Give It A Go

by Christiaan Brugge

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
- C.S. Lewis

Many times when I have heard someone say, "I'm too old for that."

My first reaction is to say, "You are never to old to try anything." You may not succeed but the ability to try is there, waiting for you to use it. The thing is, all of us tend to fall to the negative more quickly than not.

In other words, we assume right away something is impossible due to age, ability, money or whatever. We fail to give ourselves the chance to begin with, "Hmmm, that sounds interesting. Let's give it a go."

Instead of saying no, maybe we should give it a try.

I came across a story of a woman named Mary Ho on the or Grandma Mary as she bills herself. And at age 78, is probably one of the coolest grandmas in Singapore.

She first started learning the acoustic guitar at the age of 60. Despite initial fears, physical drawbacks and lack of any musical training, Mary's love for the guitar drove her on. As Mary says, “We need to do something that we love. If you love something, you will definitely go and do it. In the end, you will be very happy.”

Age is only a number used on a form.

Would you allow someone to prevent you from pursuing your adventure? If not, then why would you allow yourself to do the same?

As long as we are alive, we can keep searching for those adventures. To scale part or all of Mount Everest at age 70. To walk the the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu at age 80. To skydive at age 90.

The list is never too long.

There is so much we can do in life. There is so much we can start doing at any age. It is never too late; we are never too old; we are never unable; there is always a way. There might be failure, but don't start with failure.

Start with "Yes, I'll give it a go."

Stay inspired my friends!

2014 Ends

“For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning." ― T.S. Eliot

What will the new year bring to you? More importantly, what will you do in the new year? What voice will you use to bring greatness into the life of others and to your own. Will you allow 2015 to be the start of something big?

With three days left in the year of 2014, if you look back at all of the great things accomplished, you know there is more to accomplish in 2015. And you will accomplish even more in the coming year as you turn from self to others. When you approach your goals thinking of others first, your level of success will surpass your needs.

The typical resolutions people make are to lose weight, quit smoking, get a better education, get a better job, save money, get fit, eat healthy, manage debt, manage stress, take a trip, recycle, drink less and volunteer to help others. Only one of the thirteen resolutions has to do with others and not self. The others are about self.

Why not help someone lose weight, quit smoking or help them get a better education. You could also help someone find a better job or get fit or one of a number of things. Why not volunteer to help others and in turn help yourself?

The current year is quickly coming to an end and a new one is bearing down upon us. It does not take a lot of thinking, planning or discussion. You simply make the decision to do one, two or three things for another person. The rest will fall into place for you.

Stay inspired my friends.

Be a Star

Humming all the way to Reno
You've dusted the non believers
And challenged the law of chance
Now sweet, you were so sugar sweet
You may as well have had 'Kick Me' fastened on your sleeve

You know what you are, you're gonna be a star
You know what you are, you're gonna be a star

Wing is written on your feet
Your Achilles heel is a tendency to dream
But you've known that from the beginning
You didn't have to go so far, you didn't have to go
- R.E.M "All The Way To Reno"

There is a certain amount of sensibility which starts to consume our thought process as we age. With experience over time, each of us develop a sense of what can and can not happen in life. We set boundaries of possibility for ourselves. As we do so, we express those limitations to those we might deem naive dreamers.

The lyrics from the song above speaks to the innocence of youth in which "your Achilles heel" is the tendency to dream. As we grow older we understand not all dreams are realized exactly as we had planned. We lose our will to dream.

In youth, we do not have the supporting experience to turn a failed dream into change. In growing older, we lose the ability to dream of change. An odd twist if we let it happen. The idea is to take your life experience and combine it with the youthful ability to dream of possibility.

Without it, you never choose to step through an open door of possibility.

With it, you walk through the door and believe in new possibility.

A 52-year old woman walked through a door of change by earning a college degree after deciding upon change. She is an example, out of millions of people, who take that step towards new possibility.

It is the innocence of youth that pushes them. It is the wisdom of age which allows them to know it is the right thing to do.

So keep pushing forward, try new things, walk through new doors. Change can happen and in the end, "you're gonna be a star" of course.

Stay inspired my friends.

Keep Learning

"Take the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new." - Og Mandino

Our lives are filled with new experiences and new challenges nearly every day. As we grow older, we sometimes forget that each of those experiences is a chance to learn something. We become ingrained with the idea that with age we are automatically instilled with wisdom.

Yet wisdom is a collection of learned experiences and as we grow older, those experiences can teach us new things. Those experiences can also correct or enlighten what we thought we already knew.

So never stop learning, never stop growing; find something new each day.

And stay inspired my friends!

Never Too Old

"Age is a matter of feeling, not of years." - George William Curtis

There are times we tell ourselves that age is a limiting factor. We may tell ourselves that we are too young to accomplish things. Later in life we might say that we are beyond our time. Some will say that you can not teach an old dog new tricks.

If we feel that age has taken over and we are unable to keep up with the demands of being successful, than we have given in to old age.

The following video gives a glimpse into someone that is not "giving into" old age. She is a remarkable woman and.... I'll let the video explain.



Live life to its fullest and never let age get in the way of achieving what you want in life. Believe in yourself whether young or old. For while you live in the natural, there is still time to achieve great things.

Stay inspired my friends!

As Time Goes

"Time goes, you say? Ah no! Alas, Time stays, we go." ~Henry Austin Dobson

Not too long ago my wife and I decided to have breakfast at a local Cracker Barrel restaurant. It was a nice breakfast for two as we were winding down from a busy weekend. As we sat there, I looked at all of the old tools and signs that adorned the walls. Each of them were gentle reminders of times long past.

The various items tend to keep the eyes busy as one waits for their meal to arrive. These items also spark discussion over just what this or that particular tool or item was. You can also reminisce about a sign advertising "Old Virginia Cheroots" cigars wondering where the magic of those times went.

As I looked around, something struck me about the pictures on the walls. There were old pictures of people posing for portraits or family photos. I had to wonder what these people may wonder about their personal photos being displayed in a modern day restaurant. Would they object, would they have ever thought they would end up in a restaurant? Will we object when all of our Facebook pictures are used in the same manner many years from now.

I also began to wonder what the story was behind each of the family photographs. How did each of them come to have their photograph taken, for what occassion and how they ended up lost to a restaurant chain.

I then noticed an old crank phone on one wall under one of the numerous photos.

What if I could pick up that old phone and place a call into the past. Would those people in the photographs answer, would they even want to speak with me once they heard my wild story from the future? If they didn't think I was completely crazy, how wonderful would their story be that they could tell. It would be a story of their life and experience which would fill a book.

The problem is that I can not dial up the past. I can only look at their photographs and wonder. I can imagine what the story of their lives were, growing to an old age and believe that they experienced a great life.

I can also imagine the same for myself.

You can imagine the same for your life.

We can live a great life and end up on a wall as a photograph in some distant future. Those future viewers of our pictures will reveal the same thing, that we lived a wondrous life. Our pictures will reveal to them that life can be great. Our future viewers will feel better about themselves, as you can right here and now.

Believe in and have a great life. Also, stay inspired my friends.

The Old Man in Seat 12B

"Respect your elders: they graduated high school without Google or Wikipedia!" -Unknown

I had boarded the flight early as I normally do, settling into seat 12C. As I fly quite frequently, my airline status allows me to board early. It is a seat on the aisle near the front of the plane, one of my favorite spots. The location can be great for people watching as seasoned flyers and first timers all jostle down the narrow aisle looking for their assigned seat.

Today would be no different I thought, a normal flight to Boston, my usual routine. After settling in I would get my headphones on, my iPad opened to my favorite music and settle in for two hours of reading. Yet today would be a day when I would not do the usual, for the old man in 12B would delight my day.

He found a way to place his items in the overhead compartment and fumbled a bit getting into his seat. My thoughts at first were that he was new to flying. It also seemed odd with his crumpled trench coat, a well used jacket but neatly finished with an outdated tie. By the leathery look of his skin and deep wrinkles, I imagined his age to be well into his eighties.

As I finished up some business on my iPhone, he gestured and remarked at how connected we are these days. He certainly wasn't against technology but he said we never seem to talk anymore or better yet, we never seem to listen to each other much anymore. So with that, I shut off my phone, put away my iPad and headphones in order to listen.

The lady in 12A was not too sure what to think of this old gentleman as he told me his tales. She had a look of skepticism on her face but to me, I found him fascinating. The stories of his travels to many parts of the world having worked for a large mining company were amazing. But many times he and his wife of nearly sixty years traveled for leisure.

They would travel many times to South America, taking in the adventures that traveling outside of your comfort zone can be. He gave me detailed depictions of the places they had been; the food, the music and the people. Remembering those travels with his wife brought a smile to his face.

You see, she had died three years ago when cancer came back a second time. Quietly he spoke not to me but to his own thoughts about her. It was ongoing medical work that had him heading to Boston from Charleston, South Carolina where he lived. The day was nearly half over and the flight only forty-five minutes from landing when he drifted into sleep.

I sat and thought of the stories he had told me. Much of what was said could have been gleaned from National Geographic magazines or any local library. I am sure the lady in 12A felt he was spinning a tale. But I chose to believe the old man in 12B. I chose to allow his adventures to inspire me to seek more out of life.

He passed onto me what he knew; a real Tango in Argentina, seeing Table Mountain from a boat offshore of Capetown, having high tea in the lobby of the Peninsula Hotel while in Hong Kong, or taking in a Turkish bath at the Danubius Hotel Gellert in Budapest. Each one was crystal clear in his descriptions and it appeared that he wanted to pass his joy of each one to me.

The plane landed and as all travelers do, we go our separate ways. I shook his hand and thanked him for the conversation. He never gave me his name, but he smiled and thanked me for my time, for listening I suppose. As I left though he said to me, "find more time to experience the adventure of life."

I learned a lot from an elderly man in seat 12B. I learned about living life from a man I will probably never see again. I learned by listening.

Stay inspired my friends.