Friday, June 20, 2014

My Name is Paige and I Am a Late Bloomer

I just found the most wonderful, thought-provoking quote,"late bloomers can risk so much more because at this point no one really expects anything spectacular from them any longer".  I don't want to be too dramatic but doesn't that sound freeing?  Just think about it...if you decide to write a novel Right Now and it's never published; who cares?  Wouldn't it be great to know you wrote a novel??? If you are finally learning how to cook chicken (sorry Thumbelina) that's not dry; good for you!! And if you haven't actually been to Florence yet at least you can buy some beautiful sunflowers at the market. (And possibly  even use them as a setting for a wonderful watercolor painting ! ) It's like finally realizing that maybe our big dreams won't be actually happening NOW , but we can certainly continue to "bloom " even if it's 30 years late.  

What does that actually mean?  30 years ago I just knew I would be living a fabulous life somewhere in Europe, living in an abandoned castle with a would-be prince while watching our vineyard produce award-winning wines...(can you feel it?). Sidelined by a degree in Elementary Education , a 24 year marriage , 2 grown kids ( with jobs!) , 19 years of teaching, and other wonderful occasions ; I have yet to set foot in Europe.  So am I to believe that my dreams haven't yet to come true?  What if I now decide to take up tennis? I don't need to assume that I will be at Wimbelton to learn the game.  But it would be great to spend an afternoon with friends yelling " love-30"!   What if I decide to create a farm community so that local children can get their hands dirty while learning about Mother Nature and her resources?  I'm 48.  Is it too late to have dreams?

What I continue to find on my journey to "Authenticity" is that if the dream didn't happen it wasn't supposed to.....yet.  I know that I have never quite been ready to fly over the ocean...sea monsters and all...but I will get there.  I also know that the prince and the castle are right here with me not over there.  And I also know that I don't know anything about growing grapes but I can grow pumpkins, zucchini, and jalapeƱos and I'm also really good with kids and animals.

Late Bloomers! Let's dream!! Let's dream big! And when we do something spectacular ( which we will) let's celebrate with Authenticity.  

Our Dreams are waiting!  My name is Paige and being a Late Bloomer might be the best thing that ever happened to me!!!

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