When Is It Too Late?

Much is said about when one should do or have done something by. When I was considering setting out on a doctoral path while in my 40's, many said if you haven't completed your PhD by the time you're 34, it's a waste of time. I'm so glad I didn't listen. I wouldn't trade that part of my journey for anything. A couple of weeks ago, 5 months shy of my 50th birthday, I rode and drove a WaveRunner for the first time. It was awesome.

I mention these two things because quite often, we find ourselves thinking it's too late to make changes to adjust our trajectory towards the life we have finally learned to imagine.

When you finally figure out what it is you want or don't want your life to be, it is much easier to say "that ship has sailed" and not take the risks necessary to make the changes we would love to experience.

I'm not talking about midlife crisis kinds of changes. I'm not saying go get lipo, dye your hair, and buy a red sports car. Mind you, I'm also not saying don't. The changes I'm talking about involve doing an honest self-assessment and identifying actions that can help you to better align with the life you'd like to live.

For example, if your vision of a desired future state for self includes international travel, start by learning different ways to make that your reality. Do you have a passport? A no answer to that question means you would be pressed to even accept a global travel opportunity that arrived to you wrapped in a tidy bow.

If you want to take up water sports, start trying different sports to find out which activities you like. If you don't know how to swim, that may be a good place to start.

Whatever your thing is. Whatever you imagine you would like or maybe need to add to you life in order to be more fulfilled, it's never too late, unless you decide it is.