Does a Number Really Matter?
Over the last week I have spoken at a few places on a different number of platforms. One face to face, one online and one to camera interview. Throughout all of these talks one thing has come up and that is about our ages. It is amazing how many of us decide what another person is capable of based on a number attached to them.
Age should never be the one things that determines a person's capabilities or potential. While our society often attaches great significance to the number that represents our age, it's crucial to recognise that age is merely one aspect of our identity, and it should not define who we are or what we can achieve.
If anyone can talk to this it’s me! I’m still racing at the ripe old age of 62 against women half my age and I love it!
Human potential should know no age limits. Throughout history, we've seen individuals of all ages accomplishing remarkable feats.
I bet you didn’t know that the popsicle (which we all love in the summer) was invented by 11 year old Frank Epperson in 1905. He had accidentally mixed water with soda water power and left the stirring stick in it, outside overnight. He originally call it the Eppsicle but his children later named it the Popsicle!
Or Yuichiro Miura who in 2013 at the age of 80 climbed Mt. Everest and is still at 91 years of age is talking about climbing again (although he has some paralysis of his limbs). But there is no shortage of examples that illustrate the diversity of human capability across age groups.
People develop at different rates and have varied life experiences. The person you are at 20 is not the same as the person you are at 40 or 60. Life is a journey of growth and self-discovery, and it's unrealistic to expect everyone to follow the same trajectory. Some individuals may excel in their careers early in life, while others might find their true calling later.
Focusing on age can lead to discrimination and missed opportunities. When we judge individuals based on their age, we risk undervaluing the talents and potential they bring to the table. Ageism can be detrimental to both individuals and society as a whole, limiting the diversity of perspectives and contributions.
Please remember that age is just a number, and it should not serve as a rigid benchmark for what we can achieve or who we are. Our potential is not bound by the years we've lived but by our dreams, aspirations, and the effort we put into realising them.
Embracing the diversity of abilities and experiences that come with different ages enriches our world and ensures that everyone has the opportunity to contribute their unique talents to society.
As Yuichiro Miura said at his last birthday;
“It’s about never letting go of my dreams, and about continuing to make efforts for that goal. It’s probably about continuing to ascend, in high spirits, this mountain called life while believing that my dreams will come true one day.”