It’s Never Too Late

As I jumped on a coaching call last week, I was feeling a bit down. I’d been off work for two days (my weekend) and had to return to work that night. And of course, because of some things that had occurred in the office the previous week, I was anything but excited to return. My body, too, showed signs of that with an upset stomach, headache, and the pain beginning to manifest in my right arm (the latter recently only occurs at work). Listening to the others on the call share their challenges, it was a great opportunity to remind myself that it’s never too late…

Make Each Day Count

It’s never too late…to begin. Maybe, if you’re like me, you’ve been putting off a task or tasks that you don’t find appealing. I’ve been struggling to focus on my book marketing and promotion because, as I explained during the coaching call, working on my novel-in-progress is more fun. Or maybe it’s been hard for you, like it has been for me, to make those smarter food choices. (In the span of a 24-hour period last week I ate two family size Dairy Milk bars!).

I am trying to give myself grace to try again, and do better, when things do not go as planned. Or, more aptly, when I don’t make the choices I know are in my best interest. We are, of course, our worst critic. Sometimes in life, as we attempt to change ourselves and our lives, we slip up. We falter. We can’t seem to let go of that bad habit holding us back. But then I think about Alan Watts and his advice: “You are under no obligation to be the same person you were five minutes ago.”

It’s Never Too Late

I know that I am where I am because of the choices I make. Some are good, some are not. But every day I have the chance to try again. If my Amazon book ad didn’t get the clickthrough rate I hoped for, I can tweak it and try again. Maybe I cut the run short because everything—my legs, breathing, energy—felt heavy. I can, on my next run, try to push a little harder and a little longer. Yes, I couldn’t stop myself from devouring those Reese’s Pieces peanut butter cups. Next time I know not to put them in the shopping cart.

Whatever the level of ambition, whatever the level of risk, there must always be the discipline to overcome the failures and see the result, to keep trying until.¹

Change is not easy. But it is never too late to try again. We are the only ones stopping us from becoming who we know we can become. If we fail, if we falter, let us give us the grace to acknowledge it and then, have the humility to try again one more time.

And I just want to remind you today that you are loved, you are worthy, and you matter. And, best of all, you do not need anyone’s permission to be—unapologetically—who you are.

1. Rohn, J. (2022). The Power of Ambition: Awakening the Powerful Force Within You, Shippensburg, Nightingale-Conant-Corporation., p. 187. [↩]