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Recently, I came across the story of a man called Fauja Singh.
He wasn’t a professional athlete, and he didn’t grow up dreaming of medals or records. In fact, as a child, he struggled to walk and was often mocked for his weakness. What makes his story remarkable isn’t fame, it’s timing.
Fauja Singh ran his first marathon at the age of 89.
At an age when most people are expected to slow down, withdraw, or “take it easy,” he decided to begin. Not for attention or recognition, but because he had experienced profound personal loss, the death of his wife and later his son, running gave him a way to process grief and reconnect with life.
There was no master plan, no five-year vision, and no dramatic announcement, just one step, then another.
He trained quietly, consistently, and patiently. Over the years that followed, he completed multiple marathons and eventually became the first centenarian to finish one, finishing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon at age 100.
What strikes me most about his story isn’t the physical achievement, impressive as it is, but the mindset behind it. He didn’t compare himself to others or focus on how far he had left to go. He simply focused on the next mile.
That mindset resonates deeply with me.
When COVID hit, my business was completely wiped out almost overnight. Every booking disappeared, and at 66 years old, I found myself sitting at home wondering, What now? It would have been very easy to tell myself that my best years were behind me and that starting again was unrealistic.
Instead, like Fauja, I focused on the next step rather than the whole journey. I created online masterclasses, wrote, learned new ways of working, and slowly rebuilt momentum. There was no grand relaunch, just consistency, patience, and a belief that progress was still possible.
Too often, people tell themselves it’s “too late”, too late to change direction, rebuild confidence, or find purpose again. That belief quietly becomes a prison.
It’s not too late.
I meet people every week who feel stuck, not because they lack ability, but because they’ve decided time is no longer on their side. They carry invisible rules about what they should be doing at their age, stage, or position in life.
Fauja Singh didn’t break those rules loudly. He simply ignored them.
He ran for peace. He ran for clarity. He ran because movement helped him keep moving forward, both emotionally and physically. There’s something profoundly reassuring in that.
You don’t need permission to begin again. You don’t need to be exceptional to make progress. And you certainly don’t need to rush.
3 Key Learnings
- It’s never too late to start again – Circumstances and age don’t disqualify you, mindset does.
- Momentum is built quietly through small, consistent actions – Progress comes from focusing on the next step, not the whole journey.
- Movement creates clarity – Taking action helps us move forward emotionally as well as practically.
Momentum doesn’t come from age; it comes from action.
So if you’re rebuilding confidence after a setback, navigating a transition, or quietly wondering what the next chapter might look like, remember this:
The clock is not your enemy – Inaction is.
Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is take a small step in a new direction, and trust that it’s enough for today.
Thoughts for the Week
- Have I been telling myself it’s “too late” to begin?
- What is one small step I could take this week to rebuild momentum?
- If I stopped comparing my timeline to others, what might become possible?
Well, that’s it for this week. Have a wonderful week ahead, and keep believing.
Warm regards
John
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