It's Never Too Late

Have you heard about the woman who climbed El Capitan to celebrate her 70th birthday?

Or the friends who traveled from Antarctica to the Grand Canyon at 81 years old? 

Or the opera singer who ditched the city to become a farmer?

These stories and so many more are featured in the NY Times series “It’s Never Too Late” which spotlights people who chased their dreams on their own terms. 

These courageous people all challenged expectations and changed their lives. None these changes happened overnight.  Each took time, thought, support and discipline.

Deidre Wolownick is the mother of the famous rock climber Alex Honnold, the star of the 2018 Oscar-winning documentary “Free Solo.” The first half of her life was mostly cerebral and sedentary. At about the age of 60, in an effort to get  closer to her son, she went with him to the climbing gym. To her surprise, she really liked it.

“I was just a lumpy old middle age woman completely taken with jobs and chores. I was scared, too, and sometimes you need a little help to do something totally new and alien to you. But [finally] I had had enough conversations with myself and so I said, OK, today, you’re not going home after work. You’re going to go straight to the climbing gym. And I did. It became a routine. Climbing was like a key opening this lifelong door. It was wonderful.”

Emily Hambly, 81 and Sandra Hazelip, 82 had a similar epiphany.  Ms. Hamby has been inspired to travel since she was a young child. She  grew up on a farm in Oklahoma, in a very rural area, and never really went anywhere. But she was constantly reading about women explorers like Amelia Earhart or books by authors like Pearl S. Buck.

Fast forward 60 years when Ms. Hamby met Dr. Hazelit, after both their husbands had died. They became fast friends and soon realized they shared a desire to see the world. They decided to create a project: “Around the World in 80 Days: At 81 and Still on the Run”. A friend helped them set up accounts on Instagram and TikTok, and soon thousands of followers were along for the ride.

Their advice for wannabe adventurers:

“Get up out of your easy chair. Step out of your comfort zone. Make some plans and live. Age is only a number. If you think you want to try something, don’t be afraid to step out. Do it. Because you’re going to regret if you don’t, and you will never regret if you do.”

And the opera singer turned farmer who now sings arias to cattle and corn?

Martha Prewitt had performed as an opera singer for 15 years. Her family had owned a farm since around 1780. Her dad was a farmer from when he could walk. She wanted the farm to stay in the family, but she never thought that it was something she could do.

“Farming never seemed right for me, partly because I just didn’t think I could do it. After [my dad] passed away in June 2020, I was living at home again to be with my mom, and this little worm started to work its way through my brain: ‘Women can be farmers, too. Maybe you’re not strong now, but maybe throwing hay bales around will make you strong.’ I started thinking… why not take it on? Why not me?”.

I love stories about transformation. I love learning about people who decide to take the leap in spite of… their age, their abilities, their fears.

These brave pioneers prove to us that change is not only possible but is a sure-fire recipe for happiness and renewal.

Registration is open for my 2024 year-long program- Chart Your Career For A Year.  I am gathering a group of daring souls who want to make life and career changes, both large and small; people who are tired of just dreaming and are ready to move forward with their lives.

When we are looking to do something way out of our comfort zone, we need help to stay on track and overcome the doubts that hold us back. More than answers and information, we need support and guidance to go deeper and enact change. Everyone needs someone to ask critical questions, help find answers, and hold their dream when it gets lost. There is nothing like having an accountability partner when you are trying to change the how and why and where of your life. It is so hard to do this work alone.

Here is a description of the program. If this year-long adventure whispers to you, even just a little, sign up for a free call and we can talk more. We start in mid-January.

On this eve of a new year, dare to dream  

Ask yourself: Why not me?

You never know what life has in store until you decide to find out.

Make 2024 the year you leap.

I would love to be by your side.

Sending love,