Is it too late?
Is it too late to do or try something new? Is it too late to start over? I am sure we have all asked ourselves this question once or twice if you are a confused person like me -- perhaps on a daily basis.
I have read many times that time is relative, but, what does that even mean? I still often find myself comparing myself to someone else who appears to have their life more 'together' than I do.
Why does X-person have this, or how did Y-person achieve this before I did? Why is that, why do I do this?
In an article by R. Webber, the author writes about the 'Comparison Trap'. In hindsight, measuring ourselves against another is a method of the human mind. This may be helpful to an extent...
Comparing yourself may be inspiring and can motivate you to get your own life in order and boost your self-esteem. However, this same approach can have a negative effect on you when it leaves you feeling petty, deficient, and discouraged.
During this pandemic, I had gotten a substantial amount of time to reflect on my past choices and I found myself questioning myself. As if I was the devil's advocate, I started questioning all that led me to be here right now.
Just last month I was living and working for three hotel properties in Dubai. Living and working in Dubai was like living a dream. All these tall buildings and structures that you have seen on TV and social media were suddenly right in front of you, in your city. Alas, the Coronavirus wave made it's way to the Middle East and soon the UAE, including Dubai entered a lockdown. Big and small events started getting postponed or canceled. I had to get laid off from my internship as there was no work for me anymore.
Now I got laid off but realized that it is not too late for me to start something new, like stop biting my nails and letting them grow. I did not think I could do it, but I did!
I am in my 4th and last year to obtain my BA. Currently, I do not feel satisfied with my major. I know, I know, you might say, 'Is it not a little too late to feel this way after all these years?'
I have asked myself the same question many times. Perhaps I have invested 'a lot' of time (and money) to get here and the smartest thing to do would be to pull through and finish what I started. Quitting now would possibly bring me the feeling of being a failure and I do not want to feel that way.
Going back to my central question, is it too late for me now? Will I find or do something that really drives my core with passion? I am only 22 years old and, by all odds, time is relative. How I spend this whole year at this age, will totally be different from someone else.
There are many famous people who did not get famous until much later in their life. It was not too late for them then, why would it be for me now?
There is Morgan Freeman, he did not have his big debut until the age of 50 in the movie Street Smart in 1987. For all the chicken and biscuit lovers out there like me, you must have heard of the name Colonel Sanders, the man behind the world-famous fried chicken chain, KFC. It was not until he was over 60 years old with many other failed businesses behind him that KFC was born and became a successful franchise in 1952.
It was not too late for Colonel and Morgan, it was not too late for me to overcome a bad habit that I have been struggling with for years. Then it is not too late for me to follow my heart. It is not too late for me to start over.
It is not too late for you either.