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You Are Never to Old

· transition,coaching,burnout

At 22 I attended a course in Social Psychology during my Erasmus exchange programme in Barcelona — during this semester abroad we were allowed to pick a course from another faculty (I was primarily doing an International Business degree). This course inspired me more than any of the others I had taken in the past few years. I was fascinated, speechless, and couldn’t believe that studying and reading could actually be this energising and wanted more. I read every book on the topic I could get my hands on. Even the ones in Spanish with a huge dictionary at hand. I had found the field of work that lights me up: the origins of human behaviour, the psychological state and social interactions and how they influence the individual.

Alas, at the time I thought: “Well, I can’t change direction now, I’m nearly 23, I’ve nearly finished my Masters and I now have to go out and get a job. It’s too late to change my mind”. 23, seriously!! My curiosity was literally shouting at me for more and I decided to ignore it as it seemed crazy to take a whole new degree in a completely different field of work ‘at that age’. So what did I do? I went out and got a job . It still surprises me today that this is the way I thought, and I know I’m not the only one.

It took me nearly 15 years in the world of advertising working for corporate clients before I had the courage to seriously start listening to my heart and follow my curiosity and realise that I do actually have a choice and doesn’t just have to remain a hobby and a dream. Step by step and through a period of transition, following my curiosity has led me to combine my love of coaching & running retreats in nature and unique spaces. Supporting others to reconnect with their hearts and follow their inner compass. It was the best decision ever! And all the knowledge and experience I aqcuired over the past 15 years in marketing and managing large projects has definitely been very beneficial for building my coaching business. So, no regrets whatsoever!

YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD!!

At age 23, Tina Fey was working at a YMCA.

At age 23, Oprah was fired from her first reporting job.

At age 24, Stephen King was working as a janitor and living in a trailer.

At age 27, Vincent Van Gogh failed as a missionary and decided to go to art school.

At age 28, J.K. Rowling was a suicidal single parent living on welfare.

At age 28, Wayne Coyne (from The Flaming Lips) was a fry cook.

At age 30, Harrison Ford was a carpenter.

At age 30, Martha Stewart was a stockbroker.

At age 37, Ang Lee was a stay-at-home-dad working odd jobs.

Julia Child released her first cookbook at age 39, and got her own cooking show at age 51.

Vera Wang failed to make the Olympic figure skating team, didn’t get the Editor-in-Chief position at Vogue, and designed her first dress at age 40.

Stan Lee didn’t release his first big comic book until he was 40.

Alan Rickman gave up his graphic design career to pursue acting at age 42.

Samuel L. Jackson didn’t get his first movie role until he was 46.

Morgan Freeman landed his first major movie role at age 52.

Kathryn Bigelow only reached international success when she made The Hurt Locker at age 57.

Louise L. Hay founded Hay House Publishing at 58.

Grandma Moses didn’t begin her painting career until age 76.

Louise Bourgeois didn’t become a famous artist until she was 78.

Whatever your dream is, it is never too late to achieve it.

You aren’t a failure because you haven’t found fame and fortune by the age of 21. It’s not even about fame and fortune, but about what makes you happy and allows you to live comfortably. It’s okay if you don’t even know what your dream is yet. Whatever you are doing today, you never know where you’ll end up tomorrow.

Never tell yourself you’re too old to make it.
Never tell yourself you missed your chance.
Never tell yourself that you aren’t good enough.
You can do it. Whatever it is.

Never give up. Never stop dreaming. Listen to your heart and follow your curiosity, always.

Each of us are on our own unique journey

I’d love to hear about your curiosities, dreams and journeys

What’s your dream?

What are you curious about?

How would you be living your life if you were not afraid?

What would liberate you?

What would need to shift in you for that liberation?

And always remember — you are enough x