It's Never Too Late

"I believe that every person is born with talent"  Maya Angelo

Have you ever thought that if you had your life to live over again you would like to pursue a talent that you think you might have now, if only you had nurtured it when you were young?  Remember the piano lessons you quit taking because you wouldn't put in the practice, the band you almost joined, the tea house you never went to sing at because you were just too afraid, the drama club that gave you such joy in high school but never materialized in college, the book you were one day going to write but just couldn't get started, the dance class you loved but dropped out because it was too much money, the fashion design school that never got off the starting line, the chef school that just seemed like a dream and out of your league, the art career that you one day wanted to pursue but decided it was a silly idea?  And now, years later, we feel like it's just too late to take action, and the time for discovery of our inner talent or creativity has passed us by.  Worse yet, some of us don't think we have any inner talent or creative ability to discover.

I am so blessed to have a role model in my life that is a living example of how exploring and developing our talents is not dependent on age, but rather on motivation and desire, and most importantly...the guts to just do it.

To celebrate her turning 50, my sister Kathy set out on a solo trip to Europe.  She traveled for a year in several countries including Spain, France and England.  She kept a journal and wrote about her adventures and penciled in some drawings of some of the sites she saw.  (who knew she could draw?) When she left the United States she didn't know she was going on a life changing journey.  But when she returned,  it was as if a seed that had always been there took root, and she came back with a desire to explore her creative talents. Kathy found herself discovering the world of art. 

After several years of classes at the local community college and university, along with a number of painting workshops Kathy emerged a bonifide artist. She refers to herself as a 'late comer' on her blog and continues to explore her gifts and talents.  Kathy has been a featured artist in many of Flagstaff, Arizona's events. She has been selected several times as a juried artists showing her work in Sedona's finest Art Museums and recently been a featured artist in Scottsdale's prestigious 5th Avenue art shops. Kathy's phenomenal expressions of the world around her not only decorate the walls of my and my childrens' homes, but they also hang in a myriad of art galleries.

This week I'd like to guide you to my sister Kathy's website. www.kathrynwillisart.com

The reason I share this with you is not only am I very proud of my sister, but I am inspired by her.  It's living evidence to me that our lives are not to just be lived and nurtured when we are young, but unwrapped gifts still lie within us.  If only we have the guts to loosen the bows, peek at what's inside and decide that it's not to late to take action.  We can still discover the many gifts that the Lord has blessed us with. 

So what is the talent that you have left hiding under a rock, or that creative child you have allowed to whither away from neglect?  You know, it's never too late.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.  Post on the blog or email me at: smallsteps4bigresults@yahoo.com