You’re Never Too Old

Dear Wondering,

Here are a few examples you might share with your son.

• Paul Siromoni, an esteemed humanitarian, earned a PhD at the age of 90.
• At 95 Nola Ochs, a Kansas woman, earned her bachelor’s degree and then went on to earn a master’s in the age of 98 — even moving into campus dorms.
• According to the Guinness World Record, the oldest newlyweds were George and Dorren Kirby, who married when George was 103 and Dorren 91.
• An Ironman competition involves completing — in one day — a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike AND a 26.2 mile run (a marathon). This is difficult in your prime, but Sister Madonna Bruder (a Catholic nun) has done over 45 of these races and continues to compete at age 86.
• Being relatively old and winning a Nobel Prize is not so surprising. The Nobel is often the pinnacle of accomplishment after years of research. However, Leonid Hurwicz was still actively publishing at 90, the age when he received the Nobel in economics.
• On a personal level, I published my first book on my 75th birthday, my fourth just short of turning 80.

You’re not alone in your quest to accomplish goals and live life to the fullest at a, shall we say, mature age. If I were you, I’d ask myself, “What’s the worst thing that can happen if I move forward without my son’s blessing?”

Seriously, if you jump on an airplane and visit your daughter (assuming you can pay your own way), what’s he going to do about it?

I encourage you to start writing your memoir today! This month, I’m teaching a memoir writing class at a senior living facility. Let me know if you need any tips on getting the ball rolling.

If your assisted living facility has a social room, get on their calendar, invite your friends, order food and balloons and boom, have your party.

Here’s some advice from a couple of guys you might know:

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.” George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright and critic.

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” Les Brown, American jazz musician.