How Old is Too Old? · Embrace Your Inner Weirdo

How Old is Too Old?

I had the privilege of meeting Dale "Graybeard" Sanders recently.

If his name doesn't ring a bell, it should. Dale once became the oldest person to complete the Appalachian Trail. Then someone broke his record.

So what's he doing now?

At 91 years old... he's going back to take it back.

Let that sink in for a moment.

Over 2,000 miles. Mountains. Rain. Heat. Cold. Blisters. Countless climbs. At an age when many people have convinced themselves life is supposed to get smaller, Dale is making his world bigger.

I'll admit something.

Every now and then I catch myself wondering if I'm getting too old for some of the dreams still sitting on my heart. Too old for the next adventure. Too old to write another book. Too old to chase another big goal. Too old to reinvent myself one more time.

Then I meet someone like Dale.

Suddenly those excuses don't seem quite as convincing.

Life doesn't stop at 60. Or 70. Or 80.

Sometimes the only thing that stops is our willingness to believe there's still another mountain worth climbing.

Dale reminded me that age isn't the finish line. It's just another number that too many people give far too much power.

I don't know if he'll reclaim the record.

But I know this...

He's already won.

Because at 91 years old, he's still choosing adventure over comfort, possibility over excuses, and purpose over surrender.

That's the kind of life I hope I'm still living decades from now.

Thank you for the reminder, Graybeard.

Keep moving forward.