One thing that I have learnt since abstaining from alcohol from the age of 39 until now (I turn 50 this year), is that it is never too late to try new things. One of the things that I had wanted to do for a long time was get back into roller skating. I had always done it as a child and teenager and spent many weekends at the roller skating rink with my high school friends.
When I first gave up drinking, I was looking to fill my time with constructive habits and boom!
I saw an advertisement in the local free paper for women to attend a Roller Derby information night. I went along, and I knew from that moment it would be something that I could really commit to. I hadn’t done any type of sport in a long time, I hadn’t roller skated for over 20 years and I wasn’t very fit, but I thought – why not?
This began a six year journey of hard work, adventure and making lifelong friends. I got to the competition stage, which took over 12 months and was able to compete in 2 different tournaments in the State and was honoured to be a ‘jammer’ (the points scorer) in both of those games. It was such a good experience, training twice a week, losing weight and becoming fit, and I met many lifelong friends.
The other thing that I wanted to do was work in the drug and alcohol industry, to help others that were going through what I had been through. A friend that I had met in the local Mental Health Facility whilst a patient, was already working at the local drug and alcohol Withdrawal Unit and they needed a new Food Services Manager. I have been a qualified chef since I was 20 years old, and she encouraged me to apply for the job. I was hired on the spot. I ended up working there for seven and a half years.
My desire to progress and become better led me in this time to complete a Diploma in Counselling, became a drug and alcohol worker and start my Diploma in Enrolled Endorsed Nursing at the local TAFE.
I finished my Diploma at the end of 2019 and started to work at the local Health Service as an Assistant in Nursing. I was then promoted to Enrolled Endorsed Nurse at the Health Service.
I am starting my nursing career at the Mental Health hospital close by. I’m really enjoying my new career at the age of 49 and have met so many new friends and colleagues along the way.
I have done more in the last 11 years than I had done in the previous 20. I have been skydiving with my daughter, taken guitar lessons, volunteered doing Lifeline Crisis Support, met the love of my life, lost 20kg and become fit and healthy.
The moral of the story is that it is never too late to give the things you’ve always wanted to try a go, no matter what stage of your life you are at.
Don’t listen to the people who say you can’t do things because you are too old or it’s too late for you.
The biggest mistake you can make is for you allow other peoples fears and limitations stop you taking the steps you need to take to realise your dreams.
Those types of people don’t want you too succeed, your success just shows up there fears and makes them uncomfortable, the last thing they want is to expose their own mediocrity.
Always be looking for the next new thing to learn to do.
Age should not stop you. The only real barrier is our own mindset. Tell yourself you can and you will.
Do new things, growth and learning should never ever stop!
Life stops when you die, living stops when you stop looking forward to the next new thing.