From the time I was a child it had been clear to me that I would be a late bloomer. For as long as I can remember, I always made a point of saving the best for last—from eating dessert to losing my virginity. Over the years, nothing changed. I married in my early thirties, delivered my second child in my forties, and was divorced by the time I hit sixty.

So it seemed oh-so natural that I would start my intended career at a time when most others are tossing theirs aside in favor of a golf club, a fitness club, or a book club.  

After all those years of marriage and no money saved for the rainy day that actually came, I was faced with a crucial decision—either spend the rest of my life working in a shopping mall selling over-priced women’s wear, or find a way to follow my long-postponed dream of freelance writing.

I knew too well that the odds were against me for starting a new career from ground zero. Who would hire a writer with almost no credits at this stage of her life? I also knew I had to make an effort or I would never forgive myself, so, on a whim I joined a writers group and inhaled a lot of information relative to the profession. To my surprise, somehow—as if by magic—I applied a small fraction of what I had learned and it managed to bring me a first client, and then a second—until, in a matter of a year or so—I was actually supporting myself doing the thing I most loved to do.

On the one hand, it’s gratifying to know that I am finally fulfilling my professional goals, but it’s equally satisfying that I have gained the admiration of friends and family who regard me as a success story rather than a divorce statistic.  

If my story resonates with you, and you find yourself penniless and plan-less at this relatively late stage of your life, be grateful for the opportunity to grow and nurture that dream inside of you that has never seen the light of day. It is time, way past time, to drop your guard, count your blessings, and take on the universe. What have you got to lose? You can always get a job at Wal-Mart. In fact, at first, it may be necessary to do both.