When I wrote about my mom and posted the video of her playing Chopin several weeks ago (Is it Ever Too Late? Watch and See…), I knew that many people would be inspired. I had no idea, however, how her story and her piano would move people…to tears, to reflect, to share their feelings AND their stories.

Because of the overwhelming response, I have decided to occasionally share other people’s stories that motivate and inspire. Since the idea of ‘It’s Never Too Late,’ has touched so many, I will begin with this theme and eventually include other kinds of stories including those of enduring love, faith and courage, etc.

Before I introduce Barbara’s story below, I invite you to please write me at nancy@nancytellsall.com with your story, or of someone you know who has found passion later in life. Whatever that looks like, be it new or renewed love, music, art, travel, hidden talents etc. please help me to share uplifting stories of hope, determination, and passion. (You may remain anonymous if you prefer).

Ladies and Gentleman, this is Barbara sharing her story with us:

“I am 68 years old. About two years ago I realized, that after 15 years of being in the network marketing business, it was time to put it on the shelf. I decided to take time off and take life day by day for a while. People kept asking me what I was doing and I told them that I was just enjoying life. I said I felt there was something I was meant to do and believed it would show up when the time was right.

When I was a child I used to draw and in high school I started to draw people’s faces using only pencils. I drew some of my friends and I remember drawing my history teacher during class when I was bored. In fact, I still have that drawing. That was the last time I drew, until 10 months ago…

I decided to do a Google search for drawing teachers and found a website called, “Five Pencil Method”. Voila! It focused on drawing portraits with pencils. It was like it was made for me!! I dove in and watched all the free tutorials, practiced learning the 5 Pencil Method and did all the basic exercises. I invested in some of the DVD’s, and then to my delight, discovered there was a live online class every Thursday where you actually got your homework critiqued by the teacher who is an amazing unbelievable artist! (www.fivepencilmethod.com, artist and teacher, Darrel Tank.). When I saw his work it looked like photographs, not drawings. My first thought was, how can anyone draw like that?

Well, here it is 10 months later and since I began following his method I have drawn 5 portraits (see below!), plus many homework assignments and people actually think my work is good!

So, it seems that ‘that something’ showed up and I am having such a good time drawing. Here I am, now a senior, having the time to pursue a wonderful hobby that might turn in to something more! Time will tell, but I learned that it is never too late to start something new. Age means nothing!!”

I want to thank Barbara for sharing her story and her incredible drawings! As I was getting this ready for publication, the movie Legally Blonde was on TV. It was the end where Reese Witherspoon gives her speech at the Harvard graduation. I found it quite timely (again there are no coincidences), and feel it is a great sentiment to end this post:

“Passion is a key ingredient to the study and practice of law and of life. It is with passion, courage of conviction and strong sense of self that we take our next steps into the world remembering that first impressions are not always correct. You must always have faith in people and most importantly, you must always have faith in yourself.”

Send me your story!