Age has no time for cowards

By Bernhard Brender

The dictionary tells us that a “coward” is a person unable to face danger, pain or hardship because he/she lacks courage. But nobody is born a coward. More likely he/she was shaped by his/her upbringing and surroundings.

The powerful word “age” is only a number and we should always remember this. People in their 60s and 70s are often asked, “How old are you?” These people reply that their mental spirit is strong ― “I feel young” ― ignoring their real age.

The opposite happens when a teenager is asked their age, and they reply, `’14 years plus five months and two days,” eager to be older.

Both have something in common ― the elderly want to be younger and the younger want to be older. It is a simple state of mind and attitude, I guess.

As they grow older, teenagers often turn to teachers to be their mentors and guardians. One of my German mentor’s idols was Joachim Fuchsberger, who wrote, “Alter ist nichts fuer Feiglinge,” which means “Age is not meant for cowards” ― and he so was so right.

I was born in July 1945 at the end of World War II into a warm, religious, loving family. I had six brothers and one sister.

When I was 12, I thought Elvis Presley should be president of the United States because he was so popular. He became my hero. I did not know that the real hero at that time was President Roosevelt because of the Marshal Plan rescuing Germany from evil.

On the political scene, Konrad Adenauer, Gerhard Schmidt and Guenther Grass shaped my private and professional mind. They gave me the courage to create my own mind and be myself, growing up and traveling through 10 countries on four continents in the hotel industry.

My Journey started in 1963 from Germany to Switzerland, England, the Philippines, France, Thailand, Kenya, Indonesia, Hong Kong and finally Korea.

Along the way, I met presidents Marcos in Manila, Suharto in Jakarta, Nelson Mandela in South Africa, as well as Henry Holley and Billy Graham in the U.S., Park Je-sik and Jay Hahn in Korea, and Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore ― all on my hero list.

In the morning of March 23, 2015, while on my treadmill at home watching CNN, I heard that my personal mentor Lee Kuan Yew, founder of modern Singapore, died at the age of 91, and I wept

I had the privilege meeting Lee when I was general manager at the Westin Chosen Seoul 2002 and he signed his latest book for me. I read two of his books with great interest. It is fascinating how one man can transform a sleepy British Empire’s outpost into a global trading and financial hub. He was the bridge builder between Asia and the Western world.

I learned that to make money to survive, knowledge always comes first, followed by smart management.

Having been in Asia since 1974, I have learned that “age” is still well respected here because accumulated knowledge still holds value.

And remember ― age has no borders. The body might feel old but the mind is still young. Any age can be managed with the right positive attitude and by being true to yourself.

So enjoy every moment of life. And start today, not tomorrow, because tomorrow never comes.

The writer has been general manager of the Grand Hilton Hotel and an honorary citizen of Seoul since 2005.