I grew up with the adage, “the early bird gets the worm.” My family background stems from pride in accomplishments due more to applied diligence than natural talent. Plus quick instincts and social skills to add spice to the mix.

Honestly, when I caught myself mouthing the early bird mantra to my children I wanted to slap myself. The early bird didn’t do much for my performance level except make me feel guilty.

Unfortunately, the guilt perception plays havoc in all of our lives but especially with “kids” in their early 30s. The stressful pressure is more humongous than ever for them to be on a solid career path. Indeed, according to most American playbooks, by the time the bell hits 40, you are over the hill.

Another mantra I’d like to agree to disagree is, “bloom where you are planted.” Being an avid gardener, I love the life principle with the idea of deep, aged roots that garner wisdom and new, green, spring growth that represents change with energy and hope. However, I’d also like to extend the perennial notion that with that same life principle do include in the floral premise — late bloomers. Human wise, what is a late bloomer?

Wikipedia defines a late bloomer as a person whose talents or capabilities are not visible until later in life.

This statement is correct in a general way; but as in all things, there are variations on the theme. There are the late bloomers that live by trial and error the first half of their lives. That first half is best described with the following terms: Negative — couch potato, indifferent or average. Acceptable but not really satisfactory — finding themselves, getting another academic degree or hostel traveling around the world.

Culturally successful is a second late-bloomer. This is a good thing as Martha Stewart likes to say. A second late-bloomer is the individual that first lives a conventional lifestyle of career, marriage, children, church and civic responsibilities, retires and then begins the best part of his or her life, with a personal, chosen second avocation. No strings attached. An authentic late bloomer.

Examples:

• Famed English crime fiction writer P. D. James was a civil servant and later hospital administrator in early adult years. She published her first Adam Dalgliesh mystery series in 1962 at age 42. At 90, she is still writing and publishing.
• Harlan Sanders, Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken, was 66 when he made his secret recipe into a food empire.
• Amelia Earhart. At the age of 34, was the first woman to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean.

I reason that it’s a privilege and a blessing to have a second chance at that certain something that was planted when we dreamed dreams that one day might be. No question that medical research has granted seniors 25 years and counting of realistic possibilities. New challenges. Off-the-wall goals that may or may not shock your grandchildren. We have advantages that young and middle-aged people want and can’t obtain. That advantage is accumulated knowledge, just by daily living, not counting long-term self-education.

This time around there is absolutely no pressure except the pressure you put on yourself. I suggest if you don’t have passion for the possibility, chunk it and go deeper into yourself and above all if need be — be painfully honest.

Life coaches warn to resist putting money into a project unless it’s well-financed. Common sense calls for no risky business at this stage in life. I used to dream of owning a corner bookstore with folk music, coffee and a fireplace. Excuse me. We all have our dreams. Mine has morphed into being a late-bloomer writer and buying books in someone else’s bookstore.

So savor your life garden. Bloom where you are planted as you read this. It’s never too late. Never. Ever.

A Quintessential Finishing School Saga

Meet Peggy