“Age is irrelevant. Ask me how many sunsets I’ve seen, hearts I’ve loved, trips I’ve taken, or concerts I’ve been to. That’s how old I am.”
-Joëlle
I turned 44 this year and if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that you’re never too old to meet another goal or dream a new dream. Just for fun, here’s a short list of folks who had some of their biggest dreams realized after the age of 44:
44 – Sam Walton’s age when he founded the first Walmart store.
45 – Henry Ford’s age when he introduced his Model T to the world.
46 – Suzanne Collins’ age when she wrote “The Hunger Games”.
47 – Kent Couch’s age when he attached 105 helium balloons to a lawn chair and flew 193 miles.
48 – Momofuku Ando’s age when he invented ramen noodles.
49 – Julia Child’s age when her first cookbook was published.
50 – P.L. Guinand’s age when he patented a new method for making optical glass.
51 – Leonardo Da Vinci’s age when he painted the Mona Lisa.
52 – Abraham Lincoln’s age when he became president.
53 – Ray Kroc’s age when he bought and expanded the McDonalds franchise.
54 – Dr. Seuss’ age when he wrote “The Cat in the Hat”.
57 – Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger’s age when he successfully landed US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River and all 155 passengers aboard the aircraft survived.
61 – Charles Cagniard de la Tour’s age when he helped undermine the theory of spontaneous generation by demonstrating that the fermentation of beer results from the activities of tiny organisms.
62 – Colonel Sanders’ age when he franchised Kentucky Fried Chicken.
65 – Laura Ingalls Wilder’s age when she published the first “Little House” books.
66 – Noah Webster’s age when he completed the ” American Dictionary of the English Language.”
67 – Simeon Poisson’s age when he discovered the laws of probability.
68 – Sir William Crookes’ age when he began investigating radioactivity and invented a device for detecting alpha particles.
69 – Ronald Reagan’s age when he became President of the United States.
70 – Jack Lalane’s age when he (handcuffed and shackled, and fighting strong winds and currents) towed 70 rowboats for one mile.
71 – Katsusuke Yanagisawa’s age when he became the oldest person to climb Mt. Everest.
72 – Margaret Ringenberg’s age when she completed the “Round-the-World” Air Race.
73 – Peter Mark Roget’s age when the first printed edition of his “Roget’s Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases” was released.
76 – Nelson Mandela’s age when he became President.
77 – John Glenn’s age when he became the oldest person to go into space.
78 – Anna Mary Robertson “Grandma” Moses’ age when she began her painting career. In 2006, her Sugaring Off painting sold for $1.2 million.
(Sugaring Off)
Hope that was fun and inspiring to read through! 🙂
Layla
That is so inspiring! I’ll be 55 in a few weeks, and I do feel my best years are still happening!
I just turned 60 this summer and found that I truly am having a hard time. Didn’t think it would bother me, but it does. I’m facing this and have taken steps to see a counselor. Your list has made it a bit easier. Blessings!!!
Barbara,
I will be thinking and praying for you..you are right, sometimes what we think isn’t a big deal, ends up confusing and depressing us. I have had a few years like that and growing older isn’t easy.
I am glad that you have recognized that something isn’t right and are seeking help.
May the Lord bring the clarification and joy back into your life!
I was 47 when I went back to school to get my bachelors, I subsequently continued onto graduate school and now at 55 I am a professor of communications studies at my alma mater. If you had told me 10 years ago that I could finish school I would have told you no way, I was not smart enough and too old. My husband and children encouraged me and because of them I found the confidence to go and do it and I am now eternally grateful for their continued support and love! You’re definitely never too old to find the thing that you love! Just start and it will all fall into place!
I never feel my age. I jokingly say I am 26 and many of my friends swear that I have grown younger in the past year! Age is only relevant in realizing that you are getting close to the end, so reminds you to enjoy and cherish and make the most of every day until then.
Tomorrow I will be 67 and I am still going strong. My husband and I are building a new house with a huge sewing room for me which I am so excited about. I plan on staying active and not thinking that I am “too old” to do anything that feel like doing!
I read this yesterday and tried to comment but got super busy at work. Yesterday was MY 44th birthday (I went to school with your hubs). This was so appropriate and the Lord led me right to this. Thank you for sharing this.
Happy 44th Layla…😊 I always loved the double number birthdays
And my 56th as it was the year I was born..they always seem like you could do anything !
My 60th was pretty special, wild with surprise and adventure as God knows we need a bit of that to keep us believing growing older is still worth looking forward to.
Thanks for all the inspiration once again.