“Fall Seven Times, Stand Up Eight.”
Why should setbacks or failures be reasons to give up?
The title of this post comes from a Japanese proverb. Those few words say it all.
There are some days, I admit, when I see little except for a gray existence ahead for me. At 67, I wonder if I will ever fulfill my life’s dream to become a published author. I fear that I will never find security in my old age. The aches and creaks of age wear me down. And I fall into “stinking thinking” that I’ll never find my way back up again.
None of this lasts for long. I don’t let it.
I can’t waste time on negative feelings. Rather, I have to use the next years of my life to accomplish as much as I can.
We all have our gray days. As we get older, we may feel age has caught up with us and overtaken our dreams to achieve what we set out to do. Maybe there isn’t enough time left, or we’re just too old, physically unable, mentally unwilling, or tired.
On the other hand, if we’re interested in the world and passionate about certain subjects, then we can still accomplish what we set out to do.
History and the arts are full of men and women who made surprising comebacks, achieved greatness, or who revived/had prominent careers at an age when most would have given up. And there must be a myriad of other less known or unrecorded cases.
“Never give in, never give in, never; never; never; never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in.”
Winston Churchill, after an up and down career, and ten years as a political pariah or, as he put it, “Out in the wilderness” during the 1930s, returned at 66 to serve as a wartime Prime Minister in 1940. His leadership and great speeches helped inspire the nation’s morale against the would-be Nazi invaders that were pummeling the cities and coast of England. He told the people of England, “If you are going through Hell, keep going.”
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
Nelson Mandela, an anti-apartheid activist in white dominated South Africa, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1962 and served 27 years, 18 as a classification D prisoner – the lowest scale – in the notorious Robben Island Prison. Released in 1990, he returned to lead his party in negotiations that led to multi-racial democracy in 1994. He was 72 when he became South Africa’s first democratically elected South African president in 1994.
“You’ll never find a better sparring partner than adversity.”
Golda Meir came to the U.S. from Russia at the age of 8, and was brought up in Milwaukee, WI. In 1921, she emigrated to Palestine where she worked on a kibbutz and as a teacher before moving up in the political ranks. At 71, she became Prime Minister of the State of Israel in March, 1979. The world’s third woman to be head of state (after Shri Lanka and India), she was portrayed as the “strong-willed, straight-talking, gray-bunned grandmother of the Jewish people.”
“I made a resolve that I was going to amount to something if I could.”
Colonel Sanders started Kentucky Fried Chicken at 65 after his restaurant folded and because his pension was so small; after two years, he went on to wild success. A Kentucky Colonel (in-name military designation only), he gave the chain an image by dressing up in that all-white southern gentleman garb.
“Painting’s not important. The important thing is keeping busy.”
Grandma Moses (Anna Mary Robertson Moses) didn’t begin to paint until the age of 76, when her hands became too crippled by arthritis to hold an embroidery needle and she found herself with nothing to do. She’s usually cited for succeeding for the first time at her art work in her nineties and up to her death at 101.Her paintings were shown at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City as well as in museums in Vienna and Paris.
“I never had a great role in a great film.”
Gloria Stuart, a movie actress in the 1930s, returned from obscurity at 86 when she landed the role of 100-year-old Rose in James Cameron’s “Titanic.” She remains the oldest person ever nominated for an Oscar. The above quote must have been before “Titanic.”
“You cannot just waste time. Otherwise you’ll die to regret …”
Harriett Doerr finished her Stanford degree at 67. In 1983, at 73, she became a darling of the literary world with the publication of her first novel, “Stones for Ibarra,” which went on to win a National Book Award.
“If I had not lived until I was 90, I would not have been able to write this book. God knows what other potentials lurk in other people who keep going into old age.”
Harry Bernstein published a short story when he was 24, in 1934, but it was not until he was 96 that his well-received debut novel, “The Invisible Wall” was published. Bernstein turned to fiction only after his wife of 67 years died, as therapy for his loss and loneliness. He published two more books after his debut.
“If I had known at the beginning of my life that this is where I would get to, I would have said, “Not possible.”
Jessica Tandy, a well-respected actress came out of a career slump in the mid 1980s to a career revival in her seventies when she won both a Tony Award and an Emmy Award for her role in “Foxfire.” She became the oldest actress to receive the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in “Driving Miss Daisy” in 1989. 
There are many other such stories of late life success that I’d have liked to include but then I’d have to write an e-book about them. It’s a fascinating subject – what drove these men and women to not give up despite rejection, imprisonment, lack of education or opportunity, sexism, ageism, defeat … you name it.
Do you know of someone who “made it” late in life, particularly after overcoming problems, losses, rejection, or other setbacks?
If you do, please share their stories with us.
Tags: Adversity, Colonel Sanders, Gloria Stuart, Golda Meir, Grandma Moses, Harold Bernstein, Harriet Doerr, Jessica Tandy, Late life success, Nelson Mandela, Never give up, new start, Overcoming rejection, Overcoming setbacks or failures, President of South Africa, Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Reinventing yourself, Rise every time you fall, Wartime Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill
This entry was posted on Thursday, February 10th, 2011 at 4:10 am and is filed under Mid life motivations, Midlife professional challenges, Overcoming Setbacks or Failures, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
35 Responses to ““Fall Seven Times, Stand Up Eight.””
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I agree. It’s about attitude. If you look at young people and what they admire in an older person, it’s their enthusiasm and ability to be entertaining and joke and stay positive. My dad is 85, an is still charming and funny. He keeps up with world news and knows so much more than I do. He travels and my kids love his attitude. I hope to remain that way too. Keep up the positive.
Hi Sonia, That’s precisely what I wanted to hear about, people like your dad. And though the common perception may be that young people want nothing to do with old fogies, it’s true that they admire their enthusiasm, their ability to stay positive, and also, their ability to try to understand their own new world of habits and technology.
These words of encouragement are just what I needed this week.
Diane
Diane, Glad to hear that my post hit the right note with you.
Wonderful, wonderful and amazing. Thank you for reminding us that life growing thing and we can nurture and cherish it or neglect and trash it. It’s up to us.
Thank you so much.
Claire, Exactly what I’m trying to tell readers – that we can grow and nurture our dreams at any age.
Hi Penelope!
Really helpful post for folks of all ages. Believe it or not, but at 22 I looked in the mirror and felt like a has been, my life and looks behind me.
After some tortured years, I discovered my life just beginning! The best times still to come. Our society makes older folks feel like has beens because it doesn’t understand how vibrant life on Earth would be if everyone were engaged and treated like what they had to say mattered.
Why turn our backs on seasoned folks who have the gift of perspective?
thx, G.
Guilietta,
I can’t believe that you’d feel like a has been at 22! But that may be more prevalent than we think. Because of the economic situation and competitive environment, many young people these days are having a hard a time finding work in the careers of their choice. It may be motivating to see people can triumph later in life and be examples of what can be achieved at any age.
I am at a pretty low point in my life right now and this has come like such a breath of fresh air!
A very encouraging post!
Hajra, Sorry to hear you’re at a low point but glad that my post was helpful. Just keep on believing in yourself and what you can accomplish.
I loooveeee this post! Thank you for reminding all of us that life truly is a never ending journey of self discovery. Age means nothing! Passion, drive, love, and a willingness to take risks – they make the difference. I’m bookmarking and Tweeting this Penelope.
Catherine, You’re right, age SHOULD mean nothing, and this is exactly the message I’m trying to get across.
Hey Pennie,
Thanx thanx and thanx again for the inspiration!! Amazing how many mentions come up these days when I google donthangup. You go, girl! I’m still searching for something to do instead of “my day job”, and just reading your blog has renewed my resolve. I’m with you on never ever ever giving up.
Heather,
Thanx for thanking me for inspiration. That’s the kind of compliment I really appreciate. I really have to google donthangup and see all those mentions. Glad that you’re with me on not giving up. Slowly, my message seems to be gathering followers.
I’m on the verge of going back to work after a two-year layoff and have been grappling with feelings of doubt and uncertainty about whether I can still contribute at my age. Reading your blog post was just what I needed today. I think many of us (me included) operate under the assumption that life is over after the age of 60 as far as being a productive member of this society. I loved my grandmother more than I can say, but she was really old by the time she was 65, she didn’t eat right, she didn’t exercise, she wasn’t curious about politics or personal growth, she wore the mantle of old-age like her mother before her. I remember my mother telling me years ago that a woman was gauche if she wore her hair past her shoulders after the age of 40. The times have evolved, maybe we’re just ahead of the curve in our belief that we CAN still contribute and be productive and still grow. In any transitional period, there are those who say “let’s do something different and just go for it.” Hooray for them (and us). Thanks again.
Cheryl, Congratulations on going back to work. How exciting but yes, after a two-year hiatus, it will be challenging. However, a challenge is great motivation. I loved your references to your mother and grandmother at 65 who both wore the mantle of old age. Nowadays, old age starts when we feel old. As for that hair thing, I got that “gauche” idea from my mother as well. So guess what? When I was 50, after I stopped working in an office, I let my hair grow down to my waist. It made me feel young and free again, even though a lot of people criticized me for it. So what?
Your blog posts are very inspirational! Thank you for sharing these with the world! So many of us need to hear these positive thoughts again and again to remind us that there is never an excuse to quit reaching for your dreams. I will be sharing this!
Very uplifitng post. I’m only a few years younger than you and know the feelings of gray,gray days only too well. Then, I return to my blog, look at the visitors stats and think: these people who have been kind enough to read you, want something new and entertaining. And the ideas start flowing.
Inka: Thanks for your comment. I can relate to that feeling about looking at visitors’ stats and comments and wanting to give them a reason to keep coming back. The surprise is that when I write a new post, it gives me a big boost as well.
Great BLOG! Very inspiring, already telling other people to read this! Thanks!!!
I love the people and quotes you have used here. Really inspiring and really gave me a lot to think about.
Excellent! I learned all about attitude when I quit smoking in 1998. Attitude IS EVERYTHING was my mantra and it’s still true today.
I love your blog, thank you!
I can so relate to Jessica Tandy’s quote. I come from a small island people can’t even place on a map. I came to Australia – another island millions of times bigger – and today I have many published books under my belt. The one released today sold four copies in the first two hours. My achievements can hardly be believed. My glass is not half full … it’s overflowing. Thank you for your visit, and yes, I’ll let everyone know how I go.
I love reading these stories it makes you believe that there is chance for everyone and it’s all about trying and keep trying always… You just gave me a shot of: “I know I can” and a smile on my face!
Hi Penelope, what a lovely way to show your quirks with the 9 things you should know about me welcome:) I love what you’re doing here keeping people motivated and smiling. Sometimes that’s all we need to keep pushing on and it’s great to know there’s a friendly face (and blog!) we can turn to. Keep up the great work:)
Annabel,
How nice to hear. You’re one person who always keeps me motivated and another friendly face to turn to.
A great post, Penelope. It should be an inspiration to all of us. Having just turned 60 a few weeks ago, I totally relate to the feelings you stated. I am especially enthralled with “Maybe there isn’t enough time left, or we’re just too old, physically unable, mentally unwilling, or tired.” Had a day like that yesterday. I used to be able to go and go just a few years ago. What Happened?
Keep on inspiring us to keep on going. The success stories are especially thought-provoking. Thanks!
Hope you’ll visit my blog again too!! I am trying to transition it from Blogger to WordPress. I’ve moved all of my posts and comments to the new site shown above in the website box.
Christine, Good to hear from you. I love it when readers can relate to what I write. Thanks for sharing your experience. Will certainly take a look at your new blog.
Penelope,
I feel like I’ve found a treasure….:). First of all, your own story is very inspiring…I’m 1/3rd your age as of now, I wish and hope at your age, I have this incredible zest for life that you do.
I’ve added this to my favourites….Keep writing and keep inspiring!
Love and Regards,
Chaitra
I was very surprised to read your age. From your writing, no one would suspect you were that … err … mature. I see we have something in common — tenacity, and the preaching of it. I think we, along with countless others out there, are products of our own tenacity. If you give up, though, you’ll never know the rewards waiting for you. Why not press ahead and find out what precious discoveries await around that next corner? Why not press in when faced with adversity and follow it through to resolution. Why not?! It can’t make the situation any worse than it is, and I have found that it ends in rewards far beyond what I could ever have hoped or dreamed even though the interim can be quite painful and challenging. Great post, Penelope. Keep up the good work.
Sherry,
I love your comments. They add substance to my post and offer additional insights. And yes, I can’t believe it myself that I’m that – err – mature, but I’m also in a big hurry, similar to when I was in my twenties, to get into the thick of things, learn about all the new and challenging communication methods, and fulfill my lifetime dream of becoming a published author. There are still several great adventures ahead for me and who knows what precious discoveries await in the years to come. The rest of my life is going to be one wild ride.
I honestly have felt a strong connection to you through your writing. I’m sure others feel the same way. You have a way of pulling me in, making me want to know more. I, too, have a dream of becoming an author of books. That’s my goal, to write interesting and entertaining books for a living as my contribution to society. And I don’t care if you’re 19 or 92, you have adventures ahead and precious discoveries on the horizon. I believe I’ve grasped enough of your personality through your blog to know that the rest of your life WILL be one wild ride! Hang on Penny, I think you’re embarking on something big …
Sherry, I feel exactly the same way about you. And I also love your blog posts so I think this works both ways for us.
Valuable information and excellent design you got here! I would like to thank you for sharing your thoughts and time into the stuff you post!! Thumbs up!
You can definitely see your expertise in the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to mention how they believe. At all times follow your heart.