by Renna Madison

Created on: June 19, 2008

How many times were you asked as a child, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" It's one of those questions that adults love to ask children, and we take delight in their myriad of answers. Most of the time, kids respond quickly with replies such as astronaut, school teacher, and president. There will be those who shrug and state they aren't sure before running back off to play, but they are few and far between. For the most part, children speak openly and excitedly about the things they want to do when they grow up. They truly seem to believe that if they can say it, they can be it. Moreover, they have no shame in changing their mind on the topic any time they please.

But what happens when we do "grow up"? It's assumed that by the time we reach adulthood, or at least by our early twenties, that we already know the answer to this question and have some sort of life plan in place to pursue that goal. The subject of what to do with our lives is no longer the fun, giggling game that children play. All of a sudden, it has become serious and heavy. Moreover, it is one that we are embarrassed not to be able to answer. So, many times, we'll just pick something something that sounds good, something that we seem to have an affinity for, something that our parents encouraged us to choose, just something. We enter into a marriage of sorts with that something and feel that we are stuck with it, for better or worse. Just like with marriage, divorce from that something is rarely easy and has its own set of social taboos.

So what can we do when we find ourselves years into a career or life path that we don't want to be in? Are we stuck with it? Too many of us settle for what seems to be the safe route the status quo. We fear that we have too many other responsibilities in our lives to even consider a change to a new line of work or to pursue a new dream. However, it doesn't have to be this way.

Let's take a look at Mary Kay Ash. After a 25-year career as a saleswoman and trainer, Ash decided to resign because of being passed over for promotion too many times. At the age of 45, she decided to write a book giving advice to other women in the business world. That book turned into the business plan for Mary Kay, Inc., a company which now has 1.7 million beauty consultants worldwide. Not only did Ash find the courage to take a deep breath and plunge forward down a new path in life, but she paved the way for these other 1.7 million consultants to do the same.

Mary Kay Ash isn't the only one by far. The Pulitzer Prize winner, Frank McCourt, did not publish his first book until he was well into his sixties. He is often quoted as stating, "F. Scott Fitzgerald said there are no second acts in American lives. I think I've proven him wrong. And all because I refused to settle for a one-act existence, the 30 years I taught English in various New York City high schools."

Take a cue from Frank McCourt. It is possible to have a second act in our lives, maybe even a third or a fourth! If that doesn't inspire you to pursue your dreams, just remember that Grandma Moses didn't start painting until she was 77 years old. It is never too late to change your life.

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