Life’s richer if we find a passion that keeps us focused
Two great stories caught my eye this week. Both of them prove that age is just a number. That you really are never too old.
First up we have Barbara Peters – an 80-year-old great-grandmother who has just passed her grade seven ballet exam.
She took it at the Royal Academy of Dance in London, before receiving a text message telling her she’d passed with merit to become the country’s oldest ballet dancer.
Barbara is a brilliant example of someone who found her passion in life at a young age and just kept going. She started ballet when she was two and it’s kept her fit throughout her life. She’s still doing cartwheels – yes, really – and only gave up doing the splits 10 years ago. How good is that?
Her passion became her career. She went on to open a dance school in Huddersfield.
We aren’t all lucky enough to make careers out of doing what we truly love, but life is richer if we find a passion that keeps us focused and fit.
Although we tend to slow down as we get older, Barbara’s story proves that we should never stop. I’ve always believed in that saying – use it, so you don’t lose it. It’s one of the reasons that I tolerate a treadmill on a reasonably regular basis.
The other story which caught my eye is in a similar vein. Student Alexandra Knox, from Newcastle, moved to London. Instead of opting for pricey, soulless accommodation, the 27-year-old Geordie chose a rather unusual housemate – RAF veteran Florence Smith.
Florence is 95, but the two of them get on like a house on fire. They watch episodes of The Chase together and Alexandra insists that Florence has a better social life than she does. Don’t you wish there was more mixing of age groups like this? When I went to university, I found my first year in a student house quite tough.
All of a sudden there was no one to look after me.
But I bet Florence loves taking care of Alexandra and probably spoils her a wee bit in a grandmotherly sort of way.
There’s a lot of social isolation among the elderly and that must surely be exacerbated as we all communicate using technology.
Alexandra is saving money in pricey London and has gained a new friend. Florence has company and someone to look out for her.
It’s win-win and a home from home. I’d love to see more partnerships like this.