Another myth about life that needs to stop being perpetuated: It’s never too late.

[jeffend888]

“It’s never too late” is a myth being perpetuated by people all across the internet and television. This couldn’t be more inaccurate.

Sure, there’s plenty of instances in which it’s never too late. But in a lot of instances, age matters. It’s too late for a 50 year old woman to change her mind, stop being a feminist and all of a sudden she wants kids. It’s too late to start investing in retirement at 60. It’s too late to start going clubbing when you’re in your 40s. You’re never going to be a professional athlete in your 40s.

Certain things are just age dependent and they always will be and no amount of pandering is going to change that.

[Anonymous]

1. A woman does not have to have been a "feminist" to not have wanted children earlier in life. I'm pretty sure there are also plenty of men who later in life changed their minds on children but we don't stereotype them. Also though not recommended, a woman in her 50s who still has her period can have a biological child. Depends on the woman but barring that, adoption and fostering are still options.
2. You can invest at any age and investing at 60 when you have nothing, to get something, puts you in a better place than it does doing nothing and just going "oh well."
3. There are clubs for older people too
4. There athletes in their 40s. Depends on the sport and what your body can handle.

The phrase still stands that it's never too late, until you're in the grave. There are octogenarians who get their college degrees for the first time. There are older people who find love and get married at 90. There are those at 50+ that become bodybuilders. It's dismissive at best to think that it's too late because it may be more rare of a thing to do, but those that do it, like anyone else, put their mind and body to it and get it done.

[jeffend888]

Everything you mentioned above sounds great in theory and/or they are exceptions that don't prove the rule.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Who pissed in your cheerios?

[ManOnFire]

I can say I absolutely agree with this and had to realize that myself at some point. I think we lie to ourselves with "it's never too late" because we don't want to believe the reality and be hurt by it. You always have your 1% of people who could do something late and be completely happy or successful with it, but I don't think that happens for most people.

There is a reason why time exists. We are supposed to use it to the best of our ability, to take advantage of what we can do while we can. There is a such thing as being too late in life and missing your opportunity.

[jeffend888]

Yup. Being too late for practically everything in life led me to this perspective. Actual hard data and evidence.

[ProbablyClueless]

There are definitely things you can run out of time to do... This will sound silly, but I'm more than a little bit salty about the fact I kinda feel like I missed out on my 20s because of weight issues from my underactive thyroid.

Obviously, all I can do is make the most of my years moving forward, but it's tough for me to not feel like it's too late for certain youthful experiences.

[jeffend888]

Yup. The feeling of missing out is real. I missed out on everything you’re supposed to do in your 30s as a man. Get married, have a child, buy a single family home and other adult related activities. Believe me, you will have way more regrets from your 30s than your 20s.

This is your warning - don’t become me.

[EricSummer]

This mythical sentence of encouragement is usually used only when it is not too late, yet. For example, someone might ask if they should enter medical school at 32. Or you yourself might ask if you can start a family at 40. In both cases the answer is that it is not too late, yet.

Personally, I would not casually use a statement that is obviously false as it can be too late for many things at some point. However, many people are comfortable using logic a bit more loosely in everyday language.

One thing remains true: Most of the time when people are seeing their age as a potential obstacle and are asking others for guidance it is not too late, yet.

[exitseven]

you are right. I teach computer science and some of my students are in other jobs but want to enter the IT field. Most are young people , some are a little older , maybe were in the military. I have had some in their 50s and 60s and I feel asd because i know that it will be next to impossible for these folks to find a company that will hire them.

[RavVid]

Totally correct. There are a lot of things that are too late to do at certain stage of life although hymen restoration surgey is possible. There is a clinic for this near me.

[inhua]

agreed. never thought of that one before

though there are still plenty of other societal myths to debunk

[strateguy632]

for most life decisions people can get encouragement and hope by saying to themself and hearing, never too late about most things.

[Grovermint]

There are plenty of things people say to make others feel better. This is one of them.