When I first retired, I thought the highlight of my day might be putting together an Ikea bookshelf, or maybe figuring out how to configure my new router. But the more I looked around, the more I realized something important: retirement isn’t just the end of the road, it’s often the start of some of the most amazing accomplishments people ever achieve. That’s right, some of the most jaw-dropping stories of human triumph come not from twenty-year-olds running on caffeine and ambition, but from older folks who decided life wasn’t going to slow them down.

The truth is, the idea that retirement means fading into the background is a myth. If anything, it’s the stage in life where you finally have the freedom to chase big dreams, and in many cases, succeed at them. And let me tell you, some retirees and older adults have set the bar pretty high for the rest of us.

Take Gladys Burrill, for example. At the age of 92, she completed the Honolulu Marathon. Ninety-two! I was proud of myself last week just for making it around the block without needing a nap afterward. She trained steadily, kept her eyes on the finish line, and proved that age is not a barrier to setting ambitious goals. If that doesn’t make us all rethink our excuses about exercising, I don’t know what will.

Then there’s Fauja Singh, who became the oldest marathon runner in the world, completing one at the age of 100. One hundred! I can only imagine what his birthday cake looked like—probably a fire hazard. But he showed the world that you can start running at 89, stick with it, and become a global inspiration. It’s a reminder that it’s never too late to start something new, whether it’s jogging, painting, or even learning to play the guitar.

Speaking of creativity, Grandma Moses didn’t even begin painting seriously until her late seventies, after arthritis made it tough to continue her embroidery. By the time she passed away at 101, her work had been shown in galleries around the world and celebrated as some of the most iconic folk art in America. I find that story especially inspiring because it proves you don’t have to discover your passion early on. You can reinvent yourself in retirement and find new joy in ways you never imagined.

And let’s not forget Colonel Sanders. Sure, most of us know him as the smiling face on a bucket of fried chicken, but what many forget is that he didn’t launch Kentucky Fried Chicken until he was 65. Before that, his career path looked like a patchwork quilt: farmhand, streetcar conductor, insurance salesman, and even steamboat operator. But in his sixties, when most people think life is winding down, he leaned into his chicken recipe, franchised his idea, and the rest is delicious history. It makes me wonder if I should finally monetize my secret pancake recipe—though my grandkids keep telling me it’s “just okay.”

I’m sure you all know who William Shatner is, right? Did you know he was the oldest person in history to boldly go into space – via the Blue Origin’s New Shepard? I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure I could pull that off myself. That would be life-changing for sure!

Stories like these matter because they remind us that aging doesn’t mean shrinking your ambitions. In fact, in many cases, retirement is the perfect opportunity to explore them. After all, what do you have now that you didn’t before? Time. And time, my friends, is the most underrated resource in the world.

Now, I know not everyone wants to run marathons or start billion-dollar franchises in retirement. But the principle still stands. Retirement is a time when you can redefine success on your own terms. Maybe that means learning to play an instrument, writing the memoir you’ve been talking about for decades, or even volunteering in a way that changes your community. These may not land you in the Guinness Book of World Records, but they are no less extraordinary.

Here’s the thing I’ve noticed: older adults often bring a level of focus and perspective to projects that younger people just don’t have. When you’ve lived through life’s ups and downs, you develop patience, persistence, and a knack for problem-solving. Those traits are exactly what you need to tackle big goals. The marathon may not be about speed anymore, but about endurance, wisdom, and stubborn determination. And trust me, stubbornness can be a powerful motivator.

I like to remind myself that the biggest accomplishments in retirement often come from staying curious. It’s easy to fall into routines, but curiosity keeps you engaged with life. Whether that’s asking “what if” about learning Spanish, trying tai chi, or starting a backyard garden, curiosity pushes you to explore. And when you explore, you grow, no matter your age.

Humor helps too. If I’ve learned anything from reading these stories and living my own retirement, it’s that you’ve got to laugh at yourself. When I first tried yoga, I thought “downward dog” was a form of punishment. But I stuck with it, and now it’s part of my weekly routine. I may never touch my toes the way the instructor does, but I’ve discovered new flexibility—in my body and in my mindset.

I also think there’s a valuable lesson in not letting fear hold you back. So many people in retirement get stuck because they worry about failing. But failure at this stage of life is no worse than it was at twenty, and often a lot less scary. You’re not risking your whole career or your future anymore. You’re just experimenting, trying new things, and seeing what sticks. That freedom is a gift, and the people who accomplish amazing things in their later years often get there by embracing that freedom.

Another important takeaway is community. Many of the most inspiring older achievers didn’t go it alone. Whether it was fellow runners encouraging them, families cheering them on, or communities supporting their new ventures, they leaned on others. Retirement doesn’t have to be a solo act, and in fact, it’s usually a lot more fulfilling when it’s not. Sharing your goals with friends, family, or even new groups you join can make the journey richer.

So, what’s the lesson for the rest of us? Simple. Don’t count yourself out. Retirement isn’t the time to think about what you can’t do anymore. It’s the time to ask yourself what you still want to do, and then find a way to make it happen. Start small if you have to, but start. If Grandma Moses could reinvent herself with a paintbrush, or Fauja Singh could lace up his first pair of running shoes at 89, then what’s stopping us from trying that pottery class, that trip abroad, or that business idea that’s been sitting in the back of our minds?

As I look around at my own life, I find myself motivated by these stories to keep pushing forward. I may never paint a masterpiece or run a marathon, but I can still accomplish things that matter to me, things that bring joy and purpose to my days. That, after all, is the real secret to an amazing retirement.

So next time you hear someone say, “I’m too old for that,” think of the ninety-two-year-old marathoner or the hundred-year-old runner. Think of the chicken mogul or the folk artist. And then smile, because you know better. You know that amazing things don’t stop happening when you retire. In fact, if you play it right, they’re just getting started.

Don’t wait until it’s too late, get your financial house in order today!

Happy retirement planning!