This isn't just another travel blog, nor is it another self-help site. There are plenty of those. Instead, this is a guide for those of you standing at the crossroads of careers or life choices, wondering if it’s too late to forge a new path. The first question you might ask is: Is it too late?
The answer is a resounding no. When I was a child, I had a neighbor—Mrs. P—who seemed eccentric, maybe even a little mad. But she was also inspiring in ways I didn’t fully understand until years later. More than forty years have passed, and I still remember her bursting into our kitchen one day, declaring, at the age of 70, that she was going to university to study archaeology. I had no idea what that was, so I asked my mother. "Studying fossils," she replied. “But isn’t Mrs. P a fossil?” I quipped, innocently repeating my parents’ private nickname for her. Mrs. P overheard, but instead of being offended, she chuckled, recognizing the humor in the moment.
Mrs P went on to complete her studies and even joined archaeological digs, unearthing local artifacts and history along the way. She generously shared her newfound knowledge with us, proudly showing off her fossil discoveries. In hindsight, I realize she may have been a lonely widow, but to me, she was a woman always in motion—always learning, always creating. Her life was an ever-unfolding adventure.
How many people do you still vividly remember from your childhood? Mrs. P left a lasting impression on me because she wasn’t afraid to live boldly, to chase new dreams, no matter how old she was. She embodied a lesson I’ve carried with me: life is about forward motion, about growth, no matter your age or circumstances.
Years passed, and we moved away, losing touch with Mrs. P, but her influence never faded. Even now, her story bubbles up when I think about where I am in life and what comes next. There was no shame or self-doubt in her when she proudly barged into our kitchen to announce her next adventure. To her, life wasn’t about settling—it was about embracing the unknown, no matter how unconventional.
So here I am, a "few" decades older, contemplating my own "next chapter." It’s funny how we use this phrase to euphemistically describe the next stage in our development, as if our lives are tidy, predictable stories unfolding chapter by chapter. But life isn’t always so neat.
And here’s another question I’ve been wrestling with: How much is too much? I’m not talking about the kind of wealth that people like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos accumulate. I’m talking about the richness of experiences, the endless opportunities, and the multitude of interests swirling around us in this hyper-connected world. It feels like we’re bombarded with possibilities—so many doors to open, so many roads to explore. But how do we choose? And when do we know we've chosen enough?
For me, wealth isn’t measured by dollars in the bank but by the richness of opportunity—the ability to pursue interests and passions that ignite something within you. Yet, even that can be overwhelming. There are days when it feels like I need to choose one thing and stick with it, to pour my energy into mastering a single craft. Then there are other days when I feel called to embrace a portfolio of interests, to explore as much as I can, even if it means being a “jack-of-all-trades.” Opinions on this are vast. Some experts say you should specialize in one thing to truly excel. Others argue that we should be multi-faceted, gathering skills and knowledge across different fields.
After much reflection, I’ve come to my own conclusion: do what feels right for you. Listen to your inner compass. We each have our own path, and it doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. My children affectionately call me "neurologically spicy"—a playful acknowledgment of my tendency to juggle many passions at once. I’m not someone who sticks to just one thing. As you can probably tell from this site, I’m an artist at heart, deeply immersed in the tactile, meditative process of printmaking. There’s something incredibly rewarding about seeing a print come to life under your hands, the physical manifestation of your creative vision. But I’m also a photographer. What an extraordinary privilege it is to capture the fleeting moments of wildlife and the breathtaking beauty of landscapes. Nature offers us these rare, intimate glimpses, and photography lets me preserve them, creating a visual narrative that speaks to something deeper. Every photo is a reminder of the intricate world around us, the wildness that still exists, and how lucky we are to witness it. And now, I’ve embarked on another adventure—writing. It feels like a natural extension of my love for observation, whether it’s observing the patterns in nature or the human experience. Writing allows me to blend everything I’ve learned, everything I’ve seen and felt, into stories that resonate. Currently, I’m collecting literary agent rejection letters—an inevitable part of any writer’s journey. But rejection doesn’t deter me. Watch this space, because I have no intention of giving up. The story continues. We’re never done learning, growing, or creating. That’s what Mrs. P taught me all those years ago. Life is a series of reinventions, of bold leaps into the unknown. Whether you’re 20 or 70, it’s never too late to start a new chapter, to learn something new, or to follow a passion that sets your soul on fire. The adventure never ends—unless we let it. So, I ask you: What’s next for you? How will you seize the richness of the opportunities before you, no matter how unconventional or unexpected they may be? #inspiration #timeisagift #laterisnow #nevertoolate #reinvention
Comments