Episode 99

full
Published on:

23rd Feb 2026

99. IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO BE A BEGINNER

Do you believe that it is never to late to begin again? And to reignite your creativity and purpose no matter where you are on this journey? Join Judy on the trail as she shares some ideas of how you can step up and be a beginner again and plant some trees along the way.

Transcript
Speaker:

Hi friends.

2

:

Okay.

3

:

The joke runs like this question,

do you know how old I will be by

4

:

the time I learn to play the piano?

5

:

Answer the same age you'll be.

6

:

If you don't, this episode we're

gonna be talking about, it is

7

:

never too late to begin again.

8

:

Welcome to the Creative Spiritual Journey

podcast, where GUI and I walk with

9

:

you on this journey of life for just

a moment and share with you the things

10

:

of our soul together we're discovering.

11

:

How to create beauty and joy by

connecting with nature and our heavenly

12

:

parents, and you, our fellow travelers.

13

:

We desire to tune our ears to hear the

whisperings of the spirit and share it

14

:

with you in meditations and celebrations.

15

:

So thanks for joining us on the Trail.

16

:

If you would push pause here

and find yourself something

17

:

to write on and something to

write with and come right back.

18

:

This is gonna be very interesting.

19

:

Did you watch the Olympics?

20

:

I have always loved watching the Olympics.

21

:

As a little girl.

22

:

I remember wanting to grow

up to be a figure ice skater.

23

:

I loved Dorothy Hamill.

24

:

In fact, I even had a

Dorothy Hamill haircut.

25

:

That's probably the closest

I got to be in an ice skater.

26

:

So the other day I took two of

my granddaughters ice skating.

27

:

One of them has the same dream I did

of being a figure skater and got out

28

:

on the ice and oh, it wasn't pretty.

29

:

Of course, it's too late for me

to begin professional skating.

30

:

do you find yourself saying, it's too

late for me to start creating again to

31

:

write a book or learn something new like

quilting or painting or playing the piano?

32

:

Or do you feel like you have spent.

33

:

Most of your life working on

a special skill that is too

34

:

late to change direction.

35

:

Now, sometimes late isn't about age,

it's about fear, excuses and comparison.

36

:

We look at others, fully grown trees

compared to our little sapling.

37

:

You know, the old saying, the best

time to plant a tree was, uh, 20 years

38

:

ago, and the second best time is now.

39

:

Uh.

40

:

What if God is not worried

about when we plant the tree?

41

:

What if he rejoices that we

finally put something in the soil?

42

:

This is what Thomas Jefferson had

to say about planting trees today.

43

:

He said, too old, to plant

trees for my gratification.

44

:

I shall do it for my posterity.

45

:

Isn't that wonderful?

46

:

That kind of thinking is having

a mind, growth thinking or what

47

:

I like to call grow as you go.

48

:

I am currently reading a book titled

It's Never Too Late to Begin Again,

49

:

discovering Creativity and Meaning at

Midlife and Beyond by Julia Cameron.

50

:

She is the author of The Artist Way,

which I read probably over, uh, 20

51

:

to 30 years ago that really ignited.

52

:

Within me, the desire to create.

53

:

I will put this book and title

in the show notes because it

54

:

is a book well worth exploring.

55

:

Again, it contains some daily exercises

called Morning Pages, which have

56

:

been a huge difference in my journey.

57

:

In fact, I'm thinking we'll have a

episode just on a morning routine

58

:

along with these morning pages.

59

:

she has questions that I

respond to in a journal.

60

:

She calls it your memoir, and I take a 20

minute walk a couple times a week without

61

:

anyone, without any electronic device.

62

:

Even my phone, I leave home.

63

:

Now, that took some getting used

to, but I've discovered the joy

64

:

of listening to nature and to the

whisperings of the spirit in my heart

65

:

and mind without any interruptions.

66

:

I highly recommend it.

67

:

I believe that self-expression

is something that does not

68

:

and is best never to stop.

69

:

That we are to be creating

because we are creative beings.

70

:

I believe that creativity is God's gift

to each and every one of us, and using

71

:

our creativity is our gift back to God.

72

:

It is, in essence, the

fulfilling of our creation.

73

:

It is never too late to be a beginner.

74

:

Okay?

75

:

It's definitely too late for

me to be an Olympic ice skater.

76

:

But what about being willing to

choose something that interests you?

77

:

And be a beginner.

78

:

Again, I wouldn't choose ice skating, but

I would choose maybe learning to dance or

79

:

play the violin or to learn how to soul.

80

:

One thing, for sure, I'm having to shore

up my courage to begin again creating the

81

:

prophet Thomas s Monson once said, God.

82

:

Left us the world unfinished

for man to work his skill upon.

83

:

He left the electricity in the

cloud, the oil in the earth.

84

:

He left the rivers un bridged and the

forest unfail and the cities unbuilt.

85

:

God gives to man the challenge

of raw materials, not the

86

:

ease of finished things.

87

:

He leaves the pictures unpainted and the

music un sung and the problems unsolved.

88

:

That man might know the joys

and the glories of creation.

89

:

Did you catch that last line?

90

:

Let me read it again.

91

:

That, man, that you and I might know

the joys and the glories of creation.

92

:

Do you wanna find more joy in creating?

93

:

I know I do.

94

:

And I think what some of the raw

materials that you and I have to work

95

:

with come from our experiences, our

lessons from the school of hard knocks.

96

:

The wisdom that we have gained

can spark and reignite some new

97

:

flames and new creativities within

our soul from the Old Testament.

98

:

In Isaiah 43, we read, Remember

ye not the former things.

99

:

Behold, I will do a new thing

now at Shall Spring forth.

100

:

The scripture's powerful for us women who

feel maybe defined by our past seasons

101

:

and having a hard time moving on, or

maybe like me, you're in transition.

102

:

Much like returning from a mission

where I felt such purpose to back

103

:

home to where the big question is

now what, or maybe you struggle with.

104

:

I've missed my chance.

105

:

Isaiah says, stop clinging to the

former version because God specializes

106

:

in new things springing forth.

107

:

Just recently I watched a real, of

a 92-year-old woman who was giving

108

:

her advice to her 62-year-old self.

109

:

Now I'm 62, so this caught my attention.

110

:

What wisdom might she have for me?

111

:

First, she suggested to begin

strengthening and moving our bodies

112

:

now before it's too late, because

those things that used to come easy

113

:

to her, like walking and carrying

her groceries are now hard because

114

:

her muscles and her balance are off.

115

:

Our muscles and our balance break

down, if not challenged daily.

116

:

So my thought is begin lifting weights.

117

:

Maybe sign up for a yoga

class or a dance class.

118

:

Find and build those

muscles you have forgotten.

119

:

Build the balance and

endurance again, I believe.

120

:

Muscles.

121

:

No, no age.

122

:

If you are walking for exercise,

begin doing it on an incline with high

123

:

intensity intervals of speed walking.

124

:

Okay?

125

:

The second advice was to find

new friends because by 92.

126

:

All her friends have passed away

and her husband and she is lonely.

127

:

I'm thinking as you step into the

arena of being a beginner again,

128

:

you'll meet friends of all ages.

129

:

I am forever grateful for my new friends,

my brothers and sisters that I came

130

:

to love in South Africa, and I'll work

towards staying connected because these

131

:

relationships are so important to me and

that internet makes this so possible.

132

:

So make new friends of different

ages, cultures interest,

133

:

expand your circle of friends.

134

:

I know there are many out

there lonely and that need you.

135

:

They need your friendship.

136

:

Okay.

137

:

The third piece of advice was to

always be learning and growing.

138

:

Sharpening the act, so to speak.

139

:

I believe we are intelligent,

spiritual beings and what we learn and

140

:

experience in this life, the talents

we magnify, the relationships we build.

141

:

And the knowledge we gain, we carry

it with us into the next, and it's the

142

:

only luggage possible to take with us

what's in our hearts and our minds.

143

:

Years ago, I stepped away from showing up

in my life and filled my time in my mind

144

:

with Netflix and things of social media.

145

:

And when I awoken, I was able to

step back into showing up in my life.

146

:

I love the admonition of Paul to

seek after anything virtuous, lovely,

147

:

or of good report or praiseworthy.

148

:

This is what we can feel our luggage with.

149

:

I was given advice and a blessing given to

me at the age of 13 that my mind would be

150

:

blessed with enlightenment and knowledge

as I seek after gospel truths and those

151

:

things which are meaningful, which rust

will not corrupt and destroy, but will

152

:

be anchored within my soul and being and

will rise with me in the resurrection.

153

:

We are playing the long

game here, my friends.

154

:

Discovering creativity, purpose,

and knowledge way beyond our sixties

155

:

and seventies and eighties and

nineties, well into the eternity.

156

:

This is about eternal progression, a

forever of being willing to be beginners.

157

:

That thrills me to

think about, doesn't it?

158

:

You?

159

:

Have you ever heard of Grandma Moses?

160

:

She began painting seriously

in her late seventies.

161

:

She became internationally known in

her eighties and get a little of this.

162

:

She painted over 1,500 pieces of art.

163

:

She once said she started painting because

arthritis made embroidery too difficult.

164

:

So a limitation for her.

165

:

Became a doorway.

166

:

And then Laura Ingles Wilder, who

didn't love Little House on the Prairie.

167

:

She published her first little

House book at the age of 65.

168

:

Her memories became a

beloved literary legacy.

169

:

Her creative work was

rooted in reflection.

170

:

Now, there you go.

171

:

That's something many of us women in

our wisdom years carry in abundance.

172

:

And what a great example.

173

:

The prophet Russell M.

174

:

Nelson, who just recently passed

away, he was continuing to grow

175

:

as he went along this journey.

176

:

He led the worldwide

church until he was 101.

177

:

I bet you he carried with him lots

of luggage from his mortal journey

178

:

into the next, probably more than

we brought home from South Africa.

179

:

Can you imagine what he's up to now with

all his new beginnings on the other side?

180

:

I'm pretty sure the reason the savior.

181

:

And gave us the parable of the talents

is because he's inviting us to create,

182

:

to multiply and replenish our journey,

our world, and to experience the

183

:

joy of using our God-given gifts to

bless others by multiplying his light

184

:

and his love through our creations

and sending it out into the world.

185

:

Our savior, he wants us to play the

long game here because he's offering

186

:

us so many gifts, opportunities

to grow as we go, so much that it

187

:

will take a mansion to hold it all.

188

:

Creativity begins where no one

can see it sometimes like roots.

189

:

Of a planted tree.

190

:

But what if beginning is as simple as

opening up a journal and writing in it

191

:

for 10 minutes or opening up a watercolor

set like those ones that you used in

192

:

elementary school or signing up for a

class in something you've always wanted

193

:

to try or trying a morning meditation.

194

:

I believe Christ is inviting

us to create with him.

195

:

It can be as simple as practicing

smiling and giving compliments.

196

:

Maybe you wanna become more

friendly or trying a new recipe.

197

:

Not all creating has to do with the arts.

198

:

Maybe it's learning a new language

or trying your hand at meal prepping.

199

:

Now, there's something I've

always wished I was good at.

200

:

When we dare greatly to be a beginner

again, and we step out of our comfort zone

201

:

into the arena, it's gonna take showing

up day by day, step by step is how we

202

:

overcome and conquer the mountains, right?

203

:

And it is doing the small,

little daily things like.

204

:

If I wanna learn the piano, it's

gonna be showing up having to

205

:

practice the piano every day,

206

:

And that's anything we choose.

207

:

It's gonna be that way.

208

:

It's gonna be the compound effect of

daily moving forward and growing as we go.

209

:

Are you like me?

210

:

I always imagine when I reach this age, or

should I say this part of the trail on my

211

:

journey with our family all grown that of

course I'd have a grundle of time to just

212

:

paint and create and learn and do whatever

I wanted to do, but I have allowed

213

:

fear and distractions to side rail me.

214

:

I also imagine that after

serving our mission, ah.

215

:

This would be a season of rest

and reflection, a time to open the

216

:

windows and let some fresh air in,

and maybe some possibilities float in.

217

:

Hence, I'm reading the book.

218

:

It's never too late to begin again, to

awaken and reignite my creative soul.

219

:

So how about you?

220

:

This is where I'd love for you to pick

up that pen and answer this question.

221

:

Are you ready?

222

:

If it weren't too late,

ID fill in the blank.

223

:

Number two, if it weren't too

late, I'd fill in the blank.

224

:

Three.

225

:

If it weren't too late, i'd dot,

dot, dot and fill in the blank.

226

:

Four.

227

:

If it weren't too late,

I'd fill in the blank five.

228

:

If it weren't too late,

I'd I think you get it.

229

:

Okay.

230

:

I invite you to take your time.

231

:

Listen to your heart.

232

:

We were each born with a purpose gifts.

233

:

Things that just light up our soul.

234

:

And let's see if we can ignite

some courage to be a beginner

235

:

again, A year from now, you'll

wish you had started today.

236

:

Please join us on the trail next week

where we'll discover a new beginning

237

:

meditation that I'll create just for you.

238

:

I also hope you're enjoying Gaia's

reading of her novel Raven Crown.

239

:

I'm loving it.

240

:

Thanks Gia, for being courageous and

putting it out there for us to enjoy.

241

:

Until then in the words of Mark

Twain, I found this on my morning

242

:

Celestial seasoning tea box quote.

243

:

To get the full value of joy, you

must have someone to divide it with,

244

:

so please share the joy of this

podcast with a fellow traveler,

245

:

and I will see you on the trail.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Creative Spiritual Journey

About the Podcast

Creative Spiritual Journey
one small, deliberate step at a time
We are all on a journey—a journey home to our heavenly parents. Any experienced traveler knows there are days you laugh and days you cry.

We aren’t here to tell you how to live—we are here to share how we live—how we survive, thrive, and even find joy!

The journey gets messy with rainstorms and sleepless flights but the hard times—the miserable times—those make the best stories.

And the vistas, the sunsets, the little birds outside the window—those are the reminders that God is in the details, he is aware of us, he has trod the path before.

The Creative Spiritual Journey Podcast is hosted by Judy and Ghia Cooley—two sisters in their wisdom years—who love the savior and are dedicated to making this journey one small, deliberate step at a time.

Join us!

About your host

Profile picture for Ghia Cooley

Ghia Cooley