Some people insist “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” No matter how many times and how many ways that worn out old saying has been disproven, many people still believe it.
“I’m too old.” “He’s way too stubborn!” “She’s just set in her ways.” “I couldn’t change if you paid me.” “Why worry about it now?” – whatever the excuse, these people have made up their minds that it’s just not possible or not worth the effort to learn or try something new.
Not true for Ed Bray. A World War II veteran with two Purple Hearts and over a dozen other medals, Ed Bray has lived a long and remarkable life. But perhaps most remarkable is what Ed learned to do at the age of 89.
He learned to read.
With the help of close friends, coworkers, and his late wife, Ed got along pretty well throughout his life without ever learning to read. After nearly nine decades of life, he could have easily decided “I’ve made it this far, why change things now?” But no, Ed made up his mind that the time had finally come – he was going to overcome his lifelong illiteracy and read at least one book.
“I don’t care if it’s about Mickey Mouse! I want to read one book before I die.”
In February 2013, at the age of 89, Ed Bray proved that you can teach an old dog new tricks, when after months of learning and practicing, he sat down and read a book for the very first time.
If an 89-year-old man can learn to read for the first time, what is it that you can do that you’ve been thinking just wasn’t possible?
Too late, too hard, too bad? Never! It’s never too late to learn or try something new!
To see the original powerful and inspiring news story from 2013 about Ed Bray, please click here. To see an additional story and video about Ed from 2021, please click here.
