You're Never Too Old To Go After Your Dreams

Please give a BIG, warm welcome to my guest blogger, Marci Nault. I met Marci recently at a writer's social, and she lights up the room with her spark for life. Marci, an author and blogger of "101 Dreams Come True," has embarked on an inspiring project in which she is attempting to accomplish 101 lifelong dreams by June 4, 2012. (Read more about Marci HERE.)

It's all yours, Marci . . .


We are a nation focused on youth. We believe we must be successful early in life. We push our young to peak in sports by the time they're teenagers, and we're amazed when a man or woman in his or her 30s still competes professionally. We think we must accomplish everything before 30. When that doesn't happen we try to complete our lists by 40.

It seems that if we've come to a certain age and haven't accomplished our dreams, the chance has passed never to return. I've heard the comment, "Well I used to dream about doing things, but then life happened and I grew up." People are constantly trying to push back the clock with serums, plastic surgery and supplements for fear of getting older. Part of the reason is the change in their appearance, but I believe it's more about the dreams that have been unrealized.

They expected that by a certain age they would be in a certain place in their lives, and when it didn't happen, they try to grab more time.

It's never too late to realize a dream. Maybe it won't look the same. I'm never going to go to the Olympics to compete in skating. Sure, I could push my body five hours per day on the ice, six days a week, but for me, it's not worth it. The fact that I get to step onto the ice and live my passion is life-fulfilling.

Recently, at a world recreational skating competition, I had the chance to meet an 84-year-old skater. This woman amazed the crowd. She competed in over five events doing programs from one to two minutes in length. Programs aren't easy. To skate consistently for two minutes makes a young girl breathe heavily. This woman jumped, spun, and did spirals. When I spoke with her, she said, "You either move or you die. I do what I love and that keeps me young. Age is all in your mind, no matter what you look like on the outside."

So with that said, I hope this video inspires you to go after life with gusto - to move toward your dreams without thought to age. My friend recorded this video from the stands and it's hard to see, but this woman is twirling batons while skating.