late bloomer, n.
1. An adult whose talent or genius in a particular field only appears later in life than is normal—in some cases only in old age. [Wikipedia]
2. A person who doesn’t give a pomegranate about what’s normal and blooms in their own time; see LaterBloomer.com. [Debra Eve]
Ernestine Shepherd became a professional bodybuilder at 71
Welcome to Later Bloomer
A Captivating Archive of Lives Well-Lived
Come MOOC With Me, The Best Is Yet To Be
Almost every major university now offers Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). I’m taking “Archaeology’s Little Secrets.”
Why Not All Who Wander Are Lost
In the Middle Ages, you could only study law, medicine, or religion. The Renaissance fostered rebellion and lauded the well-rounded person. Yet today, we’ve gone more medieval than ever.
Cynthia Morris: Why Books Can Take So Long
Cheryl Strayed’s recent bestseller Wild took over fifteen years to write. Today I’m at Write It Sideways asking author Cynthia Morris, “Why do some books take so long?”
No Stopping at 70 for Author Janet Evanovich
After ten years of rejections, Janet Evanovich published her first novel at age 44. Last year she ranked No. 79 on Forbes’ list of The World’s Most Powerful Celebrities.
Carl Gordon: How a Divine Calling at Age 40 Transformed His Life
After 20 years of depressing, low-paying jobs, Carl Gordon broke down in tears and prayed for guidance. “Lord, tell me what I need to do.” A voice from somewhere deep inside replied, “Try acting.”
Tripping Over the Light Fantastic: A Late Bloomer’s Tale
Guest post by Daniela Gitlin, who realizes in her 50s: “To dance, that’s the primal longing. And I didn’t know it. Or more accurately, had forgotten. Till now.”
Later Bloomer is currently on hiatus. Please enjoy the archives!
There is nothing in the caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly.
—Buckminster Fuller,
who patented the Geodesic Dome at age 50