Let Time Treats You Better, Stop Using Age As An Excuse To Experience

What do you think time is treating you? How do you feel about your age? 

Your thoughts have the power to shape your life; every action begins with a thought. 

Like, someone might say, ‘I am too old for that,’ and by doing so, it’s like casting a spell—they start to believe more and more that age limits their choices. 

But, the truth may be that this person simply isn’t interested in ‘that,’ regardless of their age.”

Stop using age as an excuse after you’re 21. 

By doing so, you may know yourself better and experience more in your life.

From Excuse to Execution

Studies show that positive thinking can bring about positive health outcomes, to do so, we must be mindful to avoid negative thoughts and excuses like we are too old or late for anything.

Let me share my little story of changing my mindset.

I started taking dance classes in my early 30s with zero background in dancing. 

At the time, I wasn’t even an active person in everyday life, as I would spend long hours sitting at work in an advertising agency, followed by drinking heavily after work three nights a week.

I remember the night I went to a bar with my friends and stumbled upon Latin Night. 

There were around 80 people dancing salsa, with half of them appearing to be in their 40s-50s.

“I want to be one of them,” I told my friends, perhaps with the third glass of wine in my hand.

The wine gave me the courage to be honest with myself, and this was the first time I connected dance with my own aspirations.

Those dancers became my inspiration. They were all dressed up, dancing with confidence and laughter, executing clean moves and fancy styling.

They were nothing like what I expected people 20 years older than me to be.

They were having more fun than the younger crowd in the bar that night, much more.

I wanted to be like them immediately, but realistically, I couldn’t because I’ve never been good at coordinating my body.

So, I started going to a dance studio and taking lessons.

My classmates ranged from people in their 20s to their 60s, and I was somewhere in the middle, but my foundation was obviously one of the weakest.

Coordination, isolation, strength, footwork, musicality—I lacked everything.

I got disoriented every time the instructor taught anything related to changing directions.

Salsa is a social dance, where I (as a follower) would dance with a leader. 

For quite some time, I kept apologizing to the leaders who danced with me because I felt my performance hindered their enjoyment of the dance and music.

“I started too late.”

“I am too old to learn to dance.”

“I probably don’t have what it takes to dance.”

“I look stupid, clumsy, and fat in the mirror.”

I had a classmate, J, who was around the same age as me. We shared the same frustrations, so we became closer.

In the end, I stopped going to salsa classes, giving myself the excuse that I was too busy with work.

That was true; I did spend long hours at work, but it wasn’t the reason I stopped dancing.

I could have made time for it, but I chose not to.

I stopped dancing for 3 years. 

During that time, I thought about picking it up again several times because my heart desired it, but my thoughts talked me out of it.

One day, J posted on Facebook about going to a Latin festival, and she messaged me about how much fun it was. 

I was surprised by her progress because, for me, a festival seemed like something only advanced dancers could enjoy. 

Half-jokingly, I told her I was too old for dance.

“Nobody knows how old you are except yourself. You should come; it’s really fun. You don’t have to be super good to enjoy the dance,” she said.

That little conversation made me think: if I really enjoy doing something, does it matter if I do it well?

I love reading; I don’t push myself to read faster as proof of improvement.

I still watch anime even though people might think I’m too old for it.

What stopped me from dancing was my own judgment of myself; my inner voice could be pretty mean to me.

I went back to the dance studio, restarting again at an even older age.

No excuses this time, just execution. 

Three classes and two parties a week for two years, and I’m still not an advanced dancer, but I’m OK, I can enjoy parties like those inspirations I had years ago.

From Execution to Experience

There’s no right time to start doing new things. Just Do It.

From salsa dance class my horizon was broadened, I tried other dances from Jazz to K-Pop, which also extended to non-dance activities like Muay Thai, weightlifting, yoga, meditation, and now blogging.

In my exploration of new experiences, age, ability, and appearance is no longer my concern.

The frustration my body gave me at dance classes made me kinder to myself now, and I am more open to doing things I am not good at.

I will never be good at anything without starting to do it anyway.

Also, I don’t apologize to leaders now unless I stepped on his foot or elbow his head, when I thought I made mistakes I laughed.

Leaders always laughed with me too.

That’s the experience I enjoy, that’s what brought me back to dance.

To enjoy being me, and enjoy other people’s company.

Time treats me better than 10 years ago, I feel younger, and I am definitely happier.

I don’t say “I am too old for xx”, instead I say “I am not interested” or “I don’t feel the calling yet”.

Age should empower us to admit what we want (also don’t want).