Guest Blogger: Carol Schulte

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”

~ Chinese Proverb

When I was younger, like, I’m talking Carol in her very early teens, I realised I loved musical theatre. The problem was, I wasn’t a dancer. And I wanted to learn.

My immediate thought: I’m too old to start now!

And so I didn’t.

The following year, the feeling came back… I mean I really wanted to pursue musical theatre and I really wanted to learn how to dance.

My next immediate thought: “But I’m too old to start now!”

And so I didn’t.

And so it continued for a few years… until I just couldn’t take it anymore.

I found myself at theatre camp, where I was having such an incredible time, I ended up staying for an extra two weeks. To do an intense dance camp. Yup, I finally started.

At that point, it was the Summer before going into my junior year of high school! (Oh man, and to think I thought I was ‘old’ back then?!? Hilarious…)

And you know what, I LOVED it!

So when I got back to school, I decided to actually continue and enrol in dance classes. But not just one class, no no no ~ I was told if I really wanted to get serious about dancing, I needed to study all forms.

So I signed up for ballet, jazz, modern, and tap.

Almost every night of the week I was in dance class.

Picture a 17-year old Carol, awkward enough as it was, in beginner ballet class where I was double the height and twice the size of these pre pubescent little girls, wearing a mandatory pink leotard and white tights. (And you should have seen the shiny bright turquoise unitard number that I had to wear for modern class! My roommate would literally roll around on the ground in hysterics every time I put that thing on!)

I digress.

So there I was one day in ballet class, and I was told I needed to work on my turn out.

Now being the ever keener and people pleaser I was, I became obsessed with impressing the teacher and earning her affection through what I decided would become an incredible turnout.

So during one of my next grand pliés, I turned out so much that while my thighs turned outwards, my knee popped inwards.

Yup, I had popped my patella right out of place.

I basically fell to the floor, but not wanting to appear weak in front of all the much younger girls I held back the tears as best I could and got back in position.

And then it popped out again.

Perhaps I wasn’t cut out to be a dancer after all.

I never went back to ballet class, and not long after that I gave up all of my dance classes altogether.

Just as well, as it would have been ridiculously embarrassing to be in the recital with girls half my age and half my size dancing circles around me!

Or, perhaps it would have been ridiculously brave of me to stick to it.

In any event, my dancing career ended before it ever began.

Until it started again.

You see, I did eventually get back to dancing, as I ended up pursuing theatre in university, which meant there were lots of dance classes. Now I was never going to be a Radio City Rockette (although how cool would that have been!), and remainedscarred from that terrible experience in ballet class for quite a while mind you, but eventually I connected to the joy of what it felt like when I first explored dance.

And I will have you know, after all these years away from it, I just signed up for a new 10-week dance program (for people my age thank goodness!) starting next month, including a mandatory recital!

So, what’s the moral of the story?

Never enrol in dance classes with children half your age and size if you actually want to stick to it!

Just kidding.

The moral of the story is you are never too old and it is never too late to start something you’ve always wanted to do.

Be it dance classes, cooking, a new language, a new sport, writing, speaking, etc…

And if ‘too old’ has never been your thing, get honest with yourself about what your driving excuse is.

Which of the following are you saying to yourself?

I’m too old. I’m too young. I’m too busy. I’m too in debt. I’m too disorganised I’m too out of shape.  I’m too _____ …

Name your poison.

And then STOP IT already!!!

The more you say it, the more real it becomes.
And the truth is, it is NOT the truth!

Besides, it will never be the perfect time, and you will never be any younger than you are today. And it’s only going to get harder the more you put it off!

And if you really want something, that desire is never going to go away.

So, it’s time to identify:

1. What it is you REALLY want?
2. Which of these lies have you been telling yourself?
3. What is the first next step you can take to start making it happen?

Originally published on August 30, 2019 on www.carolschulte.com

A woman’s empowerment coach and inspirational speaker, Carol encourages fabulous women to embrace and celebrate their true brilliance.