You’re Never Too Old

“You can’t teach an old dog a new trick.” Or can you?

Like many of you, I had that message firmly planted in my brain. I assumed it was true until I was in my mid-twenties. At that time, I went through major changes in my life. I wanted to feel better and grow as a person, so I decided to take the lemons and make lemonade. (I’m into clichés today.) Since I had a little extra free time on my hands, I made a list of things I had always wanted to do. Over the next couple of years, I took various lessons and tried ceramics, horseback riding, piano, speaking Spanish, and then finally went back to school to get my masters degree in education. At 29, I became a teacher.

I discovered I like ceramics, but you can only make so many vases. I enjoy horseback riding if I’m on a gentle soul who forgot how to run. One day, the rather large horse I sat on was spooked by a sudden gust of wind. In what seemed like an hour, but was probably only a minute or two, I learned what it’s like to be on the back of a bucking bronco. Did I mention Big Red used to be a race horse? He spun, I hung on for dear life, then spotted the bush I was probably falling into. Somehow, I managed to stay on the back of that Goliath. The following year, I learned that although my short stubby fingers can hold onto the reins like a rodeo cowboy, they were not made for the piano. As for speaking Spanish, I’m still trying to conjugate those verbs. But…I do enjoy teaching-not the politics however.

In my mid-thirties, I decided I wanted to learn to draw and oil paint. I’m the least talented artist in my family, but with a good eraser, pencil, patience, and a lot of time, I can impressively copy a picture free hand. I did even manage to paint a desert scene I decided to keep. I believe working on my right brain helped when it came time to write.

When I was turning 40, I came across the address for Romance Writers of America and decided to learn to write. I had written a humorous speech in college that qualified for Nationals and witty Christmas letters that have garnered their own fan mail. I had always felt like there was something missing in my life. I spent twenty years trying to figure out what it was and once I started writing, that feeling finally faded. I like to think that constant craving for more was Devine intervention – a message from above telling me I needed to keep looking for my purpose. The point is, I may not have been a puppy any longer, but I did learn how to write and I love it!

Don’t let anyone ever tell you, “You can’t teach a dog a new trick.”
If you want to be a writer, write. If you want to try your hand at a new genre – go for it! If you don’t think you have talent, keep reading and practicing your craft – you’ll overcome any deficiencies you might have.

It’s your life! The only limits are the ones you place on yourself.


Until next week,

Happy Writing!
Tina LaVon