age ain’t nothing but a number

I remember being 8 years old and getting bullied by kids that were bigger and stronger than me so I thought about taking some martial arts to protect myself. I walked past the room where judo was taking place and I noticed some kids a few years younger than me and thought that I was too old for the class. I felt as if I had missed my chance. That was 27 years ago and over the years time and time again I have caught myself saying those same words, “I’m too old.”

But a few years ago I started my search for answers. I wanted to grow as a business man, a teacher and, most importantly, as a person. And thanks to that I came across one of the greatest discoveries there is. Time is the greatest commodity there is and is the one thing that we cannot get more of. So rather than try to get more time, we must get more out of the time we have. In 10 years each of us will be somewhere, the question is where. We cannot change the past and we cannot change the future as it has not taken place but we can take actions today that will change our tomorrows.

We are never too old to start something new. Our mind sets our own limits. If I set a goal to learn judo and started today (and did it regularly) I would surely be either a black belt. What if I don’t make it? Does it mean I’ve failed? No, because I’m that much closer to my goal.

This week Smith’s 英会話 Hirakata 枚方 welcomed a new student into our mix. A young 80. With an attitude that I’m still young it’s amazing what we can accomplish – just take a look at Jane Cutler, also 80. It’s true what the song said, “age ain’t nothing but a number.”

Adrian