John Barrymore an American actor once stated
“A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.”
If one stops and thinks about age or growing older at least a dozen axioms come to mind.
One such is Age is Just a Number. Yet how many people honestly believe that? I didn’t, I was too busy to buy into it. My generation was taught go to school, grow up get a job have a family retire and …. It was that last ‘and’ that helped me rethink the axiom Age is Just a Number.
In many of the Industrial Nations, there has been put in place a forced retirement age, a number. Not because of all you offered so you deserve a break. Rather, we infer it is the number when we become obsolete. As I followed the above trajectory of life two instances made me realize I was feeling more regrets than dreams. I was caught up in the failure of the system and saw no way out. I was living in the shadows.
Where had my dreams gone?
The first life-altering event was a chance meeting with two men, who co-own a company that imports Greek food for European supermarkets and discounters. One of them turned sixty in early 2022 and the other turned seventy-two shortly thereafter. They do not think about retirement, selling the business, or even slowing down. They are still fully involved in their company they rejected the obsolete number. They continue to dream and plan for the future. Age is just a number for them. Why quit they have so much to offer with age comes Experience, Wisdom, and a zest for life.
What had happened to me?
Looking back, I realized that my focus was on my number, and age, not on my dreams. Now I too say that I want to share my knowledge and gifts when I turn 100. I reached into my past and discovered I am not obsolete I want to share, life should be fun, Not a “rat race”.
Another pivotal moment in my life was thanks to J.R.R. Tolkien. If you think you do not have time for fiction stop and pick up his books read The Lord of the Rings trilogy or at least watch the movies. There is one specific moment that spoke to me; this is what you will become if you do not break free from what has possessed you. Théoden, a noble king has had his free will removed partly from listening to the wrong advisor and thus allowing his mind to be altered by the evil wizard.
It is an amazing visual for Age is just a Number and why he is my hero. You will see:
A broken man…
A dying man…
A shriveled figure on a throne three sizes too big for him…
A man poisoned by venom and treacherous words…
Reduced to nothing barely aware of his surroundings…
Why is he, my hero?
Watch the clip and see the best visual I can give you via Tolkein and the interpretation of the same the movie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQExgALv9wI
He is my hero. – Because he took the chance to reclaim life when it was offered to him.
His Wizard, his friend, his healer says to him:
Théoden King, too long you have sat in the shadows…
Once Théoden was living his life, he still made errors; he corrected what he could. However he accepted his true role as a leader and when the world was crumbling, he rose up strong, young at heart, and wise, and led his people to help humanity in its time of greatest need.
“….rising in his stirrups, he cried in a loud voice, more clear than any there had ever heard a mortal man achieve: ‘Arise, arise, Riders of Rohan! Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter! spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now!’ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King.
I am no King of Old yet I too was becoming an Orc a mindless entity used and eventually discarded. Yet like King Théoden I had others draw the poison out of me, the poison of being used by others, the poison of believing I would become obsolete.
Age is just a number, and you are, as old or young, as you feel. Read the words feel it and believe it. Do not give up your dreams do not allow society to make you old. Do not fall into their trap of becoming obsolete. I had my share of poor advisors (King Théoden’s was called Worm Tongue great name) mine convinced me to feel old and frail but in actuality, I share the blame, because I stopped believing.
I know how the broken man on the throne feels because I have been him, the closest thing to him you can be outside of the pages of Tolkien´s books. I know how the broken man on the throne feels when the poison is removed and I stepped out of the shadow. Does it hurt stepping out of the Shadow ridding one of the poison? Yes, it hurts when the poison is drawn out. It can hurt like hell, is it worth it?
You can argue that Théoden died anyway on the battlefield yes, he did. However, from the point the poison was removed he lived life fully and made his mark, regained his family, and won the respect of his peers; he lived as he should a king in his full glory.
Eventually, we will give up our physical school uniforms I chose to die as a king than as the clown I had been way too long. I´m not going to blow that chance and I refuse to be an Orc I refuse to give up.
Because there is no substitute for the fire of life… the lifeforce … the FEHU
Take it from someone who has been there … this is not how it should be
… and Théoden knows…
… may he smile upon us…
Follow along as I take you down the path to stepping from the Shadows…
Make sure to check more articles from Marco on his blog Fire Stealer’s Torch.
Fire Stealers: the map of how to co-create destiny, no cookie-cutter self-help, guidance to a new life as unique as you are. Live by choice not by default the way that is right for you.
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