skip to main | skip to sidebar
live, laugh, love, write

Stacy Henrie

Pages

  • Home
  • Contact Me

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Never Too Old to Try


My third year of college I signed up for a beginning ballet class. I took ballet when I was ten or so and enjoyed it. Then my family moved and I never did start up again. During the ensuing years, I wondered if it was a talent I should have pursued. Hence the college class ten years later.

Dreams of being a prima ballerina were quickly dashed. It's one thing to parade around in a leotard at ten and something ENTIRELY different to do so at age 20 in a room full of my peers. Needless to say, after the class was over, I shelved that dream. But it was okay. If I hadn't tried it again, I might have always wondered.

After the birth of my first child, I decided to try my hand at another dream - writing a novel. I learned as I wrote, so that first book took me a year and a half to write. That's a lot of time to devote to a dream, but unlike my college ballet experience, I realized I could be a writer and I loved it!

My DH and I have been watching The X Factor USA. One of the 12 finalists is a 60-year-old man named Leroy Bell. He has an amazing voice, but he's always been the opening act for other popular singers. Now he's trying to make a name for himself. Watching him find success on this show has been a great reminder to me that you're never too old to pursue your dreams and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Some dreams may not end up being the right fit for you, like ballet for me, but at least you tried and won't always wonder. Other dreams, though, might just surprise you, if given a chance.

What dreams have you pursued in adulthood? What things did you do as a kid that you wouldn't dare do as an adult? Have you watched The X Factor? If so, who are you rooting for?

Posted by Stacy Henrie at 5:00 AM

27 comments:

Jessica R. Patch said...

I watched some of the X Factor but mostly I forget it's on. I liked watching them at the judges' homes. That was fun.

I can't think of anything I did as a kid that I won't do now. LOL Other than amusement parks. The older I get, the more I want to barf on the rides. :) Oh and jump on a trampoline. Birthing kids + bladder + jumping = well you know ;p

November 2, 2011 at 5:31 AM
Brent Wescott said...

I used to play soccer, still coach, and every few years I get the bug and start to play on a team. When I realize I can't run around like the teenagers I coach without keeling over dead, it's a little frustrating. But I still love it.

November 2, 2011 at 7:01 AM
Kim said...

You're absolutely right. I think somehow we get an idea in our heads that, if we haven't pursued x, y, or z in our youth, we certainly can't do so in adulthood.
I met an author at a conference who started writing when she was thirty, wrote incessantly for twenty years, and finally, got something published. And then the floodgates opened and she has published like 14 books in 5 years. That kind of story inspires me to keep going...

November 2, 2011 at 7:03 AM
Stacy Henrie said...

Jessica - I so hear you about the trampoline! :) I can't swing on swings anymore - makes me sick.

Brett - I'm probably just as uncoordinated at sports now as I was as a teenager, except maybe racquetball. :)

Kim - What a cool story! I love to hear about authors who started writing later in life but have found success.

November 2, 2011 at 9:31 AM
Loree Huebner said...

Writing was my childhood and is adulthood dream. I'm still chasing it. I catch it now and then.

I've been blessed and have lived part of my dream, you know - great husband, awesome kids, house, dogs...

I've always been athletic...in my teens, I ran track, did gymnastics - I'm too tall but still did them. I took ballet and tap, played softball...but none were really a dream...not like raising a family and writing.

November 2, 2011 at 10:10 AM
Angela Cothran said...

I love this post :) You are never to old to try things and if it is something you are destined to do--you will.

I found out a guy I went to high school now dances with a contemporary dance company. It blew me away. He never showed any kind of aptitude or interest in high school.

November 2, 2011 at 10:25 AM
ali cross said...

I love this! It's basically my life philosophy: I don't want to get to the end of my life and have regrets, ya know?

And when I was 31 I took a local ballet class! I had always wanted to take ballet but it hadn't ever happened. I loved wearing that flowy little skirt and I loved so much about the class--but when it was over I could move on with my life without any lingering regrets over having never tried that.

November 2, 2011 at 10:34 AM
Mark said...

My wife often wondered the same thing about ballet as she had a similar experience. I think it's okay to change our dreams/goals so long as we remain true to ourselves. Cheesy but true:)

November 2, 2011 at 10:35 AM
Stacy Henrie said...

Loree - Love that thought about your dream of writing - "I catch it now and then." I feel the same!

Angela - Definitely feel I was destined to be a writer and not a ballerina. :)

Ali - I didn't know you tried ballet as an adult too! Maybe you and I ought to show off some ballet steps at crit group. :)

Mark - Great perspective and not at all cheesy! :) We do need to be flexible with our dreams/goals, but like you said, be true to who we are.

November 2, 2011 at 10:42 AM
Jennifer Shirk said...

I love Leroy's story. He's so cool--and looks way younger than 60 IMHO.
But I'm rooting for Drew. Her voice is amazing!

November 2, 2011 at 12:17 PM
Sarah Forgrave said...

Novel writing took me by surprise, much like you, Stacy. I can't imagine donning a leotard at my age, LOL, but I guess I do take a similar risk every time I go to Zumba class. :)

November 2, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Terri Tiffany said...

Writing was my try in adulthood. We are never too old to try something new. My husband just got a second degree at 56,leaned to play golf and ran his first 5K. So I am trying to catch up with him!

November 2, 2011 at 12:51 PM
PK HREZO said...

I love that you gave ballet a go again. I've wanted to try belly dancing. lol. I love dancing and I figure something like belly dancing would give me my fix and get me in shape at the same time.
But you know, with all this writing, I just can't keep up. My other dream is to learn graphic design and one of these days I'm going to take a college course and learn it so I can design my own graphics. To me, that would be just outstanding. You're so right. We're never too old to grab our dreams!

November 2, 2011 at 1:01 PM
Stacy Henrie said...

Jennifer - We totally like Drew too. I can't believe she's only 14 and has such an incredible voice!

Sarah - I want to try Zumba and I don't even have to wear a leotard for that one. :)

Terri - How cool your husband has picked up so many new things!

PK Hrezo - I took a graphic design class in college and really enjoyed it. It was a blast putting layouts together.

November 2, 2011 at 1:14 PM
Abby Fowers said...

Good stuff Stacie. Writing has been an interesting new pursuit of mine and I am excited about it. I haven't watched The X Factor, but I will cheer for the guy you mentioned, because I love his story.

November 2, 2011 at 2:04 PM
Angie said...

Great post. It's good that you tried ballet again before deciding it wasn't for you. I have pursued my writing dream with vigor. Also singing, which I had never tried before college. I was a dancer as a child, but those days are long gone.

November 2, 2011 at 2:54 PM
Stacy Henrie said...

Abby - I always wanted to write novels, but I didn't get around to actually doing it until after marriage and birth of child #1. So I love stories like yours of people who picked up writing in adulthood.

Angie - I thoroughly enjoy singing too. That's awesome that you realized later in life that it was something you wanted to do and you did it.

November 2, 2011 at 4:06 PM
Abby Fowers said...

Hey Stacie - I gave you an award on my blog today! Stop by and get it when you have time :)

November 3, 2011 at 12:25 PM
Elana Johnson said...

Very true! It is important to remember that just because we're not kids doesn't mean we can't try new things.

November 3, 2011 at 12:47 PM
Stacy Henrie said...

Abby - Thanks! :) I'm heading over to check it out now.

Elana - I think working to fulfill our dreams as adults is such a powerful teaching tool to our kids - dream big, keep going, and don't give up.

November 3, 2011 at 1:54 PM
Unknown said...

I was a big tomboy as a kid. I loved to hunt, fish and camp with my dad. These days I'm happy at home writing stories while my husband does the hunting and fishing :)

November 4, 2011 at 7:32 PM
Stacy Henrie said...

Julie - Though my dad only had daughters, he had us watch classic action movies with him like Star Wars and Indiana Jones - I still love those films.

November 4, 2011 at 10:23 PM
Unknown said...

I'm writing books. I never dreamed I'd be doing that as a child. It's fun to realize dreams you never even knew were dreams. :D

November 7, 2011 at 7:31 AM
Peggy Eddleman said...

Such a great thought! I love that you started ballet at 20. I think that's entirely awesome.

My dream as an adult is the same as yours. :)

November 7, 2011 at 3:13 PM
Stacy Henrie said...

Nisa - It is incredible to realize what you were meant to do and then go to it with all your heart.

Peggy - And you're well on your way! I think that's one of my favorite things about the dream to be a published writer - reading/hearing about the different journeys others have taken to fulfill that dream.

November 7, 2011 at 4:04 PM
Tamara Hart Heiner said...

I totally did that in college! Took ballet...hated it! LOL, the only class I got less than a B in!

November 8, 2011 at 6:19 PM
Stacy Henrie said...

Tamara - How funny! Nice to know I'm not the only one who disliked ballet as an adult. :)

November 8, 2011 at 8:25 PM

Post a Comment

Newer Post Older Post Home
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
My photo
Stacy Henrie
I'm a stay-at-home mom to three kids and an author of inspirational historical romance. I love laughing with my family, reading, interior decorating and chocolate.
View my complete profile

Followers

My Newest Western

My Newest Western

Blog Archive

  • ►  2016 (2)
    • ►  April (1)
    • ►  February (1)
  • ►  2015 (6)
    • ►  October (1)
    • ►  September (1)
    • ►  May (1)
    • ►  April (1)
    • ►  February (2)
  • ►  2014 (20)
    • ►  December (3)
    • ►  October (2)
    • ►  August (2)
    • ►  June (3)
    • ►  May (3)
    • ►  April (4)
    • ►  February (2)
    • ►  January (1)
  • ►  2013 (22)
    • ►  September (1)
    • ►  August (2)
    • ►  July (2)
    • ►  June (3)
    • ►  May (3)
    • ►  April (2)
    • ►  March (2)
    • ►  February (4)
    • ►  January (3)
  • ►  2012 (35)
    • ►  December (1)
    • ►  November (2)
    • ►  October (2)
    • ►  September (4)
    • ►  August (4)
    • ►  July (2)
    • ►  June (4)
    • ►  May (3)
    • ►  April (4)
    • ►  March (3)
    • ►  February (4)
    • ►  January (2)
  • ▼  2011 (30)
    • ►  December (2)
    • ▼  November (6)
      • Keepin the Season Simple
      • Grateful for the Ride
      • Giveaway Winner!
      • Ali Cross and a BECOME giveaway!
      • Feelin' Thankful
      • Never Too Old to Try
    • ►  October (4)
    • ►  September (5)
    • ►  August (2)
    • ►  July (2)
    • ►  June (2)
    • ►  May (2)
    • ►  March (1)
    • ►  February (4)
  • ►  2010 (11)
    • ►  October (3)
    • ►  September (1)
    • ►  August (2)
    • ►  July (3)
    • ►  June (1)
    • ►  May (1)