Better late than never.

I was a late bloomer. I was born late at night. I got started in the dirt game late. I started the run game late.

My mom was always late. She had five crazy kids that always had some kind of sporting event or school function or church thing.

I remember always being the last kid picked up from baseball, basketball and football practice. Seems like the pick up time was more of a suggestion than an actual rule.

I hated the lateness of my life for a lot of years. I vowed that I would never be late and always be on top of everything.

Then I got older and had a family and kids of my own. I threw that plan out the window because real life is sloppy, especially when it comes to managing your kids.

Of course you could be a drill Sargent and force discipline on every aspect of your family’s life, but then they might resent you for it.

The lateness I’m talking about isn’t about being on time for things like meetings or appointments though.

I think being prompt for those arrangements is actually super important and it’s ultimately disrespectful to the people you’re meeting when you show up late.

This is also a struggle for me, and I’m working on it.

My true form of lateness is getting into certain activities late.

I didn’t start the heavy equipment trade till I was about 24. I’m a first generation operator.

I started running at 38.

Ultra distance and endurance sports at 40.

I got into Trimble GPS at least 7 years after I first heard of it.

My new obsession is jiu jitsu which, at 43, is pretty late in the game.

Even though I start things late, when I’m fully committed, I go all out. I want to win at whatever I’m doing.

Because of my non-conformists, punk mentality, I sometimes start things late on purpose because everyone else is doing it and I don’t just blindly follow others.

And sometimes I’ll be the first one to do it because hardly anyone else is doing it. Like Tilt Rotaters and custom green paint jobs.

That’s about the only time I’m early.

My motto is “Late to the party, but ready to party and the last to leave.”

So in reality, getting into things late isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I believe that you’re never too old to do anything.

Don’t let age be an excuse. I’m reminded of this as I roll with a 60 year old blue belt in jiu jitsu that smashes me on the mats every single time.

I really can’t wait till I’m 75 picking up a new hobby and crushing the 20 year olds…

#staytrue