AGE
It’s such a ‘thing’.
People (and women in particular) seem to get really hung up on it.
In my work as a Transformational Life Coach, I see this frequently – particularly once a woman reaches her forties – it seems that age becomes a real barrier, and often provides the reason (or excuse) why she chooses NOT to pursue her dreams.
But why?
Who writes the rules?
Who says we can’t be fabulous beyond forty?
We have so much experience, so much wisdom, we are more intuitive and more confident in who we are and what we want from life… Surely this is the time that we should feel MOST fabulous. Do we still have to invest time and/or energy in worrying about what people think of us and our decisions?
In order to illustrate to you that AGE need NOT be a barrier, I wanted to share some milestone moments from my life and invite you to form your own opinion as to whether I was too old or too young to make the transitions described.
- I was 16 when I left school
- I was still 16 when I got my first job and started working in the scotch whisky industry.
Too old or too young?
- I was 19 when I left my family, my friends and my home in Glasgow and moved 420 miles away to Hampshire.
- 20 when I moved to London and started working at United Distillers.
Was I too old or too young?
- My marketing career began when I was around 22 or 23 – and I was appointed the role of Marketing Assistant on the world-famous Johnnie Walker brand.
- At 34, I made a career switch – from Marketing to Supply Chain
- At 39, I left my home in Glasgow once again and moved 11,000 miles away – to New Zealand
- I was also 39 when I first experienced a ‘silent disco’ (photo above) Haha! How old were you?
Those crazy kiwis introduced me to so many ‘firsts’ – they kept me young.
- At 40, I left New Zealand and relocated to Shanghai, China
I didn’t know anyone in China, I didn’t speak the language and I didn’t understand the culture.
So, was I too old or too young to make such a bold move?
- At 43, I took my first ever gap year and travelled the world.
Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Hong Kong, Singapore, Italy, New York to name but a few. For the majority of these trips, I travelled solo.
Was I too old or too young?
- At 45, I returned to work but left the drinks industry behind and started in a new industry – Hospitality/Cosmetics.
- At 47, I took my second ‘gap year/extended break’.
- At 48, I left behind my corporate career and started my own business. I invested in me and spent 12 months learning a new set of skills as a Transformational Life Coach.
Now please understand, the reason why I am sharing this list with you is not to ‘show-off’ or ‘blow my own trumpet’. I want you to see that whatever decision you make – someone is judging you. They might be judging you to be too old, too young, too fat, too thin, too loud, too timid… But the only thing that truly matters is what YOU believe. Please don’t let AGE be the reason why you choose not to pursue your dreams.
We women, waste half of our lives worrying about what other people think. But here’s the good news ladies; we can spend the second half not giving a toss and doing what makes OUR soul shine. Doing what WE love.
Through this journey of discovery that I have embraced in the last 2-3 years, I have learned that it doesn’t really matter what people think about me. What matters is what I think of myself. I invite you to the same realisation.
So, what’s on your list?
- Travelling solo at 43?
- Start a business at 48?
- Learn to tango in Buenos Aires at 51?
This one is on my list!
- Get super-fit at 70
No need to rush it!
- Learn a new language at any age
- Develop a new skill (photography/cooking/playing piano) at 55?
What is going to light you up? What is it that makes you feel most alive again, most like YOU?
Get planning now!
And if I can give you just one small piece of advice, I would say – don’t wait for SOMEDAY. There is no SOMEDAY in the calendar. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday – YES – but no SOMEDAY.
Do it now. Make it happen.
xxx Love and courage xxx
I would love to get to know you more, connect with me here.
