It’s never too late to set a new goal, dream a new dream or rediscover a passion.

A few years ago, before my coaching days, a friend gifted me a book called ‘Creative Living Beyond Fear’ by Liz Gilbert and within the pages, she shared a particular story that stuck in my mind.

She introduces us to Winifred, a 90 year old widow living in New York, and describes her as the most vividly alive woman she had ever met. When Winifred was asked about what kept her feeling so curious and active, it turned out that ten years previously, she began studying a subject that had always interested her: the ancient history of Mesopotamia. And following that passion changed her life.

She spent ten years reading everything she could find, watching documentaries, went to museum exhibits or lectures and made the point of talking to experts in the field when she did. She even volunteered to go on a couple of archaeological digs. As a result, Winifred was now sought out by others because by immersing herself in her passion, she herself had become an authority.

Read that again. At age 80, Winifred had decided she had waited long enough and threw herself into something completely different that she had always wanted to do. In her words, “It has totally changed my life”.

I love this story so much and every time a friend, family member or coaching client says the words ‘it’s too late’, I’m reminded of Winifred.

Now, most of the people who read my blogs or posts or come to me for coaching are not 80. They’re not retired yet. They are usually juggling a multitude of responsibilities at home and work and cannot see the wood for the trees.

I do the same. As much as I love self-employment and it brings me great joy, it also brings uncertainty, many challenges and it would be so easy every day to say to myself...

“I’ll just do another couple of hours.”

But when I do that, it means saying no to doing something else. And sometimes that is OK. Sometimes I need to do some extra training preparation or admin. But honestly? Often, if I’m doing extra, it’s because I think I ‘should’ as opposed to what I actually need to do.

What I really need when I’m busy is to switch my brain and body up into a different space so I can restore the mental and physical energy I need to be the best coach/facilitator/trainer or wife/friend/sister I can be.

Yet when you’re busy, doing something that is good for you, is often the first thing to go and before you know it, all you are doing is working, chores and sleeping!

That was my old way of doing things. These days, I try and be more like Winifred.

I love my working life but for it to continue to be as fulfilling as it is, I also need other outlets. Those who know me won’t be surprised to know my passion is literature and writing – not about work but about travel and fiction.

So, I protect time to do this. I don’t just write. I learn about writing. I attend online webinars and literature courses at the local college. I go to literature events and the festival here in Jersey but also in the UK. I spent an amazing couple of days at the Capital Crime festival in London recently, completely ‘fangirling out’ listening to some of my favourite authors. And I talk to other writers.

This passion is only a couple of years old for me but as I’ve just entered another personal decade (!) it would have been easy to worry about it being too late to take this up. Instead, I’m excited about the possibilities. I’m excited about immersing myself in a community of people with the same interests.

I’ve got a very good friend who is passionate about animal welfare. After decades of working hard and caring for others, she has now given herself permission to spend time herself on her own passion – carving out time to volunteer at an animal sanctuary. She still works hard and cares for others but now she’s also feeding her own soul.

I could give countless examples of the many ‘Winifred’s’ I know, who have not listened to the voice inside that says, ‘Is it too late?’ to do this and have immersed themselves in something that brings them joy or feeds their soul.

So, the next time you catch yourself wondering if you could do X but you follow this up with a thought along the lines of ‘but it’s too late’ or ‘I’m too old’ or ‘I don’t have time’, remember:

 “You are never too old to learn more than you already know and to become able to do more than you already can.”

― Isaac Asimov

And if you’re really wanting to make that change but cannot see how you can prioritise the time, then you know where I am for a discussion!

Here’s to us all being more Winifred.