Wikipedia defines a late bloomer as a person whose talents or capabilities are not visible to others until later than usual. I am a late bloomer. There are a lot of us. Just look at history: Harlan Sanders, founded Kentucky Fried Chicken at age 65, Grandma Moses, a renowned American folk artist, took up painting at age 75, Clara Peller, became an actress at age 81. (We may not know her name, but some of us remember that very funny Wendy's commercial "Where's The Beef"), and one last famous name, Martha Stewart, who until the age of 35 did not do any home decorating.
What is the common thread all of these late bloomers have?.... a dream and desire, and they didn't let anyone tell them what they could or could not do. That's what it takes - a feeling deep in your gut, a feeling that you know that you know - what you believe is absolutely, without a doubt, going to happen - it's not a matter of "if" but "when"!
It's never too late to learn. We all have heard of people going back to college. Older adults are highly motivated, will study harder and longer, and are usually working a job to pay for this schooling. Learning something late in life might sound like a bad deal if you compare yourself to all the young, talented people. But the catch is doing something earlier won't necessarily make you better at it than if you did it later. Did you get that?.....it's good! The catch is....doing something earlier won't necessarily make you better at it than if you did it later!
The demands of life get in the way of doing the creative things we want to do. Parenthood, working, finances, keeping a marriage healthy - all take priority, of course. For me, I didn't know I could ever write and share it with the world. It's been brewing since my 30's. I worried about what people would say. In retrospect think about it, who cares what others think about you? Can you imagine what awful things Hollywood people have to deal with? All the nasty things people say, and yes, lots of people are adoring fans, but there are lots of crazed fans, too.
These people who might not like me never helped me nurse my children back to health for 24 hours straight, they never walked beside my 85 year old grandmother to be sure she didn't fall, they weren't there to comfort me when my sister committed suicide, they weren't there when I was a single mother, barely getting by with 3 boys, nor were they there when my step father repeatedly tiptoed into my bedroom, and stole my innocence. Only God was with me and the strength He gave me. That is the same strength that gives me the words "I don't care what others think about me."
I don't care what others think about me - remember with age comes wisdom. I didn't always think this way, it took years of disappointment and stubbornness and a hunger for knowledge to get to where I am today. It's called wisdom and chutzpa. Chutzpa is a wonderful Hebrew word meaning courage, audacity, nerve. I know there will always be people that won't like me, and people that will disagree with me. On the other side, there will always be people that will like me and even love me. This is the case for every human being on this planet! So why should any of us care what others think? If we do, then we are letting others control our lives. And that is a recipe for disaster, misery and illness, a life filled with trying to do the impossible - please everyone!!
For my younger readers, you don't have to wait until you are my age. You can start right now, today. Today is the first day of the rest of YOUR life! That statement says YOUR life....not your critics, not your parents, not your disgruntled coworkers, not your children....no one but YOU!
Now I suggest sitting down and listing the challenges you have with regard to trying to get along with certain people. The person's name, the personality differences, why you keep hitting your head against the wall, etc. If their name came up, then there is an issue you need to resolve. Don't think about how hard it is, just brain storm and write, write as fast as you can manage. Edit, delete, re-write, and write some more. It won't take long and you will feel so powerful.
I am thinking this subject will come up again - look for part 2 in the near future. Whew....I got a little "hot under the collar" and this is definitely near to my heart!
Good night and God Bless! Aleta
"Failure is never final unless it's the last time you are going to try." - anonymous
Wow mom that fifth paragraph was powerful, had me almost moved to tears! It is so true that the people we worry about pleasing don't care about us and would never be there for us. Thanks for all you did for us when you were a single mom. That must have been really difficult and I don't thank you enough! It's neat to see you give God the credit for giving you strength before you were even a Christian.
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