Age is Just A Number

The Power of Will

Triumph Over Doubt

by Louise Vallone

Let me tell you something: I’m 90 years old, and I’ve spent the last few decades hearing some doctor’s and other strangers tell me what I can’t do. “You’re too old for that.” “You need to slow down.” “Let someone else handle it.” It’s as if the world decided the minute I hit a certain age, I was supposed to sit quietly, nod politely, and fade into the background. Well, guess what? They were wrong.

For years, I let their doubts creep in. I stopped trying certain things because someone said I shouldn’t. Then one day, life tested me in a way that woke me up. My husband was upstairs, choking, and I hadn’t climbed a staircase in three years. Doctors told me my legs couldn’t handle it, and I believed them—until I didn’t.

When I heard that sound, something inside me snapped. I wasn’t going to let fear, or weak knees, or anyone’s opinion hold me back. I was a former athlete after all, earning 4 letters and training a NYS champion and Olympic hopeful. So, I grabbed that railing and climbed like my life depended on it. One step, then another. I envisioned a railing where there wasn’t and every time I was certain to fall I forced my mind to override it. I got to the top. I did it because I believed in myself. And at the summit I found that my husband was fine, shocked to see me standing there, and the sheer determination in me had cleared his throat.

Here’s the truth they don’t tell you: Age is a number!

I’ve lived through wars, raised a family, been an instrumental player in my political party and as a grassroots activist. And I have fought battles bigger than stairs, and I’m not about to let someone else define what I’m capable of. My body may be older, but my spirit… it’s as fiery as ever.

To every senior out there, hear this: You are vital. You are capable. You are a force to be reckoned with. Stop letting anyone—including yourself—tell you what you can or can’t do. You’ve lived through too much, fought too hard, and achieved too many miracles to sit this one out.

It’s not about being fearless. It’s about deciding that fear doesn’t get to win. When you put your mind to something, your body will follow. So climb the damn stairs. Start the business. Write the book. Dance like your knees aren’t creaky. Sing an opera. We’re not done yet, not by a long shot.

The world better watch out—because we’ve still got plenty of fight left, and we’re just getting started.