The thought swirls in your mind sometimes,
Creating ripples that settle in your chest.
I am behind in life.
I am behind.
That relentless voice makes you question where you are,
Where you have been,
Why you are not where others are.
You look at other people.
You look at the ideal mental image of yourself,
One that has been shaped by specific ideas and ideals designed by the society you live in.
And then you look at the real self,
The one living this life in flesh and blood,
And the pictures don't match.
The expectation feels out of reach.
You don't look like the portrait hanging on the wall,
But maybe you're not meant to.
We've been called late bloomers because we haven't reached certain milestones in time,
As if we came into this world to live the same life at the same time in the same way.
Our society celebrates youth as if that was the only treasure in life,
As if life was over before it was over.
We have forgotten those milestones are completely made up.
We have forgotten there are other societies out there where life looks entirely different.
We have forgotten the rest of the creatures on this planet do not come here to achieve external things,
But to experience life in their own particular way.
There are no late bloomers.
We bloom when we're born.
We bloom with the first breath.
How can we be late in life,
Or even late to life,
When we are made of life itself?
Our paths are not linear,
Nor equal.
We didn't come here to fight for the same human-designed trophy.
We came here to walk our own path,
To learn the life lessons we are presented with,
To find love and inspiration in very different places,
In very different ways,
And even when we beat ourselves up because we haven't yet reached the goals we set for ourselves.
The truth is,
We reached others along the way.
So many others.
We just haven't thought about them,
Because we are so focused on the ones that seem to elude us.
Go back in time now,
Let the next breath help you sink into yourself,
Into that body of yours that has had so many life experiences.
You have made it this far,
And I promise you,
There is so much you have learned along the way,
So many things you have achieved that you take for granted.
All of that is a treasure,
Even what you see as mistakes,
Even what you consider wasted time,
Even what seems so easy and obvious,
Because I assure you there are people out there who have yet to learn that valuable life lesson,
And they would love your help and guidance.
Breathe into this knowledge you have accumulated over the years,
Breathe into this wisdom you have within you,
Breathe into the right to do things differently,
You are just in time.
Give yourself permission to wonder if the things you desire are truly your own desire,
If they really light a spark within you,
And if they do,
Breathe into that want and remember,
Space does not equal ability.
So many people have reached their goals later in life,
It is never too late,
Say it to yourself,
It is never too late.
And if you find that desire doesn't truly belong in your heart,
Give yourself permission to let it go,
Set it free so that other dreamers can catch it,
Set yourself free to make space for your true dreams.
As you breathe out,
Feel the pressure physically abandon your body.
This weight doesn't belong to you.
You are not here to live someone else's life,
Just like no one else can live your life for you.
Keep breathing and let each breath infuse you with what you need,
And discard what you don't need.
You are exactly where you need to be,
Here,
Today,
And whatever dream or goal you think you're too late to achieve,
It's still within you.
It's okay to slowly build this dream,
Even now,
When you think it's too late.
Each day is one step,
One small action,
One tiny piece in the puzzle.
Each day is a reminder that you are still alive,
That you bloomed long ago,
And it doesn't matter in which order you do things.
Each day is a new chance to start again.
And the secret you've learned along the way,
But might have forgotten,
Is that joy lies in the process.
Joy lies in the stepping stone that you build day after day towards tomorrow.
Because regardless of our age,
Today is all we have.
