Here is a short biography on Paula Deen from About.com
Ms. Deen is a southern restauranteur and cooking show host. She is flamboyant, gorgeous, rich and all together lovely. She is also a perfect example of one who bloomed lately. She overcame debilitating illness, divorce, single parenthood and potential poverty- all after 40 years old. As I like to say, sometimes it takes a minute for everything to click and fall into place in life. I believe that many of us who bloom at or near mid-life tend to shine brightest. We know what we want and don't have time to waste on distractions. Ms. Deen focused on a couple of things- feeding her boys and cooking. Having lived a little life first helped, I'm certain, in doing that.
Additionally, I like to focus on successful people who changed paths mid-life for reason a reason other than the obvious. These folks, these famous, popular and influential folks were once exactly where I am now. At some point Paula Deen was sitting on her bed saying to herself, "Things can't go on like this. I don't know what to do next but I have to do something differently.". Then, by hook or crook, bam!, she's eventually THE Paula Deen. Her story and that of others reminds me that anything is possible at any time in life.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Death doesn't begin at forty
I just realized that I had been looking at this thing all wrong. In my feeble little mind I kept thing, " I'm just 50 years from death, I'm just 45 years from death, I'm just 40 years from death . . .(much like that scary story kids tell each other about the killer coming to get you on the stairs step by step). Even though I heard the words that "life begins at forty" and I thought I comprehended it, apparently I didn't. My mind said, "oh yeah, old age begins at forty so I might as well get my denture cream and start enjoying those AARP discounts now." I saw it as something the elderly tell themselves to feel better. But not so.
Things can really get cooking for a person right about that time. You've gotten your major mistakes out of the way, including that "starter marriage" ( or starter house, meh, whichever). If nothing else, you know exactly what you don't want. You've likely accumulated some "stuff" so that's one less tchotchke purchase you have to add to your budget. Many of us have gotten the baby diapering out of the way. Those of us who haven't yet should have, at least, gotten the self- centeredness out of the way long enough to deal properly with said diapering. If we haven't accumulated any money at least now we have a working idea of how to do so. The benefits of living in a first world society ( I will reference that often because it is an integral part of being able to bloom lately) are almost innumerable for the go-getting middle-ager. I plan to take advantage.
Things can really get cooking for a person right about that time. You've gotten your major mistakes out of the way, including that "starter marriage" ( or starter house, meh, whichever). If nothing else, you know exactly what you don't want. You've likely accumulated some "stuff" so that's one less tchotchke purchase you have to add to your budget. Many of us have gotten the baby diapering out of the way. Those of us who haven't yet should have, at least, gotten the self- centeredness out of the way long enough to deal properly with said diapering. If we haven't accumulated any money at least now we have a working idea of how to do so. The benefits of living in a first world society ( I will reference that often because it is an integral part of being able to bloom lately) are almost innumerable for the go-getting middle-ager. I plan to take advantage.
Have you bloomed lately?
First things first: I am not talking about daisies nor geraniums nor whichever flower that is expected to be blooming at this time of year, yet, for whatever reason, is not blooming for you. So if you are a budding home horticulturalist I am truly sorry. No. I am talking about YOU. Are you a late bloomer as I am? Has it taken you a while to get warmed up? If so, you have come to the right place.
Now, it is quite possible that no one but a privileged few family and friends will read this blog. That's okay. I may end up only talking to myself and that's fine as well. My mission in establishing this blog is to remind and encourage myself, if no one else, that life may, indeed for some, begin at 35 or 49 or 62 or whenever. We are fortunate enough to live in a "first world" country whereby just getting enough to eat is not a concern for MOST of us and where the luxury of taking time to "finding oneself" is possible at any age. For me and, perhaps, for you as well, that age is now.
I will share inspirational stories of people who are admired by many and who began their journey to greatness relatively late in life. I will also share information about regular everyday folks who just decided that that "now" was the time to take their lives in a different direction without regard to their age. Additonally, I would like to gather information on careers and business opportunities that are favorable to people of any age.
Finally (maybe- it is my blog ,after all), I would love to explore the emotional and spiritual barriers to "blooming" at all, whether early or lately.
Now, it is quite possible that no one but a privileged few family and friends will read this blog. That's okay. I may end up only talking to myself and that's fine as well. My mission in establishing this blog is to remind and encourage myself, if no one else, that life may, indeed for some, begin at 35 or 49 or 62 or whenever. We are fortunate enough to live in a "first world" country whereby just getting enough to eat is not a concern for MOST of us and where the luxury of taking time to "finding oneself" is possible at any age. For me and, perhaps, for you as well, that age is now.
I will share inspirational stories of people who are admired by many and who began their journey to greatness relatively late in life. I will also share information about regular everyday folks who just decided that that "now" was the time to take their lives in a different direction without regard to their age. Additonally, I would like to gather information on careers and business opportunities that are favorable to people of any age.
Finally (maybe- it is my blog ,after all), I would love to explore the emotional and spiritual barriers to "blooming" at all, whether early or lately.
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