How Old Would You Be If You Didn't Know How Old You Are

I was driving around town listening to the Jim Rome radio talk show. I always like to get a handle on what's going on in the world of sports.

As I was driving Rome began talking about a 59 year old man who is going back to college so that he can play football. The story goes that he got kicked off his team in college when he was in his early twenties and he had always been bothered by the fact that he could not help his team out. Years later he was with some of his college friends and some of the guys said that the season and the team were never the same without him. He then made the decision to go back to college and give back to his team.

Rome went on to say that this person had been a personal trainer of high caliber and done some very fascinating things in his life. His wife was quoted as saying, "I live with Peter Pan." What a great quote! Rome went on telling one story after another and then came to what I found to be a thrilling comment. This 59 year old dynamo said, how old would you be if you didn't know how old you are.

I just smiled when I heard this. I thought to myself of all the people in the world who feel themselves too old or over the hill to do some of the things that they might have done when they were younger or who never just "go for it." I also thought of all the people who throw caution and common sense to the wind on occasion and just let it happen. I was thrilled to hear the comment of this 59 year old who sets a wonderful example for all of us.

I've had a pretty good run and have had the opportunity to experience some great things, but I still think that my best years are ahead of me. When I was working with my son's high school basketball team I mentioned to the boys that fitness is a life style, a life long ambition for me. I told them that even when I get to be 70 and 80 years old that if I can't do 50 push ups in a row that they should just take me outside behind the barn and shoot me. It's only a figure of speech guys.

It's important to believe in bigger things for ourselves. Whether you're a 6 year old child or an adult, it's important to continue thinking about your possibilities on a regular basis. It doesn't matter whether we're talking about fitness, family, work, or anything else that might matter, what if you went about it like you had no limitations? I guarantee you that you would get out of bed with a "bring it on" attitude for anything that came your way.

Your age and your possibilities are a state of mind,

Fred Nicklaus