@Alouise. As much of a reminder for myself, too. Just because I write something here, doens’t mean I’ve mastered how to move forward even with doubt and insecurity. And fwiw, when I taught, I found the best students were those who had gone out, done something and then returned. They knew more about life and could then appreciate school more.

@heather So glad you saw that. I love this poem. I wasn’t sure how many people read it anymore, but it is a great one.

@Dorothy You are inspiring! Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

@Sophie So true! Noah wants to eventually go to medical school. We hear similar things as your brother heard. Why is that a first reaction for so many people? Why is the fear of doing something so much greater than the fear of not doing it?

@ST3 Yes, our limitations are that which we create for ourselves. Nick Vujicic and Zach both chose not to allow physical limitations that would stymie most to stop them or change their potential.

I didn’t know about your brother. I’m sorry to hear it. What a wonderful attitude you have to see and celebrate his life in such a way.

@Morgan Good for you! And thanks. I’m glad you enjoyed the article.

When you leave yourself open to opportunity and not make excuses like “too late” or one of hte hundreds of other things you could say, you’ll always find your place.

Bravo for your courage. I went to grad school with many men and women in their 50′s. They decided to do something different about their lives or want a second career in doing something noble. Very refreshing and encouraging to have witnessed. I did not understand at the time as many were previously in fields like accounting, marketing, or the likes and they decided to go back to school to obtain a Master degree in Social Work.

It’s never too late. Be proud! cheers!

Thank you for bringing in the real life examples of people out there who are defying the norm and doing these things they really want to do despite age/circumstance.

This year I’ve entered my 30s…and suddenly it’s like “holy moly! am I on the path I need to be on in order to do all the things I want to do?”

A few things on my list:

Ride in a hot air balloon
Live with my family in a foreign country for an extended period of time
Travel the world with my family for a year straight
See the aurora borealis
Swim with dolphins (yes,this is cheesy, but I can’t deny I want to do it!)
Write a book

and

Become a Professional TRAVEL Photograher (yes, I’m checking out the Matador program!

Who would think an ordinary family, a middle aged, chubby mom who chose to have a late baby, could travel the world on an open ended world tour, living large on a tiny budget? We’re monolinguals raising a fluent bilingual/bilterate child. There were all kinds of reasons NOT to do it, but we are really glad that we took that leap of faith in 2006. It’s been very expansive for us, our readers and even my 82 year old mother who had to become an expert on webcam calls and a computer that she had never even tried before.

I’ve always been one to follow my dreams, even when they looked impossible & by going after them, I have been rewarded and greatly strengthened. I’ve spent a lifetime and doing things that many said were ” impossible” and I hope to continue that to my dying day. My brother died at 40, but we all take comfort in knowing that he lived more life in those 40 years than most live in several lifetimes.

I ran a 26.2 marathon without ANY training on a whim when I was 36 and over weight, I helped a deaf young man find his birth parents when experts all said it was impossible and before the internet, I waited to have my child until my mid-forties. Even as a little girl, I invented a new way to ride a full sized boys bike because I didn’t like limitations.

“The world is moving so fast these days that the man who says it can’t be done is generally interrupted by someone doing it. ” ~Elbert Hubbard

Always dream big and go for it!

At 44, my brother sold everything, quit his well-paying (but not that inspirational) job and went abroad to go to medical school for 6 years. Sometimes he’ll hear: ‘but you’ll be 50 when you finish!’ As if that in itself is an argument against! He’ll be 50 anyway – whether just out of med school or in old boring job.

“For I have known them all already, known them all:—
Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons,
I have measured out my life with coffee spoons;”

It always reminded me that I needed to get started on the changes I wanted. In two months I am starting on a new adventure, and in making the commitment to do so I had to overcome worries about risk and failure and challenge my own ideas on what I’m capable of, but I knew that I needed to make a change. The only time you have guaranteed is the now, don’t waste it.