Age is just a number

By Brian Maynor

 

I’m sure we’ve all heard that phrase before, but have we ever stopped to absorb the meaning of it?

Age really is just a number.  Specifically it’s the number of years we’ve lived, and that number has no bearing on where we should be in life, or what we can or cannot accomplish moving forward.

So many of us get trapped in the notion that because we are a certain age we can’t compete with people younger than us, or older than us, or that the time has past to change careers, go back to school or start our own businesses, and that just simply isn’t true.  Our age doesn’t decide who succeeds and who fails, and it shouldn’t control our dreams.

No one is too old or too young to create the life they want, and thinking so is a shame and waste of the time we do have.  Here are some fresh takes on age that will have you reenergized and driven no matter how old you are:

1.   Years lived aren’t directly related to obstacles overcome or goals achieved.  Some people have managed to live a long life collecting years of work experience along the way without ever facing challenges or achieving success.  On the other hand, there are some younger people have spent their lifetime overcoming obstacles and succeeding without racking up the years of experience.  Years on the job is just one way to gather experience, but it certainly isn’t the only way.

2.    The factors that really matter.  Drive, passion, talent, and resilience are the qualities for success, and they have very little to do with the amount of time we’ve lived or the years spent in a particular job, industry or position.  The sooner we can break free of the idea that age and success are mutually exclusive, the sooner we can allow our imagination to flourish and start living the life we’ve always wanted.

3.    What matters is our journey.  When people talk about the successes they have accomplished and challenges they have overcome, these are examples of how they have grown.  It is the challenges and successes that create the growth, not the length of time it took to overcome and achieve them.

4.    Every age has something to offer.  We have very preconceived notions about age, and what each age has to contribute, but they are merely generalizations.  For example, older people are expected to bring real-life experience; years of learning and coping with challenges and a history of success whereas younger people are expected to be open-minded, eager to learn, adaptable and full of energy and drive.  While that may be the case in some situations, it certainly isn’t a universal constant.

While we can’t escape our age, we can certainly stop letting it influence or control our ideas, expectations and dreams about where we are and where we can go from there.  If that’s easier said than done then remember there is no time like the present and ground ourselves in the pursuit of making every moment count.

 

 

I’m always excited to hear from you, so please email your questions, quandaries and conundrums to [email protected].

 

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.

 

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