I’m on the left coast this week … Los Angeles to be exact. It’s always a pleasure to make the trip west from my home state of Michigan to the much warmer climate and always intriguing culture of California. Every time I venture to this area, I learn something new and always meet very interesting people. California is indeed the epitome of the term “melting pot.”

While so many things out here differ tremendously from my local stomping grounds, there are also many similaries that appear to have nothing to do with geography. I make that same observation on each visit to the deep south or any one of our east coast metropolises such as NYC, Boston, D.C. or Philly.

One commonality which never seems to change is the issue of AGE. Regardless of your locale, AGE has already been an issue of concern for the majority of us. Interestingly enough, this issue affects us regardless of our current age.

For example, I can remember many of us waiting very impatiently to reach a certain age which would allow us certain privileges:

• drivers training
• “sweet 16”
• privilege to vote
• opportunity to drink
• opportunity for military service.

It seemed we were always too young to do so many things we yearned to do.

Then, almost over night, it seemed we were too old to do many things:

• compete competitively in many sports
• have children
• qualify for certain jobs
• wear certain clothing styles proven time and time again over the ages.

There’s a valuable life lesson to be learned here if we can merely handle the critical re-frame. It’s actually very simple but also challenging for many. In short, forget your age! It’s been proven time and time again as revealed in the pages of our history books. Clearly it’s what you do, not when you do it that really matters!

Consider the evidence:

At age 7 Mozart wrote his first symphony.

At age 14 country singer LeAnn Rimes won her first two Grammy awards.

At age 16 swimmer Shane Gould won three Olympic Gold medals.

At age 17 Joan of Arc led an army in defense of France.

At age 20 Debbi Fields founded Mrs. Fields cookie company.

At age 21 Fred DeLuca co-founded Subway with just $1,000 in the bank.

At age 43 John F. Kennedy ran for the U.S. Presidency and won.

At age 45 boxer George Foreman regained the heavyweight championship of the world.

At age 46 Jack Nicklaus won his sixth Masters tournament.

At age 54 jockey Willie Shoemaker won the Kentucky Derby.

At age 57 Ray Kroc founded McDonald’s.

At age 62 Colonel Sanders devoted himself to Kentucky Fried Chicken.

At age 78 Grandma Moses started painting and was still participating in one-woman art shows well into her nineties.

At age 83 architect Frank Lloyd Wright was asked which one of his masterpieces was the best. “My next one,” he said.

At age 86 Ruth Rothfarb ran the Boston Marathon in just over five hours. “You lose a lot of speed between 80 and 86,” she joked.

On his 104th birthday Cal Evans was interviewed by a Denver reporter. “Have you lived in Denver all your life?” asked the reporter. Cal laughed and replied, “Not yet, Sonny.”

Whether you’re five or 105, you have a lifetime ahead of you—so renew your dreams!

It doesn’t matter which part of the country you live it!

What are you passionate about?

What is something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t done?

Right now is a good time to start.

It’s never too late to begin your Bucket List! Give it a shot!