Since, in Canada, yesterday was Thanksgiving, I thought I might write about those things for which I am grateful. I do that so often, and Facebook, Instagram etc. have many a post to remind us how blessed we are. So I am going a different route.
I have recently been communicating with a friend from high school. We have both started a direction in our working lives and we are both loving it. We are both 50 years old.
I have heard many people my age, younger and older say: "It's too late...." They want to go back to school; they want to start a new hobby; or they want to travel. This statement makes no sense to me. There are many reasons that any of this may not be possible today: finances, health, or availability of resources. But too late is not one.
If you calculate how old you will be in the time to take on something new, and how old you will be if you chose not to do so, you will come up with the same answer. So what does too late really mean.
I can only speak for myself. It is fear; fear of success or fear of failure. Which one it is does not matter. What truly matters is what I do with this fear. I have often told my children and others, "It is ok to be afraid, but let the fear make the decision for you." Sometimes I am not very good at taking my own advice.
So I applied to Oxford Learning Centre in Bradford. (https://www.oxfordlearning.com/locations/tutor-bradford/) And to my surprise and delight, I was hired. I am now a teacher. I have been told since childhood that I would make a great teacher. I never believed it. I had excuses of course. I did not have the patience. It's too much responsibility. I could not imagine that it would be something at which I could be successful. But I am. And more importantly, I love it.
I was afraid when I applied that I would be laughed out of the interview; that just because I can speak French, does not make me a French teacher; and many other excuses. But none of this happened. As usual I was selling my short. I have had a habit of doing that most of my life. I can only say that now, I don't listen to that part of myself, as much. I have been blessed by those people in my life that encourage, support and help press mute to those thoughts.
Because of courage and unconditional support, I have written the novel I said I would. I have sent it to agents and publishers. I am teacher and feeling like I am making a difference in this world. Will that novel get published? Will one of my students mention me in their Nobel Prize acceptance speech? Will the minister of education commission a statue in my honour? Maybe. But none of that really matters. What matters is that I took a risk. I put myself out there. If I had not been hired, I would be no worse off. I would still be working on my novel and meeting new people at the Snack Shack at the Oro Medonte Arena. But because I did take the risk, I am better off. I am learning new things from other teachers and students every day. And this makes me a better person. Why would anyone want to pass up a chance to be a better person?
So, don't ever sell yourself short. You are on this Earth for a reason. Take those piano lessons, take that sky diving class, start that new business. You never know unless you try.
NEVER QUIT 5 MINUTES BEFORE THE MIRACLE IS GOING TO HAPPEN. Since, in Canada, yesterday was Thanksgiving, I thought I might write about those things for which I am grateful. I do that so often, and Facebook, Instagram etc. have many a post to remind us how blessed we are. So I am going a different route.
I have recently been communicating with a friend from high school. We have both started a direction in our working lives and we are both loving it. We are both 50 years old.
I have heard many people my age, younger and older say: "It's too late...." They want to go back to school; they want to start a new hobby; or they want to travel. This statement makes no sense to me. There are many reasons that any of this may not be possible today: finances, health, or availability of resources. But too late is not one.
If you calculate how old you will be in the time to take on something new, and how old you will be if you chose not to do so, you will come up with the same answer. So what does too late really mean.
I can only speak for myself. It is fear; fear of success or fear of failure. Which one it is does not matter. What truly matters is what I do with this fear. I have often told my children and others, "It is ok to be afraid, but let the fear make the decision for you." Sometimes I am not very good at taking my own advice.
So I applied to Oxford Learning Centre in Bradford. (https://www.oxfordlearning.com/locations/tutor-bradford/) And to my surprise and delight, I was hired. I am now a teacher. I have been told since childhood that I would make a great teacher. I never believed it. I had excuses of course. I did not have the patience. It's too much responsibility. I could not imagine that it would be something at which I could be successful. But I am. And more importantly, I love it.
I was afraid when I applied that I would be laughed out of the interview; that just because I can speak French, does not make me a French teacher; and many other excuses. But none of this happened. As usual I was selling my short. I have had a habit of doing that most of my life. I can only say that now, I don't listen to that part of myself, as much. I have been blessed by those people in my life that encourage, support and help press mute to those thoughts.
Because of courage and unconditional support, I have written the novel I said I would. I have sent it to agents and publishers. I am teacher and feeling like I am making a difference in this world. Will that novel get published? Will one of my students mention me in their Nobel Prize acceptance speech? Will the minister of education commission a statue in my honour? Maybe. But none of that really matters. What matters is that I took a risk. I put myself out there. If I had not been hired, I would be no worse off. I would still be working on my novel and meeting new people at the Snack Shack at the Oro Medonte Arena. But because I did take the risk, I am better off. I am learning new things from other teachers and students every day. And this makes me a better person. Why would anyone want to pass up a chance to be a better person?
So, don't ever sell yourself short. You are on this Earth for a reason. Take those piano lessons, take that sky diving class, start that new business. You never know unless you try.
NEVER QUIT 5 MINUTES BEFORE THE MIRACLE IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
