It’s Never Too Late
Please note: The names and details from the following stories and examples have been modified for privacy purposes.
Edward and his wife Marla are retired, living in Florida, and very active. During the pandemic, all their planned trips were canceled. They ended up with a “Covid Checking Account,” the surplus that resulted from all the things they didn’t get to do in the last 20 months. So they decided to order a brand new Tesla! “It’s coming in eight weeks, just in time for Christmas!” Edward could hardly contain his excitement. He and Marla are 84 years old. They have always admired the Tesla and decided to finally splurge. As Marla explained, “At our age, it’s now or never, right?”
I was on a Zoom call Monday with a group of 60 entrepreneurs. We meet quarterly to share ideas and create accountability. It was Janice’s turn to tell us what’s new. She was excited to announce that she had just launched a part-time coaching business. She also held up a copy of her recently published book. And then she shared her screen to show off her new website. Janice turned 81 last month. Someone from the group asked what prompted her to engage in so many new things at this stage in her life. “Why would I retire now? I feel so confident. Not to mention I have a lifetime of lessons I can teach my coaching clients. They find my wisdom very helpful.”
It’s never too late— and according to Janice, you’re never too old— to launch into new things.
Julia is a tenured professor in her 50’s. Her kids are grown and out of the house. Her one regret in life is that she never learned a second language. The good news is that she’s eligible for sabbatical in May 2022. She enrolled in an immersion program at Middlebury College to learn Italian. She’s going to move to Vermont for 7 weeks next summer, then go to Italy to teach for the fall semester 2022— in Italian! She hasn’t been this excited in years. As she explained, “If I don’t do this now, I will regret it forever.”
Another friend is going to Israel with her 13-year-old grandson in the spring— a trip she has been planning ever since he was born. “I have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do this with my grandson. And even better, he actually wants to do this with me! Why would I ever say no?”
Why would you ever say no?
Is there something you’ve been putting off for the future? Is there a project, trip, or goal you’ve given up on because you think you’re too old to make it happen?
Maybe this is the case for someone you love: Is there a bucket list item you could fulfill for someone else? Paula’s father had always wanted to go for a ride in a red convertible. She posted the request on Facebook: Is there anyone out there who has a red convertible and who’d be willing to let me borrow it to make my Dad’s 95th birthday wish come true? I read the post. I immediately thought about my friend who owns a red Corvette. I reached out to her to share Paula’s request. My friend was moved by Paula’s story and was an instant Yes to lend her car to Paula (a total stranger) to make this dream come true for Paula’s father.
Is there something you could do to make someone’s wish come true?
What if this is the time— what if this is the year— you are really going to make it happen? I think of Edward and Marla at 84 and what it will be like for them to experience a self-driving car. I picture my friend 12 months from now in Italy, speaking fluent Italian and feeling so proud. And I can’t wait to see the pictures from the Israel vacation.
What about you? What’s the thing you could finally say yes to? Do you need someone’s help to make it happen? Then ask! What about someone you love? Is there a bucket list item you could help them fulfill? Then offer!
What are you still waiting for? It’s never too late.
This Week’s Resources
When will my package arrive?
Last week, Jess was waiting for an important envelope to arrive in the mail. During a meeting we were having, she received a text message with a picture of the envelope, letting her know exactly when it was scheduled to arrive. I’ve seen this feature for FedEx and UPS, but I didn’t know until then about “USPS Informed Delivery.” It lets you digitally preview an image of the exterior of the envelope you’re waiting for and track its delivery. To sign up for this free service, go here: USPS Informed Delivery
No Habla Espanol? No Problema
Dream of learning a new language? Maybe you want to learn Hebrew before you take your trip to Israel? Check out Middlebury College’s Summer Language School. You can’t believe the number of language programs they offer, and how you can be proficient in 7-12 weeks! Middlebury Language School
Who’s Interested in Anti-Aging?
Ever wonder why we age, and if there is a way to slow down, stop, or even reverse the aging process? David Sinclair’s book will take you through a scientific and fascinating journey about how to choose your lifespan: Lifespan book on Amazon
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