Want to Start Something New? It’s NEVER Too Late. (This List Proves It)

How often do you tell yourself you want to start something new but it’s too late?

How often do you have the mindset that you’ll never accomplish your goals or make your dreams come true?

I’m pretty sure if you’re a human being, you can relate. Self-doubt is something we all experience.

My Personal Battle with Self-Doubt

I remember a time in my life when my self-doubt was at an all-time high. I was thirty years old and I got really sick. It took the doctors months to even diagnose me. My symptoms were debilitating, and for over a year, I thought, ok, maybe this is my new reality. Maybe I just need to give up on the dreams and plans I had and accept my illness.

Related: Learn more about my journey back to health.

But three years later, with a lot of soul searching, western medications, eastern modalities and a concerted effort to embrace a more healthy lifestyle, I got better.

When I was battling the worst of my symptoms I always told myself, if I can just feel normal again and exercise the way I used to, I promise I’ll run another marathon. Or, if my hair starts to grow back and my red, blotchy skin returns to a normal hue, I’ll put myself out there and start dating again. And, if I was able to jump back into the workforce, I would find a job that gave me a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Once I got better, many of these promises I made to myself went out the window. I gave myself a million excuses. I was too busy, or too stressed. But those aren’t really the reasons I didn’t move forward with some of my goals. In reality, I was scared and full of self-doubt. And there was a voice in my head that kept saying, “You’re too old to do start over or create something new.”

So for a while, I gave up. I let other people and outside forces dictate the course of my life.

But you know what? I finally got so fed up with living this way that I pushed myself to take action. I told the voice in my head to shut up. And now, even though I haven’t accomplished my goals yet, (because, girl, there are so many!), I am on the right path. And that means EVERYTHING to me.

I know your story is probably different than mine, but we all end up in the same place. We have dreams and goals, but we don’t move forward because our mindset is giving us a million excuses. And probably one of the most common ones we tell ourselves is the one I told myself: it’s too late.

Well, I’m here to tell you, no matter how old you are, it’s NEVER too late.

Some Motivation for You 

I’ve compiled a list of incredible accomplishments by people ALL over the age of FORTY. In fact, most of the people on this list were in their fifties or older.

This list is ample proof (take a look at #2 and #20 if you don’t believe me), that it is literally never too late to start working on your goals, pursuing your passions, and making your dreams come true.

Proof That Age is Just a Number

1. Maya Angelou published her first book, “I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing” at age 42.
2. Gladys Burrill ran a marathon at age 92. Let me repeat that. This woman ran a marathon at AGE 92!
3. John Glenn went to space at age 77.
4. Colonel Sanders (yes, there is a real Colonel Sanders!) started KFC at age 65.
5. At 75, cancer survivor Barbara Hillary became one of the oldest people, and the first black woman, to reach the North Pole.
6. Paul Cezanne had his first art exhibit at age 56.
7. Julia Child began her PBS cooking show at age 51.
8. Umberto Eco, a professor of semiotics, wrote his first novel, “The Name of the Rose” at age 48.
9. At 71, Katsusuke Yanagisawa, a retired Japanese school teacher, became the oldest person to climb Mount Everest.
10. At 72, Margaret Ringenberg flew around the world.
11. Pablo Picasso painted his masterpiece, “Guernica” at age 55.
12. Marc Chagall became the first living artist to be exhibited at the Louvre Museum at age 90.
13. Diana Nyad swam from Cuba to Florida at age 64.
14. At 94, comedian George Burns performed in Schenectady, NY, 63 years after his first performance there.
15. Sony chairman Akio Morita introduced the Sony Walkman at age 58, an idea no one seemed to like at the time.
16. At 62, J.R.R. Tolkien published the first volume of his fantasy series, “Lord of the Rings.”
17. Sir Francis Chichester sailed around the world alone in a 53-foot boat normally manned by a crew of six at age 52.
18. At 85, Theodor Mommsen became the oldest person to receive a Nobel Prize in Literature.
19. At 95, Nola Ochs became the oldest person to receive a college diploma.
20. Teiichi Igarashi climbed Mt. Fuji at age 99!

What’s Your Something New? When Will You Start?

The next time you start to tell yourself that it’s too late to start something new, please do yourself a favor and read this list.

Or better yet, read The Beautiful No, a book by Sheri Salata. For years, Sheri told amazing stories as the executive producer of Oprah Winfrey’s highly successful talk show. Now at fifty-six, she’s ready to rewrite her story, and she gives plenty of encouragement in this book for those of us who want to do the same.

Remember this…

The only timeline you are up against is your own.

Stop telling yourself it’s too late. Start telling yourself you’re right on time.

Stop selling yourself short and letting your self-doubt get in the way.

No matter what age you are, if you are alive, it’s never too late to start something new, accomplish your goals and amaze the world.

You got this!