Success and Achievement in Old Age – Why You are Never Too Old to Succeed

Ronald Reagan became a governor of California at 61, and later the US president. Sam Snead, may 27 1912, may 23, 2003 was Known as ‘slammin’ sam’ winner of several major championships and a record 81 PGA tour events.  He won the par 3 tournaments in 1974 when he was 61, and has been described as ‘ageless’ in many other tournaments.  Mahatma Gandhi began as a young lawyer in South Africa, when he was told to move to a third class seat on the train, when he had a first class ticket, because he was an Indian.  He refused and was forced to spend the night on a desolate platform.  In 1930, when he was 61, and he and his followers marched 240 miles in 24 days to make their own salt from the sea in defiance of British colonial laws and taxes.  By the time he reached the sea several thousand had joined his march, and across India’s coasts, thousands were to follow.  More than 60, 000 were eventually arrested, including Ghandi, although it was clear who would end up victorious.  Ghandi later became the leader of independent India.  William Jennings Bryan (1980 –1925) began a huge campaign against the teachings of evolution in schools when he was 61.  Benjamin Franklin – at aged 70 in 1776 he played an instrumental role in drafting and signing the declaration in drafting and signing the declaration of independence.  At 81 he signed the constitution for the United States of America.  Frank McCourt, the author wrote the bestseller Angelina’s Ashes and began to first write in his sixties.  Leonardo di Vinci was drawing sketches in his sixties, Leo Tolstoy was writing novels into his seventies.  Michelangelo was sculpting into his eighties.  Winston Churchill with his love of cigars and scotch was both productive and active until he passed away at the age of ninety.  Joy Johnson was an 81-year-old marathon runner, as well as Marvis lingren who was 90 years old, she began running in her sixties and has competed all over the world.  As far as I know she is still going.  Others run in their 90’s or over 100.  Ben levinsen, 103 years old, sets world record for shot-put for men over 100 years old, in August 1998 at the senior world Olympics.

Bernerd Herzberg, a 96 year old man from East Finchley, is said to be Britain’s oldest learner.  He completed an MA in refugee studies at the university of East London (where I studied) and began another MA in the school of African and Oriental studies.  When over 80 he completed a degree in his native language German, which he did not speak.  He used English and Afrikaans.  It took him 5 years to complete.  He says he put off study until over eighty because he was busy making a living and supporting a family.  It seems quite apparent to me, that if such individuals had settled for early retirement and a quiet life at sixty, we would not be reading the above.  It also seems that such a law may have been passed when people did not live as long as now.  The lives of British people are extending, and there are many older persons who remain healthy until death.  Therefore, the law, and peoples attitudes should be judging people by their personal abilities and capabilities rather than these rigid stereotypes and prejudices that are just a hindrance to potential human progress.