Age is nothing but a number!

That is how Ernestine Shepherd motivates those who think they are too old to start something new.

“I practice what I preach”, she says. And that is exactly what she does.

Ernestine Shepherd is a 75 years old woman who at age 71 decided she was going to start bodybuilding. She wakes up everyday at 2:30 in the morning to run 10 miles with other four people before hitting the gym.

She says that when she was younger she was never athletic. Later at the age of 56, Ernestine and her sister went to a picnic party where they wore bathing suits. They did not like the way they looked.

When her sister passed away, Ernestine suffered from panic attacks. Then, her sister came to her in a dream and she said that they were not doing what they had agreed to do.

The rest is history.

Ernestine is now considered the oldest female competitive bodybuilder in the world by the Guinness World Records.

She says she doesn't teach people to become bodybuilders. She teaches about health, happiness and prosperity. “That's the formula”, she says.

Ernestine is not only an example of commitment and perseverance. She is also a testimony for those who think time is not on their side.

Her example is a proof that with passion you can achieve anything you want. You just have to put your mind into it.

Most of the time we are our most dangerous enemies, our worst critics. It is not that we can't, is just that we don't want to, we are not ready to commit. Lots of people out there constantly make up excuses, blame others for their failures, let time drain their energy, their passion.

Ernestine's message is not only related to success but to the joy of life. If time is a factor in our lives, then we ought to make every single second count. Enjoy the process of every project we decide to pursue. It is not only about reaching our goals, it is also about having fun during the ride.

She reminds us as well, that inspiring and helping others enriches our soul. Ernestine teaches an exercise class at her church in Baltimore, Maryland, where she encourages others to light up that spark they think they have lost and break free from their negativity.

Ernestine Shepherd is a true inspiration indeed. There are no excuses anymore to become who you really want to be.