“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were?” – Satchel Paige
On the TV show ‘The Biggest Loser’ the contestants meet with the doctor who tells them that there is a difference between their biological age and the chronological age. One of them might be 25, but their body is actually closer to 40, a 54 year old might actually have a body closer to a 74 year old.
But what about ‘attitude age’? What would be the age of your attitude if you didn’t know how old you are? What about your ‘play age’? How old would you be in that area?
The author of this quote, Satchel Paige, was a famous baseball pitcher in the Negro League. Due to segregation and discrimination he was not able to get into the major leagues until well after his prime. Towards the end of his career he finally played with the Cleveland Indians and other teams.
He was born in 1905 or 1906. He didn’t start in the majors until he was 42 years old. His last game in the majors was at the age of 59, in 1965.
You can see why he had the credentials to ask this question of anyone he met.
“Rejection is more often about the rejecter than the rejectee.” – Marty Coleman
To all those of my friends and strangers who are getting rejected for jobs, relationships, loans, and more, just remember that the judgment is coming from a specific person, not a whole company, not a whole community, not the world. It is one person making a judgment. You are no less worthy or valuable because one person didn’t like your interview skills or your drawing style or your way of laughing.
There are over 6 billion people in the world, and millions of companies. Keep looking for the person, company, community that sees you as you are at your best. Find that and you will be nourished. It isn’t easy but the alternative is to live a diminished life where you think you are less than someone or something else. You don’t want that.
“When it comes to staying young, a mindlift beats a facelift any day.” Marty Bucella
Changing the outside because you don’t like the way it looks isn’t a bad thing, but disatisfaction like that is more than likely seeded in your mind, not your face.
Renewing your mind is a LOT harder than work on the outside, but it is a lot more fulfilling and long-lasting.
