It's Never Too Late: The Truth About "Late Bloomers"
Have you ever worried that you missed your window to pursue your dreams?
When we're young, we believe that everything has to be done by a certain time. We glorify the "30 under 30" and the teenage prodigies. We treat our 20s as the prime of life. And because of that, when we pass these made-up time frames without achieving all our goals, we sometimes despair that we'll never be able to achieve anything. That we've "wasted time."
But this couldn't be more true. The truth is that everyone has their own timeline, and dreams reached in your middle age or even older can be just as sweet as those dreams reached in your 20s. Sometimes even sweeter!
So here's an ode to the "late bloomers." Let's dispel the misconception that dreams are only for the young. Here's the truth about late bloomers.
Following In the Steps Of Greatness 👣🏔
For every young prodigy who gets famous, there are many more who didn't reach their pinnacle of life until they were in their 40s or older. Lucille Ball didn't score her breakout role in "I Love Lucy" until she was 40. Kathy Bates was 42 when she became famous for her role in "Misery." Julia Child, one of the most formative celebrity chefs, didn't write her first cookbook until she was 50. In fact, she didn't even find her passion for cooking until she was 32. And Colonel Sanders of KFC fame didn't even open his first Kentucky Fried Chicken until he was 65.
These geniuses weren't held back by their age. When they reached success, they didn't stop and say, "Well, that's probably as far as I'll go at my age." For each of these "late bloomers," that breakout moment was only the beginning. They got there because they didn't let others put a deadline on their success - and neither should you!
A Lifetime of Learning and Experience 📚🧘
Think about someone who decides to run a marathon. Do they show up on the big day never having run in their lives? No, of course not. They train all year to make sure they're in shape! Would you consider that time training to be wasted because they weren't running marathons? No. It was all necessary to get to the moment they were waiting for.
It's the same for you and your dreams. All the time you spend working towards your goals isn't wasted just because you haven't become world-famous by 25. You're gathering life experience. You're learning more about the world around you, and more about yourself. And all of that wisdom will help you prepare for the day when you eventually reach those dreams you've been longing for.
No One Can Tell You Who You Are 💪💁♀️
You know what's great about getting older? As you experience more life and spend more time with yourself, you become more comfortable in who you are. Your confidence starts building muscle. The same comments and discouragement that would shatter you when you were 20 just rolls off your back. You know that you don't have to listen to the naysayers, because no one knows who you are and what you're capable of better than you.
And you need that confidence in order to stay motivated and reach your dreams! Along the journey towards your goals, you'll face a number of obstacles. But when you're comfortable and confident in yourself, you have the strength to push past them. That self-comfort has an additional benefit in that you understand best how you work: you know if you're a morning person or a night owl, if you work best in short bursts or long flows. You know all the routines that you need to reach your best work.
Fewer Distractions and Drama 🎭✍️
When you're younger, there are so many distractions that keep you from reaching your dreams. You have to worry about financial stability, finding your friends and support network, managing relationships, and trying to find a job that works for you. That's why it's so notable when young people achieve great success: where do they find the time?
But as you get older, you become more settled in yourself. You find that financial stability, you find relationships that are here to stay, and you get into a sort of groove with your life. That level of stability can make for the perfect time to reach your dreams. Without those distractions and drama, you can focus on the thing you're passionate about and bring it to light with a thoroughness that you wouldn't have been able to do when you were fresh out of college.
Motivation Depot: Your Personal Cheerleader At Any Stage of Life 📣🥂
Everyone needs a cheerleader on the sidelines, encouraging them to keep going towards that finish line. That's what Motivation Depot is! We're here with motivational tips and encouragement, as well as motivational merch that you can purchase so you can have a little motivation in your own house - or even on your body! Check out our blog for more inspiration!
