It’s Never Too Late to “Bring You”

Every Thursday, from October to May, the 50-person Gulf Coast Banjo Society plays a 2 ½-hour concert for free in Venice, FL. Not only is it amazing that they have done this for 33 years; but also, that the average age of the musicians is at least 80. One of the banjo players is 97 and loves singing; an accordion player celebrated his 98^th birthday this year but brings “only” his 28-pound accordion when traveling for concerts! 

My husband, Doug, and I moved to Sarasota, FL more than a year ago to be closer to my parents. As new, full-time residents in our small community (versus “snowbirds” or those who live here only during the Winter months), we are often referred to as “the young ones,” since most of our new neighbors are anywhere from 15-30 years older. 

I giggle when they call me that because my folks (in their mid-to-late 80s) are chomping at the bit to resurge their twice- yearly 3+ week travel adventures with friends from other countries, and my mother-in-law (in her mid 90s) still has in-depth conversations with Doug about the companies in which she invests. Our role models are active and involved. Age is a mindset, they say. 80 is the new 60!

When people lament how they are “running out of time” or “don’t have the time” or “wish I had done ‘xyz’ when I was younger”, I get curious about what’s getting in the way for them now? How quickly do people use age as a reason to do – or not do – something? Sure, there can be unexpected limitations as we age; and there can also be work-arounds … especially if it’s holding us back from something we really want.

What if you could bring you – all of you – to the forefront of your life? That’s what The LAITHOS Way™ calls Strengthen Your Core. 

J.R.R. Tolkien published the first volume of “The Lord of the Rings” at 62 years old; Barbara Hillary – a cancer survivor – was the first black woman to reach the North Pole at 75; at 86, Katherine Pelton swam the 200-meter butterfly in 3 minutes, 1.14 seconds – beating the men’s world record for that age group by 20 seconds; and, comedian George Burns performed in New York at age 94, 63 years after his first performance there.

What would it be like to play life “full out” for the remainder of your life?  

This Week’s Challenge:  What are you waiting for? What are you holding back doing or becoming? Take stock of your talents and write down how you might share those with others. Get deeply connected with your personal values and assess how you can serve them in the years to come.