Full Life Ahead : Aging Without Limits

“It is never too late to be who you might have been,” said George Eliot, English novelist and journalist.

 

With so much media attention focused upon the physical aspects of aging, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that aging can also be a time of fulfillment, exploration and creativity.

 

If you’re in need of a bit of inspiration, here’s a list of people who definitely proved that growing older does not have to mean growing “rusty and dusty”.

 

• Harland Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken was 62 years old when he took $105 from his first Social Security check to fund visits to potential franchisees.

 

• Orville Redenbacher was 58 years old when he and Charles F. Bowman began the Orville Redenbacher Popping Corn Company, the #1 selling popcorn in the U.S.A.

 

• At age 52, Ray Kroc was looking for opportunities where he might sell his milkshake mixer. In 1954, he bought a franchise operation of McDonalds and as they say, the rest is history.

 

• Folk artist, Grandma Moses began painting in her 70’s after leaving a love of working in embroidery which was no longer possible due to arthritis.

 

• After a long stint in the movies,  Ronald Reagan was fifty-six when elected to the Govenor’s office of California and at age 70, elected to become the 40^th President of the United States.

 

• At age 68, Tina Turner performed her "Tina: 50th Anniversary Tour" giving 90 shows in more than 15 countries – and sold out all shows.  

 

• Julia Child was 51 when PBS featured her  as “The French Chef” .

 

 

• Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the series of books which began with “The Little House on the Prairie” was 65 when her first book was published.

 

So if you’re over 50, what do you see on the horizon?  Are you looking to reach new goals or delve into new or unexplored hobbies?  Are you ready to dive into a new career or business? Ready to take a next step in some new direction or to dig deeper into something you already love?

If you’re need of one more bit of inspiration to get started working toward your goals, here’s a quote from Thomas A. Edison: “If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves”.