Success and the Late Bloomer

A late bloomer is a person who does not discover their talents and abilities until later than normally expected. In certain cases, the individual may be as old as 83, and retirement may lead to this discovery. The late bloomer is something of a contrast to a child prodigy and as such they often occur in almost opposite fields.

For example, late bloomers are common in business and politics, while child prodigies are rare in these fields. Child prodigies are most commonly involved in music or mathematics, where late bloomers are uncommon. The concept of the "late bloomer" is highly debatable, however, owing to the difficulties associated with defining the common attributes that constitute a so-called "late bloomer". For instance, there has been considerable debate on whether a "late bloomer" is a person who begins painting or writing later in life, or is it a person who becomes a famous painter or a famous writer later in life, after having practiced their art for many years prior to attaining fame (or notoriety)?
Furthermore, how should one characterize the artist who practices their art for many years but never becomes the object of public fame? The above argument is supported by the argument that many so-called "late-bloomers" are labeled as such only after achieving some level of fame or notoriety, despite years of practicing their art.

Not all of us are quick off the mark and succeed early in life. Some of us are like slow-boiling pots, who need time to gather wisdom and make sense of the world around us. But watch out when a later bloomer finally gets it - late bloomers are often the driving forces in the world because they have spent a long time digesting ideas, information and knowledge just to come up with some amazing solutions to the world's problems.

Determine if you are a late bloomer. There are many ways in which your blooming could be delayed:

Educational late bloomer.
This could mean that your grades at school were so-so until the end of your school years, when suddenly you blossom and outstrip all the clever kids in one set of exams.

Career late bloomer. It could also be that you have spent the first 15 - 20 years of your adult life wondering what career you want. Then you suddenly fall into it and do brilliantly.
Social late bloomer. When everyone else was racking up their firsts, the idea of making new friends and dating was foreign--perhaps terrifying to you. That is, until one day, you realize that talking to people isn't nearly as scary as it seems, and your social circle unfolds.

Don't fret if you are a late bloomer. It means you are a deep thinker and you are connected to the world in a way that is different from the "rush-rush, achieve-now" crowd. When your clever, fast colleagues are suffering from burn-out, you are just on the rise and are ready to take over the helm. People tend to make poor decisions when they're in a hurry to keep up with everyone else's timeline; be glad that you were spared that and, as a result, can make better decisions and fewer mistakes.

Recognize that others may turn to you when they need to calm down. Use that skill to boost your self-esteem as much as to help them. Also realise that this is an important skill and maybe use it to your advantage in choosing a vocation, career or lifestyle.

Be strong and aware of your strengths.
Be honest with yourself. Take a good look in the mirror and ask yourself: "What am I doing that I want to stop? What am I not doing that I want to begin?" Even if you have no idea what your passions and gifts are, undoubtedly you're clear about something in your life. Start there.

Don't feel blue about being slower to reach goals in life. Your journey is simply slower, more considered and probably you are gathering all the necessary experience to ensure that you get it right.

Invest time in building friendships. Through friends you will grow more than trying to attempt life's journey by yourself.

Be creative in overcoming obstacles. Don't let anything, even a lack of money or age discrimination, come between you and your dreams. If you're facing a wall you can't blast through, grab a shovel and dig under it or borrow a ladder and climb over the top! Better yet, just walk around the side. Take Evelyn Gregory, who became a flight attendant for US Air Express at age 71. After being rejected by three airlines, she accepted a job as a gate agent and let the corporate brass get to know her. Six months later, she was hired by US Air Express and flew for them for the next seven years.

Remember that nothing you like to do is tiresome. From the outside looking in, it sounds daunting to go to medical school at 46, join the Peace Corps at 65, or become a flight attendant at 71. But the truth is that it isn't exhausting; it's exhilarating. It's far more tiring to do something you don't enjoy.

Late Bloomers are the duo of Brett Kinney & Randy Browning. Together
they play a fun, original mix of new and traditional folk, blues,
jazz, and ragtime.

Brett's originally from New Jersey, and Randy's from New Hampshire.

After years as self-taught musicians, they met at Berklee College of
Music, in line for a mandatory film about the terrible things that
happen to people who default on their student loans. Brett was working
at a record store when he first heard Doc Watson and Tony Rice, and
Randy was supposed to be in class when he found the collections of
Alan Lomax and Harry Smith in the library. After college, they
continued exploring traditional folk and modern acoustic music
together, performing regularly in Boston area coffeehouses.

In recent years their music was honored with the Kerrville 'New Folk'
award, and they were voted among the top 5 audience favorites as
emerging artists at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival.

They play a variety of music: modern instrumentals and story songs,
with a lively approach to traditional folk. As musicians, they have a
simple goal: to continue to grow in new and interesting ways.

"Both classic and contemporary ...a standout and highly recommended. "
-Seacoast Spotlight

"Unconventional, brilliant .... The songs are truly sparkling. This
acoustic folk duo have a sound that is unique and a joy to listen to."
***** (five stars)
-Roots Music Report

for more info, visit http://www.latebloomersmusic.com

These include reflection, consideration and patience. Use these to build up your self-confidence and to tide yourself through life's low points when you feel that you are swimming against the tide.
Keep an "Ideas Book" handy - perhaps next to your bed or in your bag. Whenever ideas strike you (and late bloomers have many ideas), write them down. You may be wading in indecisiveness at the time but that idea has significance and may be very useful later on when you come back to it.
Try not to feel left behind or envious of friends and colleagues who have already "made it" or seem better adjusted to the world than you. You are just taking longer than them and your results matter a lot to you. For you, the journey matters as much as the outcome. There's no point in comparing yourself to others.
Accept that you are an individual human being going on an individual route at an individual pace.

Laugh often-especially at yourself. Researchers at Loma Linda University in California have discovered that laughter not only reduces stress and stimulates the immune system, but also lowers dopamine levels. (Dopamine governs our "fight or flight response.") In other words, a good laugh can ease the anxiety of risk-taking.

Help other late bloomers to find their path in life. Reassure them that they are not left behind or less intelligent than other human beings. We're all worthy in this world and we all have a purpose.

It took you a long time to get there but bets are, you know what you are doing far more than those who got there earlier and people will start to come to you as they have great confidence in your experience, knowledge and the fact that you have thought so deeply about everything and reached your own conclusions rather than parrotting someone else's.

Record your thoughts.
Your process of getting to where you are will likely help someone else, especially other family members. Traits like this can be easily inherited and if your children or another family member can be helped by learning about what you have gone through, then you will have made life better for someone else.

Always tell yourself that it is good to be a late bloomer.
Trust in yourself and your abilities, for you are getting there and you will conquer the difficulties in ways that others can only dream of. Instant achievement is not always a fairytale come true - think of the people who are so afraid of being discovered for being a fraud because they don't know what they're doing.
Late bloomers avoid that feeling by making sure they do know what they're doing!

On the downside, you can dither for life - avoid the temptation to drown your indecisiveness in drugs, alcohol or mere pleasure pursuits.

Be careful with money - when it takes longer to get somewhere, you need to be more spartan in your lifestyle and be penny-wise.

Many late-bloomers are perfectionists, afraid to try or do something until they are good at it. If this is the major reason that you are a late-bloomer, you need to deal with it. Remember that it is better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly. Seek professional help if desired.

#1) The Aster
In shades of pink, purple, blue and white, these delicate daisy-like blossoms start popping open in late August and continue on until frost. Pinching in the early summer turns these Asters into mounds with dozens of flower buds. [p]Asters will tend to creep throughout your garden, but their airiness allows them to blend particularly well with other flowers. Zones 4 - 9
#2) Caryopteris (Blue Mist Shrub)
Caryopteris is a sub-shrub that is often grown in the perennial garden. Caryopteris slowly blossoms in August with dazzling blue flower clusters. Just try and keep the butterflies and bees away. Caryopteris is cut back in early spring, like a Buddleia, and the gray-green foliage is attractive all season. Zones 5 - 9
#3)Chelone (Turtlehead)
Nick-named for their blossoms shaped like turtles heads, Chelone is a carefree fall blooming perennial whose only real dislike is excessive dry heat. Chelone behaves itself, growing in a dense clump with attractive foliage and red, pink or white blooms. Zones 2 - 9
#4)Chrysanthemum
There are many varieties of mums, not all particularly hardy. The plants sold in the fall as 'Hardy Mums' should have been sold to us in the spring, to be reliably hardy in the north. However we wouldn't have had the patience to plant them and wait. Mums and pumpkins are the flag bearers of fall. Try and get your potted mums in the ground ASAP. Keep them well watered and mulch once the ground freezes and you'll stand your best chance of having truly hardy mums. Zones 3 - 9
#5)Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed)
Joe Pye is one of those natives we take for granted because we see it by the side of the road, but it makes a wonderful backdrop to a garden border. The newer Eupatoriums have been bred shorter and less weedy but the dense mop heads of mauve flowers still blend in beautifully in the fall garden. Zones 2 - 9
#6) Helenium (Sneezeweed)
Helenium is making a resurgence in gardens. They look like small russet-toned coneflowers, in reds, yellows and oranges. Many helenium can grow quite tall and will need to be staked or pinched. Like clematis, they like cool feet and hot heads. helenium is also a good choice for poorly drained areas. Zones 3 - 9
#7). Helianthus (Perennial Sunflower)
Helianthus is a good natured, jolly plant, branching and flopping on its neighbors. The brilliant gold fluffy daisy-like flowers make an instant focal point and attract butterflies and birds. Helianthus tend to be sterile and can be reproduced by division. Zones 3 - 9
#8) Heliopsis (False Sunflower)
Heliopsis is very similar to Helianthus. Heliopsis tends to begin blooming earlier in the season and stays on for 8 or more weeks. Newer varieties have been bred smaller and sturdier, for less flopping. Zones 3 - 9
#9)Sedum (Stonecrop)
Sedum 'Autumn Joy' comes as close to perfection as any plant can. It looks good all year, requires minimal attention and attracts few problems. It's only drawback is that it is not deer resistant. 'Autumn Joy' has been joined in the garden by a growing number of fall wonders like: 'Bertram Anderson, 'Brilliant' and 'Matrona'. No fall garden is complete without sedum.
Zones 3 - 9
#10)10. Solidago (Goldenrod)
Goldenrod is finally getting the respect it deserves, especially with introductions like 'Fireworks' and 'Golden Fleece'. Unlike the native solidagos that spread everywhere and never stood up on their own, these newer varieties are sturdy and chock full of fall blooms. Zones 3 - 9