As people advance in age, the likelihood to weigh our achievements against time is imminent. Sometimes the people with the greatest potentials often take long to find their path and begin to question if there’s a destination after all. Everyone knows at least one late bloomer, that person who appears to fail at almost everything, typically suffer delays and arrive at an experience or accomplishment much later than their peers or when the "party" is over and done with.
Some late bloomers are quite notorious, arriving late to every single experience, speak of career, marriage, hitting their first million, having children and other experiences, some people just have a pattern to be late and I cannot say this is a good or bad thing because for a fact ‘Not All Who Wander Are Lost’ and this holds true for most late bloomers. You only have to figure it out.
So now, get in here the late bloomers. You aren’t jinxed. Most late bloomers end up leading successful and enviable lives and the saying "It is how well and not how far" can’t hold truer in many cases as it does with people who arrive late. A late bloomer is sometimes called "Sleeper", for obvious reasons, so wake up now.
I would like to examine the subject from two viewpoints, THE WILLING and the RELUCTANT LATE BLOOMERS.
WILLING LATE BLOOMERS
When it comes to making choices in life, we will always have a number of them strewn at us, these choices that we make may seem insignificant in the moment but often than not, the full impact of what we decided will surface a few years along the line. Now, let’s examine a few components that can predispose a person to being a late bloomer
SENSITIVITY: Sensitivity is a double edged sword that lives at the heart of the brilliant potentials of many late-bloomers, but it also puts them at the mercy of life’s pains, causing them to feel that life has treated them particularly unfairly and dealt them a bad hand. When you are quite the sensitive or emotional person, the pros are immeasurable and often times you aren’t the beneficiary, the cons on the other hand can cost you a lot before you realize it.
Oftentimes, sensitive natures can cause behaviour and right-thinking to be marred by present emotions at a crucial time. A sensitive person may make decisions largely out of pity or fizzling emotions, this is clearly an unhealthy pattern as it shows no real deliberation at the point of making a decision. If this becomes a pattern, no doubt the uncalculated, nonchalant approach will eventually cause some delay in fulfillment and getting things done right, whether it is choosing your ideal spouse or career path.
LACK OF PURPOSE: It is no secret that many of us struggle with what our real purpose is, that many lack a vision, they can see the destination they want for themselves, what to do in between to arrive at that point of their vision is exactly what they don’t know.That’s not so much of a problem because we all can’t figure it out readily and it’s not for lack of potential or talent, but basic tools, that’s why I say everyone, no matter who you are needs counseling.
ATTITUDE: I find that I too agree with the saying that attitude is everything. Reacting to situations as against responding to them goes a long way in shaping the journey that becomes your lot. Every person is born with some selfish instincts, but you have to know that a life of service is important and life does not always have to be lived on the basis of your rights or dues from others. What happened to you taking time to be kind, instead of being right? In the end, if you focus on what you deserve and are entitled to from others, you may be setting yourself up for late arrival in one or more areas of your life.
ASSOCIATIONS: Keeping company with people who have no bearing to your life’s goals is something you have to check as an individual. You have to decide at some point to pick your own company, to suit your life’s goals, and determine to use your scissors when there’s the need to severe certain relationships. Seek the people who fan your flames, you have to have the discernment to know whether an association delays you or urges you towards your dreams.
THE RELUCTANT LATE BLOOMER
Some circumstances are beyond our power to influence and even when you act right and commit to your goals of marriage, academics, wholesome health, career or having kids. Some of these things may elude you without any fault of yours. It is important to then go easy on yourself; all that is good will come at an appointed time, given that you have done your part to seek your own well-being and fulfillment. Have some faith!
BLUE SKIES
You are not lost. And if you are late already, now is the time to get to work, and make them feel that your success isn’t something they could have handled, had you arrived early. When you are late already, you are no longer a novice, excel like a pro, you are better equipped!
Don’t beat yourself up anymore, forgive yourself for your poor judgments that you silently wish you could undo, there’s no time for regrets, just roll-up your sleeves, reinvent your circle and look inwards- the answers always lie there.
The good thing with late-bloomers is life often compensates them, not for the sheer sake of it. But in their "Sleeping" state, they have acquired some wisdom, insight, they are no longer naïve, no longer sensitive in a way that causes them injury, their hearts now hold more contents than ever and that’s why when they do arrive, they arrive in big proportions, they’ve had a long lesson in humility.
If you consider yourself late by some circumstance, you’re a warrior in spirit and I salute your courage and decision to hold on even when you got to the edge severally. And if you need someone to talk with to begin the process of your healing, hey I’m here and happy to listen and work with you. There’s a destination after all and you are not alone!
With love, from Kaffy.