If you dedicate yourself to something, you can achieve it. It's

In the words of Herschel Walker, “If you dedicate yourself to something, you can achieve it. It’s simple, but it’s true, and your age is just an excuse.” These words, spoken by an athlete whose strength and endurance became legendary, carry the timeless wisdom of effort, faith, and discipline. Walker’s life—born from humble beginnings in rural Georgia and forged through relentless perseverance—proves the truth of his statement. His philosophy is simple, yet ancient in spirit: that the human will, when guided by purpose and sustained by consistency, can transcend limits of time, body, and circumstance.

To dedicate yourself is not to merely desire a thing, but to give your whole being to it. Dedication is the fire that turns potential into power. Walker’s own life stands as proof: a boy once mocked for his stutter and small frame who rose through the ranks to become a Heisman Trophy winner, an NFL powerhouse, and later, even a mixed martial artist in his fifties. His triumph was not the gift of youth or fortune—it was the fruit of focus. In his world, age was never a barrier, only a mirror reflecting how much effort one dared to give. For those who live by such a creed, time is not an obstacle but a companion, guiding rather than restraining.

The ancients too understood this truth. The philosopher Marcus Aurelius wrote, “You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” Walker’s words echo this Stoic ideal: that success lies not in circumstance but in control of the self. Those who surrender to excuses—whether of age, luck, or hardship—bind their own hands. But those who master their thoughts, who rise each day to improve themselves, align with the eternal rhythm of growth. The body may tire, but the spirit, if disciplined, does not age.

Consider the story of Fauja Singh, who began running marathons at the age of eighty-nine and continued into his hundreds. His frail frame and white beard did not mark limitation, but victory over inertia. When asked how he managed such feats, he answered much like Walker: “I just keep moving.” The simplicity of both men’s philosophies hides profound truth. Greatness, in any form, is not born from genius or privilege—it is born from consistency. To dedicate oneself is to walk forward even when progress feels invisible, to labor in silence until the world cannot help but take notice.

Walker’s declaration that “age is just an excuse” challenges one of humanity’s most persistent illusions—that time dictates possibility. The young claim they are unready; the old believe they are finished. But the soul knows neither youth nor age. It knows only momentum and stillness, creation and decay. The man or woman who continues to learn, strive, and dream defies the erosion of years. Each dawn offers the same chance for renewal. As the poet Longfellow wrote, “Age is opportunity no less than youth itself, though in another dress.”

Yet, dedication is not without cost. It demands sacrifice—of comfort, of ego, of fear. To stay the course when the body aches and the world doubts is the mark of true greatness. Walker’s own training—thousands of pushups and sit-ups done daily without complaint—reveals the heart of his message: that achievement is not complicated, only difficult. The formula is simple, but few possess the will to follow it. Excuses whisper comfort; discipline demands truth. Those who choose truth find freedom.

The lesson, my child, is clear: devotion conquers time. Whatever your age, your body, your circumstance, begin. Commit yourself fully to that which ignites your spirit. Do not measure progress by the clock, but by the fire that burns within you each day. The one who starts late and works with conviction will surpass the one who starts early and quits. Remember, youth fades, but dedication endures.

So, heed the wisdom of Herschel Walker. Cast aside excuses. Let your age, your past, and your doubt fall away like shadows at sunrise. If you love something—your craft, your calling, your purpose—dedicate yourself wholly, and the world will yield before your persistence. For time bends not to the weak, but to the determined. And in the end, the greatest victory is not over others, but over the voice within that whispers, “You are too late.”