scripts and our own internalized beliefs can cast a long shadow, obscuring the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.
Today we're going to look at how the Call applies to advancing years. In truth, the human spirit never actually "retires". Curiosity and the desire for growth have never been age-dependent. The heroes of our own lives aren't bound by timelines dictated by calendars. They are defined by their willingness to step beyond perceived boundaries and embrace the unknown (as we did yesterday), regardless of the year on their birth certificate.
Consider the countless individuals who have embarked on incredible new chapters later in life. The artist who picked up a brush for the first time in their sixties, the entrepreneur who launched a successful business after retirement, the lifelong learner who pursued a passion for astrophysics in their seventies. Their stories are testaments to the fact that the individual Call to Adventure has no expiration date.
The limitations we associate with age (physical changes, established routines, or fear of judgment) don't have to stop us in our tracks. Finding a way to navigate around them on our journey can be just as rewarding.
Embracing your call might involve adapting your approach, seeking support, or celebrating smaller victories along the way. But the core essence remains the same—a willingness to leap beyond the comfort zone and explore your still-untapped potential.
🤸
For today's Action Prompt, think about one call to adventure you might be feeling, however faint. Now consider any "age-related" limitations that immediately spring to mind. Write them down.
For each limitation, ask yourself:
- Is this a truly insurmountable barrier, or a perceived one?
- How could I adapt my approach to work with this limitation, rather than against it?
- What unique strengths or perspectives do I bring because of my age that could actually benefit this adventure?
For example, if you feel you're "too old" to learn a new physical skill, perhaps your adventure could focus on the mental aspects first, or finding modified ways to participate.
There's still lots left of your story to be written. Don't let the number of pages already turned dictate what adventures lay ahead. Heroes are truly ageless. After all, the fellow shown below was several hundred years old in this photo 😉
