Life Doesn't give a Pass Based on Age

When I was young, I thought life followed a script. Go to school, work hard, grow up, and everything would fall into place. That’s what they told me. They said I had time to figure things out, that youth was a privilege, and that the world would eventually welcome me with open arms once I was ready. But what they didn’t tell me was that life doesn’t give a pass based on age. It doesn’t wait for you to be “ready.” It doesn’t care if you’re young or old, if you’ve made mistakes or if you’ve had a late start. It just keeps moving, and you have to keep up.

I used to believe that if I was too young, I wasn't ready. And if I got too old, it was too late. But life doesn’t work like that. I saw a 16-year-old build a business from their bedroom while a 40-year-old struggled to find their first real job. I saw a 25-year-old mother raising two kids alone while a 50-year-old man was still trying to figure out what love truly meant.

There was no magic age when everything made sense. Some people find their way early in life, while others don’t even start to understand themselves until later. As I got older, I began to understand this truth. Life doesn’t give you a free pass based on your age. It doesn’t say, “Well, you’re still young, you have time.” Or, “You’re older now, it’s too late.” It simply doesn’t care. It doesn’t care about your timing. It doesn’t care about the years you’ve lost, or the opportunities that have passed. Life is just there. It keeps going, and if you want to keep up, you have to show up, no matter your age.

I’ve seen people who thought they were “too old” to chase their dreams. They would say things like, “Maybe if I had started earlier…” or “Maybe I missed my chance.” But then I saw someone in their 50s pick up a new skill, start a new career, or finally write the book they always dreamed of.

Age is just a number. It’s what you do with the time you have that matters.

I also saw young people, brimming with energy and ambition, waiting for the perfect moment to start. They’d say things like, “I need to be more prepared,” or “I need more experience.” But what they didn’t realize was that you never feel ready. The trick isn’t waiting for the perfect moment. The trick is taking action in spite of your fears, doubts, and insecurities.

Life doesn’t give you a pass based on age. It doesn’t hand out opportunities just because you’re young and full of potential, nor does it grant mercy just because you’re old and full of regrets. You can be broke at 20 and rich at 50. You can be successful at 25 and lost at 40. You can start over at any time, but you have to start.

Because the truth is—life only moves for those who move.

There’s no expiration date on your dreams. The world doesn’t care if you’re 18 or 80. What matters is that you take action. Don’t wait for permission. Don’t wait for the “right time.” No one is coming to tell you it’s your turn.

You have to decide that today is your turn. Age is just a number, but your determination and actions are what truly define you.

So whether you’re 18 or 80, don’t wait. Take it.

They always told me that the script was already written, but what they didn't tell me was that the script was in every decision I made and every path I took

Thank you for reading! Lets read to lead.