Yesterday was my birthday.
People always ask the same question.
“So…how old are you now?”
Most of the time, I just smile.
I don’t usually answer.
It’s not because I’m trying to hide my age.
It’s because I’ve never believed the number matters nearly as much as people think it does.
You’re Not Old…You’re Believing You Are
The other day I was talking with someone who said, “Man, I’m getting old.”
Out of curiosity, I asked him how old he was.
He said…
“Thirty-eight.”
I couldn’t help myself.
I laughed and said, “Dude…shut up.”
Thirty-eight?
You’re not old.
You’re just believing you are.
What caught my attention wasn’t his age.
It was his mindset.
The Story We Tell Ourselves
Somewhere along the way, we’ve convinced ourselves that certain birthdays come with limitations.
“I’m too old to start a business.”
“I’m too old to go back to school.”
“I’m too old to get in shape.”
“I’m too old to change careers.”
“I’m too old to chase that dream.”
Who decided that?
Certainly not God.
Yes, there are realities that come with getting older.
Recovery takes a little longer.
The knees complain a little more than they used to.
Hair has a funny way of disappearing from the places you’d like to keep it and showing up in places you never expected.
That’s life.
But growing older doesn’t mean you stop growing.
A Different View of Age
Scripture tells us,
“Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.”
— Proverbs 16:31
Think about that for a moment.
The Bible doesn’t describe age as something to fear.
It describes it as something honorable.
A crown.
Not because of the years themselves…
But because of what those years have taught us.
Wisdom.
Character.
Perspective.
As a Man Thinks…
There’s another verse that has challenged me for years.
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
— Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)
I’ve found that to be true.
If you constantly tell yourself you’re old…
You’ll begin to live like you’re old.
If you convince yourself your best years are behind you…
You’ll stop looking for what’s ahead.
If you believe it’s too late…
It probably will be.
Not because of your age.
Because of your mindset.
Keep Becoming
I don’t know how many birthdays God has planned for me.
None of us do.
But I’ve made up my mind that I’m not going to let a number determine what I’m willing to attempt.
As long as God gives me another sunrise, I want to keep learning.
Keep serving.
Keep building.
Keep growing.
Keep taking on new challenges.
Keep becoming the man He’s called me to be.
One of the things I love about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is that it constantly reminds me there’s always something new to learn.
The same is true in real estate.
The market changes.
Technology changes.
People change.
Life changes.
If we’re willing to keep learning, we never stop growing.
And I don’t think that principle has an expiration date.
My Take
Maybe birthdays aren’t there to remind us we’re getting old.
Maybe they’re there to remind us we’re still here.
Still breathing.
Still learning.
Still capable of making a difference.
Still able to encourage someone.
Still able to serve.
Still able to chase the purpose God has placed on our lives.
Yesterday I celebrated another birthday.
I didn’t celebrate getting older.
I celebrated getting another year to become the man God created me to be.