I was in my late forties when I joined an online course “Total Leadership” on Coursera. I had just stepped out from my banking career and wanted to start a training firm. I wanted to learn new concepts on leadership so that I could build world class content for my training programs.

The ten-week course was launched by University of Pennsylvania and we were the first batch of learners. It was very interactive and in the first week the Professor himself came on the discussion forum and asked us to introduce ourselves.

I saw the introductions of other learners. They were all mostly in their twenties — college students and young professionals. I wondered if I was too old to take up the course and hesitated to post my introduction.

Then I saw an introduction that made me sit up. A learner from Asia, 71 years old, had posted that his goal was to learn new concepts so that he could guide youngsters in his community. He was doing voluntary service. I was so motivated and joined the discussion forum with enthusiasm. I had a wonderful learning experience engaging with the teaching team and other learners for ten weeks.

I continued my learning on Coursera and completed a number of courses that helped me enrich my training programs with latest concepts and practices. I did a specialization course on creative writing and started writing stories for an online publication for women.

Then came Covid and I had to pause — there were no training programs. Slowly I got into the household management and elder care and had no time for learning, reading or writing.

This year, when I turned 63, I was feeling too old to take up anything new and was bogged down by injuries and ailments when a chance meeting with a cousin shook me up. She said, “You used to write very well. I have read your stories and liked them. Why don’t you write now?”

I said “I have stopped writing.”

She said, “You could start again”.

My passion for reading and writing was rekindled. I started reading books but getting back to writing was more difficult.

I had the same doubts again. “Was I too old to write? Will I be relevant in these modern times?

I rejoined Medium sometime back and started reading articles but couldn’t get the courage to write. I posted an article I had written long ago but it was a dud. No one read it.

Then I saw a post from Pen with Paper encouraging writers and I loved the vibe. I joined the publication and read some articles and followed some writers and found this writing challenge on Clean and Kind.

Maybe this was the push I needed. It is never too late to learn, to do things that we have always wanted to do. To write, if that makes me happy, and to learn how to write better to reach more people.

Maybe I will start doing other things that I have always wanted to do. To travel. To learn new languages. To dance.

Thank you, 🌸Preeti Pathak🌸 and Manmeet Singh Bhatia, for this prompt and for pushing me out of my comfort zone to find my love for writing.

This story is part of the writing challenge — “Too Late To Learn?”, currently accepting submissions for publication with Clear & Kind. Have a story about something you learned late, still want to learn, or finally found the courage to begin? Do share it with us.

Too Late To Learn?- A Writing Challenge

Too Late To Learn— A Writing Challenge was originally published in Clear & Kind on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

To go for a walk in the park, I have to first walk on the road to the park. When that road to the park gives me no clear space to walk where do I go?

Here is a Haiku I wrote about my dilemma. I find that writing this Haiku has reduced my irritation and frustration about the roads and making it a reason for not going for a walk.

Garbage on side walks
Cars bikes vans parked on both sides
Walkers on the road

I entered the flagship retail branch of the largest private sector bank in the country with a big smile that hid a mixture of emotions that made my stomach churn — can one feel happy , excited, nostalgic as well as anxious and scared all at the same time?

I was early as was my habit. The front lobby was empty. I inhaled the fresh scent of red and pink roses arranged in a beautiful basket on top of the reception counter. I looked at the painting on the wall by a famous artist. A scenery pleasing to the eyes — trees, shrubs, grass in different shades of green. “ It is all just the same”.

I remembered the first time I entered this building a few years ago, I was thrilled that I would be working in such a beautiful, modern and aesthetically designed office in a prime location in the city. There were fresh flowers arranged in baskets in every room , beautiful indoor plants at every corner, paintings on the walls. There was melodious western classical instrumental music playing in the background. The most attractive place in the whole branch was the atrium with a fountain in the centre. The atrium was a square in the centre of the branch, enclosed by glass walls on four sides. There was a granite bench built as a boundary for the atrium. We could sit on the bench and watch the fountain listening to the sound of water as it fell on rocks and pebbles. It was meditative. The whole place was so calm and serene that we would speak in whispers. This was before the branch was opened for the public. The very first branch of the new private sector bank.

There were twelve of us who had joined two months before the branch opening. We were all from different Government banks experienced in bank operations but totally new to computers and modern technology in banking.

Everyday we were full of excitement and wondered at everything that was new..for me it was even more different because I had lived in a small town and worked in a rural branch for six years — where it was common to see cows and goats brought to the bank for inspection and farmers walking in their old muddy sandals and chappals. I had neither seen an airport nor a five star hotel till that stage in my life so I was amazed and overawed by this beautiful office and immensely proud.

“Welcome ma’am", a deep male voice woke me up from my reverie.

…to be continued

She walked ten miles
To cook meals for kids at school
her girl was there too
She nurtured dreams for her girl
to start a school nearer home

This Tanka is in response the prompt “nurture” from the house of haiku, inspired by the haiku Ancient Mother earth still nurtures https://medium.com/house-of-haiku/ancient-mother-earth-still-nurtures-2925eede46ca by Brett Christensen