Age is Just a Number: Inspiring Stories of Legends Who Achieved Greatness

Posted On: 2023-10-03 11:39:15

On October 1st of each year, the world celebrates the International Day of Older Persons to recognise and value the significant contributions and life experiences of older people. This day is meant to remind seniors of the knowledge, tenacity, and tales they have gathered throughout their lives. It is important to recognise the significant contributions that older people make to our society and honour their ongoing development and learning.

 

The International Day of Older Persons was established on October 1 by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 45/106 in 1990 and on October 1, 1991, this day was first acknowledged.  The Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing was approved by the World Assembly on Ageing in 1982 to launch the International Day of Older Persons. Every year with a new theme this day is celebrated and for 2023 the theme was “Fulfilling the Promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Older Persons: Across Generations”.

 

• The International Day of Older Persons is held to raise awareness of myths about the elderly and ageing. 
• This day is celebrated to inspire seniors and raise awareness of their potential.
• The International Day of Older Persons may be observed by visiting old age homes, spending time with our grandparents, and learning from them.
• We need to support the elderly on this day and spend time with them by engaging in activities that make the day special.

 

Here are 5 such legends who have succeeded in life even after their 60s, these inspiring stories showcase that age doesn’t stop a person from being ambitious and hard-working.  

 

1. Colonel Harland Sanders: Left school in seventh grade and worked several jobs, often quitting in anger or getting fired. At the age of 40, he ran a small gas station and opened a small restaurant in the apartment next to the station. Word soon spread and business grew. In 1952, at the age of 62, Sanders opened the first Kentucky Fried Chicken, and history was set in motion.

 

2. Grandma Moses: Grandma Moses, whose real name is Anna Mary Robertson Moses, started her successful painting career when she was 78 years old. International acclaim for her pastoral vistas and sentimental scenes demonstrated that it is never too late to discover and express one's artistic abilities. Before her death at the age of 101, she produced about 1500 pieces.

 

3. Harry Bernstein: He was regarded as a lacklustre playwright throughout the majority of his life before quitting at age 62. When he was 93 years old, he began writing his memoir, and this is where he achieved success. He released three additional novels after The Invisible Wall, one at age 98, one at age 99, and one at age 100.

     

    

4. Paul Siromoni: a man who proved that age is never an excuse to not go back to school. After his retirement, he found that he had enough time to write his thesis. He enrolled himself for a PhD and was recently awarded one at the age of 90. He had to write six papers, attend several seminars, and take three long exams. 

 

5. Dr. Bhagwati Oza: At the age of 79, Bhagwati Oza was awarded the National Award for Older Persons for Sports and Adventure. Oza, a gynaecologist by profession, has achieved more than 100 medals at both the national and international levels of swimming and athletics. At the age of 75, she rode more than 3,000 km from Kolkata to Kanyakumari. She is also the oldest woman in the nation to have completed high-altitude mountain climbing and scuba diving. 

 

These motivational tales illustrate that age is just a number and should never stand in the way of one's goals. These titans show that it's never too late to pursue your hobbies and make a lasting impact on the world, whether that be through societal change, artistic pursuits, company creation, or industry revolution. Filaantro along with Child Help Foundation works towards empowering people who have the resilience to do better for society. 

Let's celebrate and honour these people's outstanding accomplishments on this International Day of Older Persons while underlining the significance of realising our potential at any age.

We hope this article will resonate with you and these people inspire you that age is just a number, one can succeed in life at any stage of their life. Do share this article with your friends and family members.

AUTHOR: ATHIRA PRADEEP NAIR