You’ll see a lot of stories here on BoomerCafé about baby boomers discovering new talents relatively late in their lives. Author Margaret Lynette Sharp of Sydney, Australia is doing it all at once. What she proves is, it’s never too late.
I’m best described as a late bloomer. Milestones that others achieved early on have come my way later in life. Whether we’re talking marriage, career, or other interests, they all have one thing in common: their late arrival in my life.
Margaret Sharp
There’s a song made popular by Vanessa Williams — herself only a year too young to be a baby boomer herself– that talks about saving the best till last, and I’m a living example of this.
The two great activities that have kept me active and involved are writing and swimming.
After a break of several decades, I took up creative writing, finding my way as an author. With the encouragement of my husband Ron, whose own accomplishment was creating the Grand Organ in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, I set to work almost five years ago and brought 25 Stories of Life and Love in Australia into being. Fast forward, and in June this year I published my thirteenth title: Sisters and Rivals. It’s a sweet romance set in my home town of Sydney during the 1950s. So far, it has earned six very enthusiastic reviews on Amazon, mostly by respected Goodreads moderators and members. In between, I was awarded a literary prize at the 2014 Hurstville Discovery Festival of Community Arts.
Swimming has been a cornerstone of my life for over three decades, though the part it played in my youth was insignificant. During these past decades though, I’ve competed in almost every race at our local club, and last year I came second in the Ladies Pointscore (out of thirty competitors of all ages). My athletic prowess was tested in events ranging from fifty meters to one kilometer — often three races on the one day. Phew!
Then, a year ago, I decided to learn to drive a car, which for a variety of reasons when I was younger— family, financial— was something that I’d never before attempted. I’m still learning, but I’m well on the way to getting my license.
The moral is of all this is, it’s never too late!
I know how it is. I married over 30, didn’t have a baby until 34, and returned to college when I was 51 to finish the degree I started when I was 18. I am 56 now and just today my master’s degree was conferred. On to my PhD! My husband will soon be 61 and will get his bachelor’s in March 2016. He began his degree in 1973! I am a huge fan of writer Barbara Sher and her books like Wishcraft, Refuse To Choose, and It’s Only Too Late If You Don’t Start Now among others have revolutionized my life and help me plan things step-by-step to achieve goals. I am now resurrecting a writing career I dabbled when I was in college in the 1970’s/early 1980’s. It’s never too late!
What a wonderful story! Our motivation to succeed doesn’t necessarily dwindle as we mature. In some cases, it may well strengthen as we see the road more clearly…
Congratulations to Margaret for a life well-lived, even if everything comes a bit late. You are a wonderful example for the rest of us. If we can just tap into “who we are”, and if we can spend some time developing our gifts around that personal insight, we can dramatically improve our lives at any age. Again, I applaud you for sending such a positive message to the rest of us!
Thank you, William! Sometimes, the right time is later. The feeling of accomplishment is always exhilarating!
Congratss to you all, nice you have husbands who can pay the bills.. Not jealous of you,
Simply a thought…god bless you.
Thanks 🙂 Blessings to you, too!
Nice post, Margaret. As a fellow baby boomer, I came to publishing rather late, though I had always written. I published my first novel in 2008, at the age of 61 and have gone on to publish five more, with another on the way. No, it’s never too late!
All one needs is enthusiasm for the goal, and then everything else just falls into place. Congratulations on all your novels, Christine!
Hi Margaret! Being a late-blooming boomer myself, I could easily relate to your excellent post here. And as a bonus it was really nice to learn more about you.