Aging Superstars - Inspiring or Intimidating?

Aging superstars are doing things that we never imagined possible. But are they inspiring or intimidating?

We see more and more of them everyday. Aging superstars doing things that we never imagined possible. 

Here's just a few examples;

  • Sister Madonna Buder - also known as the "Iron Nun" who at age 82 was the oldest Iron Man competitor and is still going strong at 90 

  • Masako Wakamiya who taught herself to code at the age of 81 and created an app

  • Model Sarah Grant who walked the catwalk in a swimsuit at the age of 71

  • Tatsuo Horiuchi who wanted to paint in retirement and invented a whole new way to do it that turned the art world on it's head

  • Ernestine Shepherd who at the age of 74 she was named the oldest female competitive body builder in Guinness World Records

  • Madame Suzelle Poole who is still teaching and dancing ballet at over 77 years old

As I looked at all these people and their significant accomplishments, I couldn't help but wonder - are they inspiring us or possibly intimidating us with their achievements?

But as I thought about it further, I realized that I have never run a marathon or been a body builder before and to be honest, the idea of starting to train now for this is likely not in the cards for me.

But what I do think these people provide is the inspiration of what is possible.

They remind us to not limit our thinking based on our age. To find something that we are passionate about and pursue it to furthest degree we can. To not just readily accept that we are "too old" to do something any longer.

As Steve Jobs was once quoted as saying;

"Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes ... the people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do."

So here is to all the retirement rebels and aging superstars - thanks for inspiring us to challenge ourselves and what is possible. Maybe through your example, we will push through our own perceived boundaries.