It’s Never Too Late

“I wish I had…”. You can fill in the blank.  We have all uttered these words at least once, if not more often.  Like me, perhaps there is a hobby you wanted to try.  Or perhaps there’s a relationship you hoped to repair, but never got around to or couldn’t find the right words.  Maybe you just wanted to travel to a bucket-list site and never took the trip.

So let’s try something together.  On three, I want you to take in a nice deep breath.  One, two, three, breathe in!  Hold it there, and now, slowly release it, through your nostrils, over a count of ten.  Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, and one.  Are you still with me?  Still taking in other breaths?  Great!  That means, it isn’t too late!!!  You are here, you are breathing, and you have a desire to do something, make a change, go somewhere, or otherwise fulfill that need that you still hold near your heart.

I recently learned that a friend is finishing his bachelor’s degree at 50+ years old.  He had started school as a young adult, with little incentive.  Once he found a job he enjoyed, he stuck with that for the past three decades, raised a family, and then decided that he still wanted that degree.  So, he went for it!  I was so excited to hear that he had embraced this bucket list wish.  I think he is sending all of us a great message.  It’s never too late!  As long as we are alive, we have the chance, the opportunity, to make our own dreams come true.  It may be challenging in many ways - time and finances spring to mind - but the rewards of saying “I did…” instead of “I wish I had…” are immense.  

So think about your bucket list.  Choose one of the items on there, create a plan, and go for it!  Don’t let fear or uncertainty hinder you.  You are breathing, right?  You are still here and you are being offered a choice:  Live life to the fullest or live with regret whispering  “If I had only...?”  

I know which I choose…