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Dec
20
What if at almost 36 years of age you are finally starting to get a vague idea of what you might want to be when you grow up, and a conversation with a friend gets you thinking about what it might take to change paths altogether? What if the things you might want to learn and do involve giant vats of both money and time, neither of which you have to spare? What if it would take a massive, terrifying effort simply to fulfill the prerequisites for an exercise/wellness degree, never mind the curriculum itself, which involves, like, science? What if it seemed absolutely one hundred percent impossible, that you’d never be able to afford it or somehow shoehorn it into a life that is already packed to capacity with family and work and everything else?
What would you do?
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147 Responses to “Gears”
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Well, I’ve been thinking for a while now that you’d make a pretty awesome trainer, so while you may have just realized it, I’ve known it for a while :)
As far as what would I do, I wouldn’t do it, which is a flaw of mine. In all honesty, if I thought I could swing it as a family, I’d give it a good look.
Wasn’t it Dear Abby or Ann Landers who always counseled people considering going back to school or what not to think where they’d be in ten years if they DIDN’T do it? You won’t be any less busy down the road. Right?
I am by no means an expert on life decisions, but in your position I would look at all you’ve accomplished in the last few years…the AMAZING changes you’ve made for yourself…I bet 5 years ago, you might not have believed that you could do all you’ve already done. So applying that thinking going forward, who knows what you can accomplish if you make a plan and set your mind to it.
One thing I think of when making a change that seems scary/impossible, is think if you DON’T do it, where will you be? In the same spot/career? Is that what you want? So NOT doing it isn’t really an option if you look at it that way. You just need a plan. :-)
I have a family member who was a successful manager in the financial world, making good money etc…but felt it wasn’t her calling…At 35, right after getting married, she went back to school nights and got her nursing degree and has never been happier…
At 32 at barely spoke English, was new to Oregon, had two small kids, no husband, no money. Decided I wanted to go to law school. I did. Graduated 25 yrs ago. It helped that I am crazy.
“Because we don’t know when we will die, we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well. But everything happens only a certain number of times, and a very small number, really. How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon of your childhood, some afternoon that is so deeply a part of your being that you can’t even conceive of your life without it? Perhaps four or five times more, perhaps not even that. How many more times will you watch the full moon rise? Perhaps twenty. And yet it all seems limitless.” – Gloria Cubana, The Sheltering Sky
Point for this long quote being, live your dream now. Life’s too short. I know(based on your writings here on this blog) that you make things happen when you put your mind to them, Linda. I have a feeling that you would find a way to accomplish this goal even when the stakes are high and the road is difficult.
I say “Go for it!” You will be so happy in the end.
Winx, Jinxi
I’m embarking on a whole change of careers (to nursing from sales) with a 2 1/2 year old and while pregnant with #2. 8 classes of pre-reqs while working full time, and then two years of school. I feel like I’m both crazy and exhilarated.
Hold your breath and take the jump. Sounds corny, but it’s been my experience in life that things find a way of working themselves out. The people I admire most in life didn’t get there by living in their comfort zones.
As for what I’d do…well, I’d do it if I could get the support of my husband. But that’s just me.
I would do it. I did it. But because I have the attention span of a four year old, I could only focus on the very next step in the process of getting where I wanted to be. In a way, that is helpful, because then the WHOLE GIANT PROCESS didn’t seem too daunting because I was too busy focusing on getting thru, say, calculus. (Seriously, the math? You can do it. Today I cannot add single digits without the assistance of a calculator and another human to ask if I am doing it right-but I managed to pass an entire year of calculus and physics. With a very excellent tutor.)
Just do it.
I’d say go for it. You’ll make it work. Life is short.
Linda, I think you can achieve anything you set your mind to. You’ve already demonstrated you are able to conquer your fears, take on new challenges and fulfill your commitments. I also think you would make an exceptional trainer.
Money may seem an obstacle but all you need to do is start on the path – like the running – and you will find yourself making it all happen.
You deserve to fulfill your dreams. Go for it!
Well, I had this same conversation with myself over two years ago. Actually more like 4 years ago, but it took me two to finally get off my ass and do what I knew would kick my ass, frustrate me (and my family), exhaust me, exhilarate me, make me proud, challenge me (in a good way) and basically change who I was and my path going forward. I wanted to go back to school and wondered how in God’s name I would manage a full time job, two kids, and a husband who travels. Then, right when I was about to make the right decision, I got pregnant with my baby boy. A SANE persone would have said…now’s not a good time. But not me. I forged ahead anyway. I graduate on February 10, 2010. And I can tell you that it was all the things I thought it would be…but not nearly as severe and I am endlessly proud of myself for making it happen and still managing the rest of my life with pretty good balance. Except sleep, of course. I haven’t slept in two years, but hey – I’ll sleep when I’m dead, right?
Point being….do it. You will NEVER regret it. Just the opposite…you will make it happen with more patience, grace, and pride than you ever expected. Not only will you accomplish the goal of getting your degree, but you will truly show yourself and those around you what you’re made of. DO IT!!
What if you don’t do it and then in five years you still want to do it so you do and then you think, wow, if only I had listened to myself 5 years ago I would be much further along on this path that I absolutely love.
What is the very first step toward this exciting adventure? I have a friend who owns a fitness business (www.wearesuperfly.net) who would be more than willing to talk to you about the business. Maybe that’s a good first step??
If you get throw up your own roadblocks (age, time money) before you even start, that’s fear talking. Look beyond the fear!
What did you tell JB when he made the jump from Microsoft? Go for it!
I’m a somewhat longtime reader (but have only posted once, in response to one of your Tweets). I’m 38, have a 1-year-old, and am working on a PhD and working full time as an adjunct–after having spent the time it takes to get a PhD in a different PhD program and then quitting. I can’t afford it, am in debt beyond comprehension, am way, way overworked and underpaid, and my husband is on the academic job market for the 3rd year in a row with no idea where we’ll end up. And I cannot imagine it any other way. I get to do what I love (teach college students), study what fascinates me (adult literacy), and spend my lifetime learning. The sacrifices have been and continue to be huge–EVERY month I try to figure out how we are going to make it to the next paycheck, and the future is desperately uncertain. But I know too many people who hate what they do, and that colors every other aspect of their lives. If nothing else, think of the example you’d be setting for your boys by putting yourself and your dreams/goals first–you strike me as someone who would most definitely encourage them to do the same.
So although you have no idea who I am, I think you should go for it.
And by the way, you make me laugh every single day. And I love that.
What if as children we were too afraid to walk because we might fall?
I know.. stupid f’n question right? When we were kids we didn’t have kids to depend on us or mortgages or car payments, the list is endless…
But point is..even though we were scared, we were brave.. we wanted it enough and didn’t give up until we succeeded…
LIVE YOUR DREAM…. we only get one chance to do it… it’s not too late!!!
(ok…I’ll follow my own advice too.. I’m exactly where you are (my soul is being ripped away in my current job…)
LET’S BE BRAVE!…baby steps… ready??? Let’s go!
Go for it Linda!
I would go for it. I think it will eat away at you the longer you push it off. You can make it work.
And in three years, you’ll be three years older and so will your kids – you might as well have gotten what you want to done.
Do it. I’m going to start the same path, for an MBA in Project Management. Have to start boning up for the GMATs. Yay. I hope to start the program part-time next fall. ulp!
Start working on the prerequisites, see how it goes. You can always decide later that it’s not for you, but you’ll kick yourself if you don’t even try.
I’m in a similar boat. Not enough time or money to go back to school. So I’m planning on waiting for both kids to be in school full time. It’s only another 5 years and in the grand scheme of thing, I don’t think it’s that long to wait, considering I have a secure career right now.
If I added one more thing, it would send me over the edge I teeter on so carefully. I’d become more tired, more stressed, more easily irritated and I KNOW this about myself. My family doesn’t deserve that from me.
That being said, you’re not me. You’re inspirational and I know you can do anything you put your mind to. Rock out with your um, ponytail out?
Where there’s a will there’s a way….
I’ve been reading you for awhile and I’ve always been in awe of you and really how far you’ve come.
I’m quite certain that once you start it will all fall into place. I think JB will be very supportive and it will just work out.
GO FOR IT!
Linda–
I’m on the last two semesters of my PhD degree–and I am 36. Had baby #1 just before, and baby #2 during (they are now 3 yrs and 18 months). It is WORTH it. Even if we are temporarily completely in poverty–living with my parents, on food stamps, struggling each day (yet somehow spending more time with the kids then we would if we were both 8-5ers, I am guessing), and living on an assistantship pittance. But, in the end, it will be worth it for my husband to emerge from a 4 years cocoon with two degrees, two toddlers, and some goddamn sense of accomplishment.
You CAN do it.
I mean worth it for “my husband and I.”
Good luck to you!
You’ve already decided to do it; all this is just working your brain around to seeing the path. I look forward as always to reading about your exploits.
What would I do? Well, first I’d celebrate the hell out of the fact that I finally figured out what I’m passionate about in this short little life we have. Then I’d do WHATEVER I COULD to try to make it happen.
What would you tell JB, Riley, or Dylan to do if they were in your position? If the answer is “Go for it!” then I think you know what to do.
DO IT.
Excited for you, because I know you WILL do it.
I would go for it. In a heartbeat.
You are capable of so much more than you give yourself credit for. Start. You’ll figure out the path, and you’ll be KILLER at it.
You gave me great advice this morning “start ticking off those prerequisites now”. I just opened this computer to take your advice and dig a little deeper into what I will need. Take your own advice! In my opinion, school loans are good debt. Hell we could go to school together, we can be the old people in the front ;) Either way, you would fucking be an amazing trainer!
DO IT! You will make it work, but you won’t know how until you’ve already begun. So exciting!
Stop thinking of it as an overwhelming and an impossibility, think of as something that is possible, piece by piece. Are there pre-reqs you can tick off online? What’s the time commitment to do full time or part time school? Fully investigate it and break it down.
When I was considering going to college at 25, I bemoaned the fact that I would be 30 when I graduated (hahahahaha!). My boyfriend at the time pointed out I would be 30 either way. Sort of like having kids, the time is never “right”. You just jump in and make a lot of sacrifices and do the best you can.
You have a whole lot of friends in the computer who are more than happy to help you figure out The Science. If it’s what you want, do it.
I think you should go for it. I would try to get part time at your current job, since the commute and time away from your kids is ass- but if you can’t swing that then quit? Live off savings and JB’s salary for a while (you supported his dreams when he quit MS and started his own gig, right?) Study, continue to do as much freelance as you can, make necessary budget cuts at home, and go for it.
One of my very favorite sayings is:
“What would you do if you knew that you could not fail?”
Simplistic, sure, but it shows you where fear is holding you back. and I find that it also helps divide the actual wants/dreams/desires from the random what-ifs that don’t really matter.
And not that the opinion of a random stranger would influence you, but I think you’d be awesome.
Didn’t training for a marathon seem impossible? You are capable of doing anything you want to do Linda!
I’m sure it would be a huge success, whether you think it would be or not! Myself and all of your readers have seen how you’ve accomplished everything you’ve set out to do, so I say “JUST DO IT!”
Linda – you’ve already proven that you can turn your life around. YOU QUIT DRINKING, GIRL. And now you’re training for half marathons. If that’s not changing gears, then I don’t know what is! If you love it, if you believe in it, then you will be able to do it. Just like you are able to say “no” to a drink every day, just like you strap on your running shoes every day.
Linda’s New Life Plan:
1. write huge best-seller (readers are all waiting for it anyway, will become amazon.com bestseller before it even goes to press)
2. become gazillionaire
3 (a). money not being an object, hire a tutor to help with the sciency stuff and go for the gusto and get that exercise/wellness degree.
3 (b). or, with your amazing newfound wealth, pack up JB and the kids and move to tahiti, where you can be a trainer probably just cuz you are fit and fearless.
Had this same conversation with a friend just yesterday. If you know what you’re supposed to be when you grow up, if you finally KNOW, you have to do it. No matter how old or young you are. I’m waiting for that epiphany, as “fireman-racecar driver-astronaut seems an unlikely choice. Do it. You can. It will all work out. Congratulations! You KNOW!
Didn’t read the other comments, but I’m willing to bet they agree with me when I say go for it. Chip away at it a class at a time. If it takes ten years to get your degree, it takes ten years. You can do it.
I want to be a cheerleader for you, I do, because I think you can accomplish anything you set your mind to do. I guess my words of advice are: nothing ventured, nothing gained. Here’s my story:
I have 2 children, aged 2 and 4. I work from home, running my husband’s electrical contracting business. Last year, I decided to go to law school. I only made it one month. The demands of law school were extremely intense, and during that one month, I never saw my children. Maybe if I would have stuck it out, I would have learned to manage my time more effectively. But I gave up. I couldn’t stand not spending time with my kids, and it wasn’t a commitment that I could see myself making for the next 4 years. But I tried it. At least I tried it. I can sit here now, and not wonder “what if?”. I know “what if”, and that it wasn’t for me. But maybe it’s for you! Try it… enroll in a class or two. If you decide to give up, or put it off, or keep on going, you’ll know what’s expected of you, and can feel good that you gave it a go.
Do it! Yay!
I think the answer is fairly evident: You should definitely do it. All the trite sayings are true; life is too short, anything is possible if you put your mind to it, etc. It was a lot of time and expense to get my MBA, but I did it while working and being pregnant (which granted is not the same as actually having kids), and it was hard, but so very worth it.
There is always a way to make your dream work into reality, because our reality is always changing and, more importantly, we have the power to change it.
Go for it.
Go! Go! Go!
If you can ever find a way to do what you love, you must, aboslutely must follow that path. Having joy in your work will bring the joy elsewhere, and it is indeed worth the work it takes to get there.
At 41 years of age I’ve decided to go back to college and get that elusive bachelor’s degree. You know, the degree I never needed in the 90’s because I could do the work anyway and I could still get the jobs but at a lower pay scale? Now I can’t even get my foot in the door so it’s either work for peanuts the rest of my life or bite the bullet and get the damn degree. With one income, a mortgage and two kids it’s going to be tough; not to mention there aren’t as much financial helps for a white, married middle-class housewife as for a single mother or a teen minority. So I’ll need to go into debt so I can get a job to pay off my debts. DO NOT let the science scare you away! If you can do everything else you’ve done (or at least have chronicled here) then YOU CAN DO IT.
I think it’s better to give things a go and possibly fail than always wonder how you would have done.
ALSO- The average person changes career paths like, seven times now-a-days. It’s not like it used to be, where you scored your job out of high school and kept it until retirement. 36 is not old.
At my graduation for my master’s degree, there was a man there who was graduating with our class at like, 75. He was awesome. Age should not be a factor in anything you want to do.
You already know the answer, you’re just afraid. But 99% of this is just finally figuring out your passion in life, and if you’ve found it, then I envy you. Math/science is a cinch compared to that. Congratulations!
Do it.
My mother didn’t find her grove until she was in her 50’s. Although terrifying to go back to school, start over, and leave everything she thought she knew in the dust, she says she is thrilled she didn’t let fear stop her.
Do it.
If it were me, I’d talk about it forever, and do nothing about it. I finally realized that I don’t like change, and that’s the only, admittedly lame, excuse I have for not doing anything I’ve wanted to. For example, I worked at the same soul sucking job for 15 years because I was well paid and utilizing my degree. I HATED IT!! For fifteen years?! WTF was I doing?! It’s something about me that I really dislike, and am trying to change. Which? I hate change……aaaaaaand it’s a vicious circle that only I can do something about. I’m a work in progress.
But YOU are brave, and have been forcing yourself out of your comfort zone and succeeding at every turn. You are kick-ass woman, and you can do this! I second (or third?) the suggestion to write a book, and omit the money issue of going back to school. I would be first in line to buy several copies! As far as I’m concerned, you’ve already decided. Go for it!
Despite the 3 million quotes already shared with you, I’m going to put in mine:
“Dwell in possibility, don’t wait for evidence”.
That one convinced me to go to massage school, even though I swore after attaining my BA that I would never go back to school. I’m happy I did – when it’s a degree that you are actually passionate about, it’s much more fun.
You may want to consider whether you need a degree to do what you want to do. And will the money you earn with it be enough to justify the cost and time of the education? For me, I guess it was, because I earned a lot after school and made the most of it while it lasted. Long term, though, maybe I should have gone a different route.
I went back to college when my kids were toddlers. I was 30. I could only take night classes at first. The counselor told me, “At this rate, you’ll be 35 when you finish.” I said, “I’ll be 35 anyway.” And I kept at it.
I finally got my degree in urban planning and got a great job – then the development biz came to a halt and I got laid off. Now I can’t get a job in that field. While I’m glad I have a degree, if only for the sense of accomplishment, I really wish I’d learned a more marketable and specific skill – in healthcare, maybe. Good luck and choose wisely!
After nearly 10 years working in real estate finance and with a two month old baby, and living on a single income that BARELY paid the bills, I decided to go back to school to become a teacher. That was 18 months ago, I’m pregnant with my second and still have nearly two more years to go. We still have BARELY enough to live on and, at times, the stress and fear are nearly overwhelming.
Do I regret it? Not once, not for one single moment. Someday, being able to tell my children that I did what seemed impossible, will make every sacrifice, every late night, every tear-filled time I sat down to pay the bills worth it.
Go for it! Like others have said before me, if you don’t do it now, how will you feel in 10 years?
By the way, I’m getting straight A’s, just spent an evening with my girlfriends and see my husband every single day. I don’t know how it works, but somehow, it all falls into place.
I’m thinking the same thing here. Wondering about getting a nursing degree…
Well, Linda, you do it, that’s what. We only get one life, and it’s too short to be dicking around NOT doing what we want to be doing with it. You’ve been seeking an alternative career path for a long time, and in all the years I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you so consistently excited about something as fitness, wellness and health. You’re good at it, you’re inspired by it and you’ve devoted an assload of your spare time to it. I’d say you love it.
Right now, JB is doing a form of HIS dream, right? And you’ve given up a lot for that, no questions asked. It’s a lot of sacrifice for your family, but you can do it.
As for your age, oh whatever. You’re going to be [insert age here] ANYWAY, so why not be that age doing what you love to do? We all deserve it.
Do it. DO IT. Remember that post you wrote about how you’re saying yes, and you said yes to the half marathon? Say yes to yourself here, too. The rest will come.
I’m in the process of quitting my corporate job to go back to school to be a high school teacher. After 10 years climbing the corporate ladder, I can’t believe that I’m starting all over again. And when I’m awake at 4 AM freaking out about all of it, I don’t for one second consider changing my mind…the only question I ask myself is why I didn’t do it sooner.
Good luck, and I look forward to hearing about your journey!
I know how crazy it is with work and family, but we always seem to find the time for what’s important. The same goes for school. If it’s what you want, you’ll find the time. No time like the present.
Get creative. Find ways to make it happen…you’re already doing an “impossible” thing by training for the half marathon and look, you are doing it. I like what another comment said about thinking about how you would feel in ten years if you didn’t do it. Keep expanding your horizons…
I may be the oldest reader/commenter you have at age 60, but my years of experience should count for something, eh? Do it. I have always regretted not finishing my degree. I had all the reasons you did for not going back, but the fact of the matter is if you don’t do it now, you might never.
There is never a “perfect” time – never. Just give it a try! There’s no law that says if you start it, you can’t stop if it doesn’t work out. But sitting around wishing and wondering is squandered time!
Spring semester starts in January. Sign up! :)
Having passion about what you do is something that you almost can’t put a value on it. It might take some time and some creativity and a lot of compromise to make happen but it could repay you every day.
I am in the process of making a big career change that is incredibly scary and seemed impossible until I just did it. It is still a work in process and I still freak out and yet my life is already better.
DO IT.
It’s never too late. Never. Just think how you would feel ten or fifteen years from now if you did not take this chance and act on this idea. IMHO, life’s to short NOT to take chances like this.
Try, try, try. You never know until you try and you’ll always wonder if you don’t.
Do it. I always meant to go to law school, but got distracted along the way, and now I’m old enough (48) that I doubt it would be worth it in terms of the money I’d make vs. how much it would cost. The difference, though, is that I’m pretty happy with my job right now, and I get a lot of the same things out of it that I would being a lawyer, so I’m pretty at peace with the decision. But if I had thought seriously about it? At your age? I wish I’d done it.
I don’t have kids, but I do work full time while going to school full time. It is without a doubt the scariest, best decision I have ever made. Don’t think of it as something that will take x number of years or x number of classes. Focus on one step at a time. I will graduate in the summer of 2011. I rarely think beyond the current semester. Attainable goals, baby steps. Just like fitness, right? I’m going to graduate with a degree that will help me do something I love for a living, and as a bonus, I’ve never felt more confident in myself in my life. If I can do this, I can do most anything.
Life’s too short. Go for it.
I’d do just what I’m doing now, change my whole life, but only after 1000 panic attacks.
You inspired me to start (and keep!) running after a lifetime of failed attempts just through a blog. You can definitely do this!!
If we only get one shot at life, and you’ve found something that will make you feel both challenged and fulfilled, then I say you do whatever you can to achieve your goal.
Duh, just do it :)
(sorry but you know you’ll figure it out – anything that makes your spirit perk up like that is worth figuring out!)
All I know is that I took a chance and changed careers and now do something I enjoy. A really bad day at my current job is still better than some of the good days at my old one.
I decided at 25 that I wanted to be a doctor. I had exactly 1 pre-med class in college, Bio 101, in which I earned a B-, and I topped out in math with a C in trigonometry. I remember moaning about how long it would take (10 years!) to my father, who, like many others above, pointed out that I would be 35 no matter what. So I figured out what pre-reqs I needed, decided that I would start with a chem class, and if I sucked, I was only out the tuition for one class. I rocked it. i couldn’t BELIEVE how much easier the work was when I just buckled down and did the homework instead of whining about it for an hour and then spending fifteen minutes deciding I wouldn’t bother to do it. Fast-forward through 10 years and at the age of 35, I finished my training and got my first job as a full-fledged doctor. It’s been a lot of blood (sometimes even mine), sweat, and occasionally tears, and I would not change it for anything. And I’ve seen over the last few years what you can do if you put your mind to it, which is…a lot.
You go for it. Never leave a path untraveled, untested. You suck it up, bear the pain and work and go for it.
I believe that when you do something you love, it is not work. Look at all the support you have here. go for it. What do you have to lose?
Don’t ’should’ on yourself :) (Say it fast and you’ll get the idea). You don’t want to look back years from now and realized that you should have done this or should have done that. None of us want to ’should’ on ourselves ’cause that’s just wrong :)
If you have the resources – DO IT. And don’t look back.
Oh my god, woman. If you are lucky enough to have figured out what you want to be when you grow up, you *must* do it. I’m jealous that inspiration has hit you. But you’ve also worked pretty damn hard to let it find you.
In that hypothetical case, I am very jealous of you. I wish I knew what I wanted to be when I grow up! (I turn 27 in January–plenty of time, but, uh, I have no clue.) Even if you move in that direction in slow, incremental, manageable steps, you have a direction in which to go! That’s an enviable thing! Congratulations!
Read this:
http://healthylivingholly.wordpress.com
She has a degree from UC Davis in computer science/programming, got into running and fitness and went back for a 2nd degree and is working as an RD now in Northern Cali. She is a very open person so I’m sure if you email her about anything, she’ll answer your questions.
I’m one for taking practicalities over platitudes. So, if I were in your shoes, I would sign up for the prerequisites and see how well you can mange the time/budget issues. That way if you discover that you need to wait on the full degree until the kids are in school (& you no longer have daycare payments, or…whatever) then you will hit the degree in a few years with all the prerequisites done.
I just know from my own experience (I still want to go back to school for a masters in nursing – and I will someday) that existing class offerings mean 2 things: 1) it is tuition or the mortgage and 2) I would see my kid for like 1 hour a day, if that. Not worth the trade off in my life…but by all means check out what would need to be done to make it happen!
All right, this sounds very ass-vicey, but you asked…
1. TRY! Forget Yoda and that stupid, “there is no try” business. Damn straight trying is worth something.
2. If you can’t do this balls-to-the-wall, look for ways to wedge things in on a part-time basis.
The friends I’m most envious of are the ones who either (a) love their job or (b) have a job that allows them to pursue their passions during the rest of the week. (and somehow they manage to keep their job from taking over the rest of their life)
What would I do? Well, I can tell you exactly what I would do because I was faced with the same thing: I did not go back to school for architecture or teaching when I realized that I would have loved either one as a career. Instead I kept my boring but stable and well-paying job with great benefits. BUT I teach classes at the gym to satisfy that teaching yen and stay in shape at the same time, and have dabbled in residential design by doing a small infill project. I continue to keep an eye on the market for opportunities to buy/build houses. When the kids are a little older, I have every intention of designing and building our next house. And our house after that, actually.
In other words, I found a way to do things that interest me, at least enough to satisfy the desire to be involved in those areas. My advice would be: if you can go full-bore for what you want, do it. If you can’t realistically devote yourself 100% to it right now though, or want to get your feet a bit wet first, the process to be certified as a personal trainer or some such thing isn’t huge. Why not try that and see if that sort of career is a good fit?
I think I’d start first with one prerequisite class at the local community college. I’m pretty sure you’d see just HOW do-able this whole thing is!
Do it. Don’t look back.
Make a plan – write it down – and then figure out how to accomplish your goal. Then take me as your first fitness student!
I would consider myself lucky to have FINALLY found my passion. I say go for it!! Show your boys what life is really about.
When I was 36, I went back to school and got a certification as a school librarian and my Masters in Education. I worked for 20 years and loved it. Then, when I was 56, I retired and became a travel writer. It’s NEVER TOO LATE! Do it.
I struggle with this every day. My problem is I don’t know for sure what it is that I do want to do…other than staying home full time and writing. So I keep plugging away in hopes that I will either figure out how to swing staying at home or find something that I do really want to do.
Seeing as you’ve got it figured out…I would say make it work. About 80 some people have said this before me, but after all the changes you’ve made in the last few years, I don’t think there is anything you can’t do. Best of luck!
I agree with those who have said – 10 years (or 5 or 2) will go by whether you are in school or not – the length of time it takes to reach your goal doesn’t matter – if it’s what you want, you should do it.
That said, I am curious about your goal for it. Can it be accomplished without the degree? I’m not against education (have a BA and MBA…I am proud of the accomplishment but if I had it to do over, would not have gotten the MBA and the still-ever-present school loans that paid for it), but I think at this point it should be necessary for achieving your goals because it can be all-consuming – I got my MBA while working full-time with a 2 year old and pregnant/had my baby during all that time. Those 2 years are a blur for me – I barely remember anything my 2nd child did until she was about 3. I exaggerate – but seriously, it was not easy.
I know you can do whatever you set your mind to – and support whatever choice you make.
kim
Maybe take the Mondo Beyondo course as a first step. I just took it in October and found it supremely inspiring and motivating! http://www.mondobeyondo.org/
Do what you love and what you need will find its way into your life.
One of my favorite quotes is from “My Dream of You” by Nuala O’Faolain. I’m paraphrasing, but it goes something like “When in doubt, do the more active thing”.
Yes. Just, yes.
my first inclination is to say DO IT. you can do ANYTHING if you put your mind to it. i received my masters degree from columbia recently and i cant explain the amazing sense of accomplishment i had when i realized i earned it, damnit. it might be a hell of a lot of work while youre doing it, and you might want to kill yourself and wonder what psychotropic dugs you were on when you thought grad school was a good idea, but once you get that degree no one can take it away from you.
my second inclination is to ask if youve explored all your options. i have a full-time job (where i use my masters degree) and a part time job teaching at a gym (which i do because i like it and its fun). i got certified to teach spinning and various other group exercise classes because i enjoy coaching people and talking about fitness and what not. im able to fulfill that part of me, while still keeping my job that “pays the bills.” maybe this wont be enough for you (or maybe it just wasnt what you were getting at to begin with) but it works for me. maybe its something for you to consider.
I would throw the awesome quote “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone” (Neale Donald Walsch) at you. Only I’d say it all sagely like Yoda, and flip the sentence around. I would still mean it, though. Go for it!
As long as I had my family’s support (meaning, my husband since my son has to support me until he’s at least old enough to speak), I’d go for what excites me most knowing full well that the most exciting things are also (usually) the most terrifying.
Go for it, Linda! Clearly, you have a passion for it and with that, you can accomplish anything. Like so many others have said, I think the way to look at it is-if you DON’T do this, what would you do instead? And would you be happy doing that?
Go Linda!!!
I’d talk it over with my spouse, make sure I had a cushion to fall back on, maybe take a non-permanent leave from my current job and retrain and see if I loved it.
But, that’s just me.
My mom went back to law school when she was 40, right after my parents divorced. Law school was no joke- she worked full time, studied like mad, and I was a latchkey kid in a new country where I was miserable. But now? She has a great career and life. She did counsel me not to take out such massive loans, but if you can figure out the finances, do it.
36 is so young- do what you love.
Hmm, well I’m “going for it” right now-I’m a lawyer and rounding out on practicing for 5 years (I’m 30). I decided to up and go to business school to go work in finance. In 5 years they’ve managed to make a bloody masters more expensive than my law degree. Like 150K-200K worth of expensive, so I hear what you’re saying about buckets of money.
I’m sure there are people that think I’m nuts-I have a 40 hour work week and fairly high paid law job that’s non-layoffable-I guess I’ve hit gold if gold is defined as not being invested in your job but having it pay well. Wait, I don’t think. I know. Because one person leaves me repeated comments on my blog about how I’m making a mistake. I don’t really spend much time dwelling on it-I know this is the right choice for me because I can’t spend the next 40 years being bored out of my gourd.
Do it. And then give us locals the number for your gym so we can hire you as our own trainer and help you pay off the expensive education!
My husband is 58 and starting grad school to be a social worker. Life is too short to spend 5 or 10 years not doing something you love, once you figure it out.
Do it! It will be hard, but you can totally do it. You have to love what you do every day. Not just your career, but what you actually, physically do. Any amount of effort is worth it to have the life you want to have.
What would I do?
DO IT!!
DO IT. This is your passion. If you follow your passion, then you are doing what you are meant to be doing and then all else will fall into place. I think this would be a fabulous endeavor for you and I can only imagine how good you will feel on the day you graduate. Go for it! The sky is your limit, my dear.
I’d go back to bed. (Partially joshin’. Partially.)
I agree with the “do you need to go to college to do it” comments, make sure that you need to do that or see if you can do it with an certificate program instead. I am pretty sure you can, then you can supplement with another degree on a slower track if that is what you want to do. You are an inspirational person, I think you are 75% there. You could also then do it part time and build a client base.
so, the giant plasma billboard on the way to work had an inspirational quote (thank you car salesmen ads), “its never too late to be where you might have been” & its had me thinking too. so I say, do it.
Don’t use the age excuse. You recently posted that your commute and job were taking away precious time with your boys, and that’s a red flag to pay attention to. Even if you have to part-time or night school it for a while, it will be worth it in the end. You’ll be able to be the mother you want to be when you are happy with your career and your life.
Do it but wait until your kids are a little older, like in school full time. It will go a lot easier on either side.
Do it.
It probably won’t be fun when you’re making it happen, but then the rest of your life will be awesome. I’m not satisfied by what I do everyday, but cannot figure out what would be better. If I could, I’d go for it.
My stepmom went from a career as a Biochemist to starting over completely and becoming a financial planner at the age of 45. And she was really invested in career number 1…she has a phd in chemistry. Point is despite some lean years when she was getting the business going and getting certified, she is MUCH happier now. Good luck!
DO IT!!! I did the same thing, but minus a few years…I quit school but finally got the courage to go back…graduated just before turning 27…oldest person in some of my classes (in Kinesiology, that can make a difference…young whipper-snappers). I have a BS in Kinesiology/Health to show for it :)
I think it’s neat that you’re considering it. Because…what have you got to lose?
I’d just like to encourage you by saying it may be easier than you think. If you’re interested in being a trainer, you could start with just the trainer certification. There are many, MANY trainers out there who have “converted” from some other profession. At my workplace, we offer various 1-week certifications that are (relatively) inexpensive.
Later, you could pursue a bachelors or masters in the field, if you want.
Either way, rock on, man. You can do it.
You are young! I have a colleague who changed course after spending 18 years as a very successful attorney at the age of 52!
I have one of “those” degrees, mine is called Health and Fitness Management (health/kinesiology/exercise Phys all the same thing)… umm stick to what you are doin
AND invest in taking the ACSM courses or some kind of course work that is expensive but you get a certified at the end of it to be a fitness trainer or whatever it is you want to do in this field. It is a better way to spend your money and time!
You would need the degree to do something scientific like the study of the human movement for which you would then want to publish the findings, etc… then you need the degree. Otherwise DO NOT DO IT. I am probably the only person saying this. Sorry to be negative…
I think you have an uncanny knack for conquering your fears. I think you’re strong enough to find the time/money/will. I think you’ve already decided to do it.
Thing is, if I were in your area, I would love to have you as a trainer. You’ve been where most people are with the fear of getting better with health. You are in a unique position to help people through that fear.
Also, I think that the word fail isn’t in your vocabulary. Go for it. Those whom you would help would be lucky to have you.
go, go, go.
“years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than by the ones you did do.” mark twain
YOU GOTTA DO IT.
We’re all here for you! With emotional if not financial and time management support. :)
Oh, and as a former boss of mine once said, “Do what you want to do, because someday you’re gonna die.”
I’ve been thinking a lot about how to respond to this in a way that doesn’t sound jerky. I hope I succeed.
I don’t want to pile negativity on top of what I think is basically really good advice, (which if I could summarize: life is short, might has well make the hard choices to get what you want vs making the easy choice to …not), BUT:
Here’s the thing with fitness and athletics as a career: it’s not always the solution to what people are looking for. There are ways to have a lifestyle that prioritizes fitness and healthy living that are more fulfilling than making $10/hour being a trainer at a gym. I’ve seen a good handful of people follow the trajectory of “become active/become MORE active/prioritize lifestyle around activity/ build desire to make this full time type work” and go on to leave their long term careers to focus on fitness coaching/mentoring/training/what have you, and … there is a lot of disappointment, there. Which is not to say that a) leaving their full time career was a bad thing to do, because in most cases they needed a change anyway, and b) it can’t be fulfilling, but more often than not it seems like a more realistic and ultimately fulfilling way to go about this is be harshly realistic about the financial opportunities in this field and the financial necessities of your life.
If it were me — and I know it’s not, so like, take this for what it is worth – I would start exploring this idea in baby steps. Volunteer to coach for a Team in Training event (or better yet, running stores frequently have training plans for local races – could you serve as a mentor/trainer for them?). If there is a sport or activity you really like, see if there are weekend workshops you can take to get more advanced knowledge, with the end goal of being somewhat knowledgeable to teach it part time (I’m thinking of my friend who is a fulltime PR exec, but teaches spin class on the weekends, or my coworker who teaches yoga after work).
I was able to volunteer for my local triathlon club and as such got to spend time mentoring and helping newbies to the sport – something I found amazingly fulfilling and was so happy I could do it. I did this for free, but along the way was exposed to people and ways I could have branched out into part time paid work (marketing for local races, volunteer coordination for training camps, etc). And, frankly, it doesn’t need to be full -full time, because the majority of the people you will be working with will be working during the day, also. Your services would really only be needed in off work hours.
Going back to school is not always the answer. You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get what you want in this industry. Just immerse yourself as much as you can in the areas you want, and the opportunities will start to make themselves available to you. After doing this for a few years, I’d bet you’ll be able to find a way to transition it to a more full time thing… if, in fact, you still want to.
think about all the things filling your life to capacity now that make you go – meh.
think about replacing those with the new exciting things.
do it.
I love how everyone is being so supportive and encouraging. I agree that it’s worth pursuing (even if it takes a long time, even if it’s scary, even if it will involve sacrifices). But, in my job (that I should be doing right now) I work with college students, some non-traditional, that are trying to cram degrees into their busy lives, and I know how tough it is for them. If I could give you some advice, it would be to do a lot of research. I’m sure you’re already thinking about this, but: could you volunteer or get a part-time job or internship in the field you want to work in, so you could check it out? If not, could you do a few job shadows or informational interviews? Could you get started with classes at a community college? (In addition to being cheaper and probably smaller, they might be offered at times that are more flexible for a working parent). Good luck!
I think you should figure out what will truly make you happy, what you will be proud to do every day, and just do it. Whatever you decide, you are an inspiration to many, many people around the world, me included!
I spent the first 3 years of college switching majors as often as I changed lipstick colors. One of the criteria for choosing XYZ major was that it didn’t require any science (or if it did – one of the wimpier science classes). After dodging the inevitable, I finally decided to switch my major, once & for all, to what I had been interested in since high school – Nutrition. I took Organic Chem (turned out to be a pretty cool class & not that difficult), Microbiology (one of my fave classes of all time), a couple of Anatomy & Phys classes, Biochemistry (for pre-med students – haaaard, but I survived), among other chem, biology & science-heavy nutrition classes. And guess what? I loved it! It was interesting, sometimes challenging, very fulfulling.
Cheesy, but true: FOLLOW YOUR HEART, things have a way of working themselves out!
Do it! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Girl, you ran a 5k. If I recall correctly, back when you were doing first posts about exercise and health, you probably couldn’t imagine doing a 5k, right?
Do it. And talk about it. Help will come out of the woodwork. It always does when you’re pursuing what you love. You’ll be surprised– but you can’t see it ahead of time. You have to just step out into the unknown. It’s only after you start that the help will begin to materialize, in ways you can’t even imagine…
Go for it. If you don’t, you’ll always wonder what if. Which is why I’m now making & selling jewelry instead of working at Microsoft. :)
No regrets.
I did it when I was 29. I went back to college after the two kids. The youngest was in kindergarten, and I had to bust out. I did. And now? I work full-time doing something I enjoy. Most of the time. :)
It’s tricky, isn’t it? The culture is all “FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS!!! YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO!!!” but the culture is not taking on the mortgage payments, babysitting the kids, or paying for school.
I think I’d counsel waiting—not like “forever” or “a million years” but, like a year or two. There is a feeling, I think, that a person has to chase the dream IMMEDIATELY UPON DREAMING IT or else they should imagine themselves EIGHTY YEARS OLD AND NEVER DOING IT, but of course there is an in between. This time of life with a toddler, a preschooler, and a husband with a start-up company is probably your LEAST stable moment to leap into a recent dream. Giving it a year or two (or four, when both boys will be in school all day) puts you (probably) in a more stable place, and also makes sure it’s what you WANT before you invest so much time, money, energy, and risk. A year ago the dream was novel-writing; maybe that dream will be the one, or maybe this new dream will be the one, or maybe both will be replaced by another new dream.
I started reading all these positive responses, and while I agree with them in many ways, I also want to say: fools jump in where angels fear to tread.
The fitness industry is big and LOTS of people want to get into it. What, exactly, are you thinking you want to do, and is this going to be a part-time “hobby” sort of thing, or an actual way to support yourself and your family? Do you want to be a personal trainer? A physical therapist? A gym manager? because these things are very different and my answer would change depending on your goals.
I have taken risks — assumed massive debt load for my undergrad and grad degrees, returned to school in my mid-thirties, and I guess I am happy I took the challenges, but I cannot say that I am SURE these were the right choices or that I would make them again. I am here now, however, so I think to a certain extent this unequivocal support people offer comes from their own need to justify their own sacrifices. I need to believe that it was better not to spend my life wondering “what if” and follow my dreams. Perhaps, though, I actually would be better off having some retirement savings. (The lack of which leaves me in a cold sweat at night & prevents me from being able to sleep. Such is the price for going to school instead of working: no job means no savings). Is the comfort of knowing I will not end up homeless and on the streets at age 55 be better than the risk of dreamily wondering “what if” at the same age? In the cold middle of the night, my answer is YES. A roof over my head is worth the sacrifice of not following my dreams. But too late: I’ve chosen the dream. I just hope I have a roof over my head in 20 years.
My advice: carefully research exactly what you need to get what it is you want (certification to be a PT? A degree in physical therapy?) as well as the job market, if actually earning a living afterwards makes a difference to you. I have been told that a physical therapy grad program is harder to get into than medical school (and I have known many very smart people not get into med school), because there are fewer physical therapy programs than there are med schools & lots of people want to go into physical therapy . . . perhaps this has changed, however, since last I looked into it.
I also have considered doing personal training, but I know that I am not extroverted enough to be able to approach people, cold, and solicit them for business. I have been told that this is what you need to do to be truly successful (i.e., make a living) at it. This might not be true, but I know that at my previous gym, the trainers were always going up to customers & trying to get them to sign up for training sessions. I know I would be miserable in a job that required me to do that. Personal training involves a LOT of sales: selling yourself and your services. Would you want to do this on a daily basis as part of the job?
Finally, and I truly hate to say this given that I am part of this demographic, but how many middle-aged female trainers do you see out there? At all the gyms I’ve belonged to, nearly all the trainers are young, buff men in their 20s; then they are mostly young women in their 20s. I have known a single “older” woman in the field — she was probably in her late 40s, but very fit. Is this coincidence? A reflection of the market?
Who is your largest customer base, as a trainer? Women, probably, and who do they want touching their muscles & telling them they are “looking good”? A young muscular guy, or another woman their own age?
I have a friend who is a an excellent hair stylist, and she told me once that men, even gay men, are ALWAYS more successful in the industry than women are, because women want to be complimented and made to feel beautiful by a man, gay or not. Top stylists are therefore always men — they make the most money and get the most business. I have often wondered if this is true in the personal training business, too — it might be something to research.
I don’t want to be negative and discouraging, and you have demonstrated an admirable and impressive talent for perseverance, will-power, and determination to make positive changes in your life and in seeing your goals through. I have no doubt that you could make a big change, whatever it is, and enjoy success. But I feel like it’s important that you hear some words of caution — people often hesitate to counsel against “going for your dreams” or being cautious in making massive changes lest these voices of caution be labelled cynical, pessimistic, and unsupportive. But taking risks to follow dreams is not all about sunshine and self-actualization, and everything comes at a price. What price can you afford to pay?
I always think of those poor deluded “singers” who try out for American Idol; not making it to Hollywood, of course, because they are simply terrible singers who have no business thinking otherwise. Nearly all of them leave the failed audition and tell the camera that they WILL be singers, and they WILL keep trying, and so on and so forth. Where is the voice of reason in their lives? Where is the person who will slap some sense into them and tell them to give up; they will never be professional singers because they CANNOT SING?
I guess I just want to offer the side of the argument that says: be careful. Move forward with your eyes wide open. Dreams are important to have, but not all are realistic (American Idol auditioners, I’m looking at you) or realizable.
i once had the privilege of hearing Dr. Eugenie Clark speak, years ago, when i was in high school. a student asked about the time involved to get a phd and she answered honestly (a few more years than the student wanted to hear). Dr. Clark said “Look, the time is going to pass by regardless, right?”
words to live by. do it.
When fabulously scary stuff presents itself, sometimes it becomes harder NOT to pursue them, and this may be one of those things for you. The voice in your head saying “What about money/kids/blah-blahblah” can shut it. You’ll be fine.
And honey, you’ve already kicked the ass of stuff much harder than going back to school. Newborns, for one, toddlers, addiction and getting your health on track. This is so much easier–as a matter of fact, it’ll be totally fascinating and cool. Think of it this way: You’ve learned a ton about health and fitness and you have a passion–and a gift–for this. Learning more and sharing it would be such a valuable contribution to the world. Not everyone is in a position to positively leave a mark and influence others like this. If you feel that this is your calling, it would be a shame if you didn’t share that awesome mojo with a world of people who could benefit. And you’ll benefit, too, I’m sure–how fulfilling.
I would remember that I am an ass-kicker who not only conquered a triathlon, but a world-famous zombie dance after running a race. I would remember that I am not only a phenomenal blogger who’s been doing this for over a decade now? but who is also a fantastic wife, and mother of two brilliant-smiled boys, and who despite writing for what must be 27 different blogs, still manages not to ever get boring.
I would remember that every time I seem to wallow in self-doubt, that I talk myself out of it and remind myself that I CAN DO ANYTHING I SAY I CAN.
And you can, Sundry : ) So do what makes you happy. You DO deserve it!
I’d do it. I did do it! It was worth every penny, every minute of lost sleep, every workload related meltdown, every inch of busywork. It was even worth the time away from my kids, because ultimately I’m a better mother now that I feel good about and satisfied with my profession. Go!
You’re never too old and it will always be frightening to make the changes you are talking about – but you can do it. Many have before you. I did I went back to college in my 40’s – I wall alone – no parents recently divorced and heart broken. No savings, really nothing. I did have a job and a home – all I which I changed to go back to school. Sold my home moved into the cheapest apt I could find and worked part time and some times full time depending on my schedule. I spent 10 years in college at the end – I became a Registered Nurse and then got a Masters Degree in Social Work. One of the women I graduated with (Master Degree) was 78 years old and she gave us a speech at graduation. She said you’re never too old to achieve your dreams. After graduation this 78 year old grandmother went to Africa to keep with the Aids epidemic over there. Go for your dreams. I did because I saw my dad die and I could feel his regrets when he died. The pain of sacrifice is short lived – regret last a life time. Go for you dreams whatever they maybe and whatever the sacrifice. You will find a way – I did and many others before you did also. Also remember if you fail at a subject – give it another try – you don’t have to graduate at the top of your class – just graduate.
I went back to school at 31 – law school. I packed up my husband, all of our stuff to move halfway across the country so I could do this. It has taken vast amounts of time and energy, both seeming even most vast after the birth of our daughter last year.
But I’ll graduate in May. And even though the job market doesn’t look as rosy as when I started school, and I have, at times, been so tired my teeth hurt, it was worth it. I have a sense of accomplishment, I have faith my professional life will move in the direction I want it to, and most importantly – I have no regrets
Unhelpful and douchey book-nerd comment:
Paul Bowles wrote “The Sheltering Sky,” not Gloria Cubana.
Encouraging and non-douchey comment:
DO IT. Life’s too short not to.
I am a long time lurker. And I think you should definitely do this. I have been so inspired by what you have accomplished and sometimes it’s thinking about you that gets my ass into my running gear at some ridiculous hour.
Anyway, I’m 38, and have a long history in marketing. At 35, I decided to go back to school to become a therapist. I just graduated and while I still have a few steps further to go down the road, I can’t believe how quickly the school part flew by. And to make it not so hard financially, I was able to do freelance copywriting on the side. There were some moments when I thought I just couldn’t possibly finish, but I did. And I never have to attend another sales meeting, or try and stab my eyeballs out at another tradeshow. Wheee!
I know I’m late to the game but I just wanted to add this: My mom worked as a radio journalist for years and years. When I was still pretty little, she was laid off and her station folded. Instead of wallowing, she made a pretty gutsy choice. She went back to school to get her master’s in education. It meant my Dad had to take on solo dinner-making and parenting roles on some nights, it meant that yeah, I stuck my little 5-year-old-nose against the window above our driveway waiting and waiting for her to come home on nights she had class. I remember that distinctly. But now? It’s only been in the past couple years (I’m 22) that I’ve been able to fully understand her sacrifice. She went back to school in an entirely new field, was a very successful student, and has now been teaching for about 11 years–and is an ass-kicking name-taking teacher at that. (She runs the “Outdoor Nature Club” at her school now too. Man I adore that woman.) She walked away from one career path and smack dab in the path towards another. She took all kinds of risks but guess what? She did it. I’m more proud of and grateful for it all every year, I’m amazed at the size of both, amazed at her.
Remember that post you wrote, what you’d learned about fitness? Let me put it to you in your own language:
“There’s no reason why you shouldn’t start now. If you need to start over, that’s okay: start again now.”
You’ve SO got this.
So about three years ago I was on a walk with my husband when I made some comment about how if I could do it all over again I would have chosen a certain career path. And my husband looked at me, a little incredulously, and said “You’re not dead yet. You can still do it” and for some reason it took that to make me think that hey, I really could. I think about that moment a lot when I get overwhelmed by the thought of all that is left for me to do just to get my foot in the door.
I think this is great! When you have a passion for something there is always an enormous amount of potential. I hope we get a chance to meet in the New Year.. and would love to hear/share some ideas. Love the twitter stream BTW :)
I would say, life isn’t a dress rehersal. I’d also say that there is some random stat out there that people change careers several times before they turn 40. I’d also say that now is the time to do it, because while your life may seem “full” now with small children, it’s a whole different world once they enter school and there is homework and activities. I’d say that there are only three things that matter in life, good health, someone to love and something you love to do…so go for it. Take the leap. Just do it (there’s a reason that tag line became so famous!!). Merry Christmas and thank you for allowing me into your world and making me laugh so hard, so often!
I didn’t go back to school after having career, but did switch to nutrition/wellness degree in what was supposed to be my senior year in college add that to a long winded graduate school adventure, a required internship and sitting for a test… 9 years later I couldn’t be happier in the field that I really love vs just getting the degree to say I graduated from college as many had urged me to do. Go for it, what’s the worst that could happen?
I’m new to reading here (a result of the swistle kerfuffle) & though this post is a few days old, I wanted to respond.
1. going back to school is a great plan! you won’t be the oldest. no way. The oldest guy in our program had retired from his career that he took up after he retired the first time. So, 70’s? No, he wasn’t taking the program for fun, he intended to go back out to work some more.
2. yes, you do care more now, that matters. That you actually care about the degree matters. That the instructors are your age peers matters. Even if they are twice your age: you are all grown ups & parents & peers compared to the student aged students. Which makes it so much easier to approach them, converse with them, argue with them even.
3. the one bad thing. I speak from experience here. Getting an education that allowed me to turn my hobby into my work DID make work more pleasant. but it made my hobby a lot less enjoyable. work was no longer a chore, doing the same work at home was no longer relaxing. now, in your case, if working out as work means you don’t have to work out for it’s own sake too, great. but I went to culinary school.
4. boy, I did not want that to sound so negative! do the school thing, do the career change thing. but pay attention to the JOB thing. currently, I’m taking a while out to take care of this lovely small boy I’ve acquired & retooling my work plans so I can do food related work which isn’t actually kitchen work. that I have the credentials to consider this is the point in the long run.
Umm, I’d f’n go for it.
Or at least, that’s what I’m trying to do, as I near my own 36th birthday, with the notion of going into filmmaking.
Then again, I may have more of some of the resources required than you seem to be describing, but… it still won’t be easy.
It’s gonna be f’n hard, but I’m gonna try to just do it.
We’ll see if I fail pitifully. ;-)