I just finished watching the Netflix movie NYAD. This is the story of Diana Nyad, who woke up at 60 and realized she wasn’t finished, even though the world may be finished with her. As Netflix describes the movie, “A remarkable true story of tenacity, friendship, and the triumph of the human spirit, NYAD recounts a riveting chapter in the life of world-class athlete Diana Nyad. Three decades after giving up marathon swimming for a prominent career as a sports journalist, at 60, Diana (four-time Academy Award nominee Annette Bening) becomes obsessed with completing an epic swim that always eluded her: the 110-mile trek from Cuba to Florida, referred to as the “Mount Everest of swims.”

I enjoyed this movie on multiple levels. Collaboration of people, personal discipline, friendship, facing one’s fears, engaging in your passion, and never giving up no matter what or how often you experienced defeat. Nyad even wrote a book called Find A Way.

This movie made me think about so many things that I believe we all experience at some point. For example, age. So often we give up on our passion and dreams because of our age. I can’t imagine anything sadder than a person who gives up on their dreams. I am not advocating that we need to run marathons when we never ran a mile before, but I believe we can enjoy our dreams and passion no matter what our age. We may need to change the way we indulge, but we can find a way.

People from all over the world and all walks of life have achieved extraordinary things after age 60. There is even a book called Senior Wonders: People Who Achieved Their Dreams After Age 60 by Karen L. Pepkin that introduces you to twenty-five individuals who achieved extraordinary success for the first time after the age of sixty. The twenty-five brief biographies in this uplifting book showcase men and women from a variety of races, ethnicities, religions, and cultures, who each overcame unique challenges and obstacles in life to accomplish a remarkable feat. Despite their differences in backgrounds and fields of interest, they have one thing in common—they didn’t let their age stop them from fulfilling their dreams.

You will be surprised at the many individuals who have accomplished amazing feats at age 70,80 and even 100. All who had a dream.

So often we feel like life is passing us by and time is too short to achieve our dreams. Looking at others who found the passion, perspective on life, and persistence to keep going will inspire you to look at what you want and can work towards.

Tony Robbins believes that while success is the goal, the experiences you’ll have along the way are just as valuable because they fulfill our human need for growth. Our growth happens when we’re chasing our dreams. It’s about finding purpose and living purposefully. People who live a purposeful life have a positive outlook. This can bring joy and satisfaction into your life.

Chasing dreams does not mean you are chasing monumental accomplishments. Dreams can be big and small and include making other people’s lives better. Dreams of making your life more healthy and happier by self-care can benefit your life beyond the accomplishment by improving your everyday existence.

Look at what may bring you purpose, passion, and perspective on life, then find the persistence to keep going. Find a way to bring more growth and value to your experiences.

“One is we should never ever give up. Two is you are never too old to chase your dreams. And three is it looks like a solitary sport, but it takes a team.”-Diana Nyad

“What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.”-Ralph Marston

Robin Anne Griffiths–Founder of ReChargeMe Zone * Behavioral Change Specialist * Yoga Instructor * Meditation Facilitator * Personal Trainer * Author * Speaker * Helping people on a journey for change to live a fuller and healthier life. Find out more at www.rechargemezone.com.