Is It Too Late?

Young people have it “made in the shade” and they don’t even realize it. For starters, their eyes see a world that is full of abundant opportunity where flying like an eagle to attain a dream is still an option. They also have what seems to be unlimited energy with a body that is void of deteriorating aches, pains and degenerative disease.

The only thing youth lacks is wisdom gained through experience.

Good experiences and overwhelmingly painful, heart wrenching, agonizing, and horrifically bad experiences.

I’m not saying that everyone’s childhood is peachy, but for the most part, the innocence of youth is innocent. That is the charm of youth.

It is hard to go from the innocence of youth to the reality of adulthood especially when you want to believe that there is a basic goodness in mankind. That belief gets tested, tried and trampled upon and usually leaves us hopeless by the time we hit fifty years old. That’s part of the stigma of becoming “over the hill.”

However, a part of me refuses to believe that I have limitations. I’m of the same mindset of George Elliot who once said…

I don’t believe she meant “to be” in the context of “fastest Olympic sprinter” or “tallest human ever born.” I think that “to be” speaks of the unseen and often undeveloped parts of ourselves. Those dreams that we keep tucked inside and hidden most or all of life for fear of rejection.

That one word conjures up feelings of inadequacy, pain and missed opportunities. Rejection is a part of life that we each must face and deal with on an almost daily basis. It rears it ugly head and brings irrational insecurities bursting from the seams of the heart and mind.

Yes, they are irrational.

I’m sure you’ve heard that “sticks and stones can break your bones, but words can never hurt you.” No, you can’t argue with me. Words can not literally break your bones and they can’t physically harm your health UNLESS you allow them to do so.

Yes, “you allow” words and people to hurt you.

I know how you feel and will be the first to say that I’m the “pot calling the kettle black,” but it is because I have this older wisdom from hard to deal with experiences that I can make this bold statement to you.

Words are words and although they can pierce the soft realms of the soul which they do on far too many occasions, words can only destroy you if you let believe and incorporate them into your self image. I’ve always taught my daughter to be friends with people that will build her up. Being associated with a caliber of person that soars above the mountain is a powerful boost to our feelings of self worth and validation. That type of person does not use words that pull you down to the depths of self-Hell.

Thoughts, self-image and dreams are not just mental images that occur in your mind while you are quiet or sleeping and then quickly forgotten as you begin a task or awaken. Visions of accomplishment and success are tangible goals that we can grab hold of and turn into reality.

It isn’t too late to be the person you envision during moments of solitude and reflection. It doesn’t matter that age is causing a body once filled with vim and vigor to slowly disintegrate. Getting older is a totally irrelevant fact. It is a factor in how fast you are able to move, but it isn’t a reason to stop dreaming of improvement or progression. Dreams do not have an expiration date.
So what if it takes you longer to get from point A to point B as long as you get there!

It doesn’t matter that someone else has already reached the goal you are dreaming of attaining!

This is YOUR life and no one can live it except for YOU.

It isn’t too late to become your dream.

Dreams are timeless.

During a particularly low point of my life, I shared with you the story of Benjamin Franklin. A man that not only suffered heartache and pain, but many so-called “failures.” Regardless of appearances, the many botched attempts weren’t failures at all because they all led to some awesome discoveries and accomplishments.

Benjamin Franklin was not any better than you or me. He was a human being that called Earth his home. He had parents, ate, slept, walked, ran, played, worked, married, had a family, was fired from jobs and got sick just like us. Benjamin Franklin did not give up and quit. He never thought it was too late.

It isn’t too late.

It isn’t ever too late.

Don’t let other people or your own insecurities lock you into a box of “It’s too late” thoughts.

You CAN be the person in your dreams, so wake up, grab life and run with it.

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