It is never too late to become who you always were

My sister was born funny. Actually, she was born hilarious and in the last two years brought her dream of making people laugh to the stage. After a lifetime of hearing, "my god, you have got to do something with that sense of humor", she did. Enrolling in a stand-up comedy class, she created and delivered the "sketch" of a lifetime to a standing-room only crowd of 150.

If you know anything about comedy, then you know a lot about rejection. Anytime we put ourselves out there by taking a risk, we stand to be rejected. And believe me, this occurred to my sister. But the difference between her and the rest of us is, she did it. She took the risk to explore the best part of who she wanted to be- an entertainer. She pursued her dream- her dream of making people laugh.

So, I ask you the question: why is it that when we know what we want, we buy into someone else's vision of who we should be?  

You see, when you buy into someone else's vision of who you should be and what you should achieve, life often becomes mechanical and dull, a hollow echo of your more authentic self. A sense of sadness may start slowly, only to gain strength and eventually emerge as resentment towards others achievements. 

Taking risks to explore who you are gives way to wishful thinking- wishing we could be someone else, somewhere else, have what someone else has. We invest our energy being envious and jealous of others accomplishments while we ignore the very source of our own happiness- ourselves.

So, when my very talented 20 year old niece recently announced her comedy sketch was chosen over 30 others to be performed at her college, I smiled broadly. You see, if she had not seen her mother choose herself, her brilliance and her purpose in the world, my niece might not have had the courage to do so herself.

It is never too late to follow your imagination into the uncharted territory of your dreams.

It is never too late to become the best version of who you always were.