You're Never Too Old to Make New Tracks

PebbyTracks_7301, originally uploaded by carolsLittleWorld.

A lot of artists come to art latter on in life. There’s this common fear out there that people have started “doing” art too late in life. That, because they were not born paintbrush (or camera) in hand, that they will never really “make it” in the art work.

I say, forget that. Get over it! Everybody has their own path through life. Yes, it would be great if we were all to pop right out of the womb and know exactly what we were going to be when we grew up, in fact, I’d go so far as to say we should start feeding pregnant women old paintbrushes to, you know, to make sure the kids come out born with the proper supplies and all. I mean, you would not want little Johnny or Janie painting with the wrong brush until the ripe old age of two years old now, would you? Poor kid will be a has-been before getting out of diapers!

Of course, I’m kidding about that last bit but only partially so. There are cultures out there where you can’t get into a good college if you don’t get into a good high school and then you can’t get into a good high school unless you get into a good grade school and then, before you know it, kids are fighting in diapers for a basic education and the toddler with the most brains wins. Is that really how we want to live our lives? Don’t people grow? Isn’t the entire idea of maturity to, well, to mature?

No, I say you’re never too old to make new tracks. It’s never too late to start and everybody has an artist inside. There’s always been an artist in there, yes, and it’s never too late to listen to that calling, to hear the words of the creative spirit break free. It doesn’t matter if you’re six or eighty six, there is an artist inside each and every one of us, a little “voice” that tells us we can try new things, put on a new hat, go for an adventure, paint our masterpiece. The only difference between some artists and others is that, well, some actually *listen* to that little voice. Some act upon it. Some get to do *that* while others maybe only dream and wonder “what if?”

Many people find themselves asking the question, “what’s the worst that can happen?” but, sometimes, they forget the opposite of that question. “What’s the best that can happen?” If I try something new, “what’s the best that can happen?” If I start to paint when I’m sixty five, “what’s the best that can happen?” If I finally get a good camera and take that trip to Paris I’ve always wanted to take, “what’s the best that can happen?” Maybe you’ve got hidden talents and, even if you don’t, trying something new often gives you new appreciation for what it is you do well. There’s really no harm in trying, in experimenting, in asking these sorts of questions at any stage of our lives. And, who knows? You just might find you’re good at something new and have all kinds of new talents to appreciate now that you’re more mature and more able to focus on developing them.

It doesn’t matter how old you are, the best might be waiting out there, just for you. You’re never too old to make new tracks.

Until next time…