As 30 steadily approaches (I will be 27 in July), I always think two things:
"How did that happen so fast?"
and
"I am not ready for 30!"
A couple of years ago, I found a life timeline I had made for myself when I was a freshman in high school. Here is how it went:
20 years old: Get married
20-23 years old: Work in corporate design firm
23 years old: Have first child
24 years old: Start own design firm; buy dream house on the beach
Oh, 14 year old Elizabeth was apparently a big dreamer and thought 24 was pretty old since my life goals ended there! I am glad a few of these goals haven't come into fruition yet (I think if I had gotten married and had babies when I was 23 years old I would be going through a quarter-life crisis right about now). Although, living on the beach doesn't sound too bad... I think 22 year old Elizabeth was a lot more sensible when I graduated college and went on to find work in a field I was not thrilled with (retail/buying) because I thought that I no longer was able to make a new timeline. Bad economy + looming student loans + interior design degree = you take what you can get.
However, now that I am a bit older and (hopefully) wiser, I realize that it doesn't matter how old you are or what kind of situation you are in, it is never too late. Take it from wise mister C.S. Lewis: "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
Maybe you have had this dream ever since you can remember, but life threw you a few curve balls and you never got to follow through with said dream. Or maybe you went to school and got a job in the career path you thought you always wanted, but now five years into your awesome corporate job, you hate it. Doesn't matter. It's never too late.
Will it be easy? Probably not. You will have to take risks, usually financially, and work really hard. But, if it is something you dream about doing, I can't find a reason why all of that stress and hard work wouldn't be worth it.
Still not buying? How about an example. :)
Exhibit A. Harriette Thomson - 91 year old marathon runner
Adorable little Harriette has not been a runner her whole life. In fact, she didn't start her running career until the spry young age of 76. Even with many health issues, Mrs. Thompson has powered through and raised over $90,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (a group close to her heart as her brother died of lymphoma). From Harriette: “You’re never too old to do it,” she said. “I started my first marathon at 76.”
So whether you are itching to make a career change, pack up and move to a different country, or just pick up a hobby you don't think you will be good at, don't think you are too old to try something new. Go ahead and become a professional beekeeper, or move to Thailand, or start training for the Badminton Olympics. It will never happen until you start. And let's face it, you're not getting any younger. ;)