Why it’s never too late to chase your dreams
Since a young age it was David Freilich’s, 65, dream to become a writer, however, his parents never agreed and thus he became a doctor instead.Forty years later he pursued his dream and is the author of three books – The Eden Effect; Switch; and Gold Standard. Here he shares with Over60 what this journey has taught him – namely that it really is never too late to chase your dreams.
I am in my late 60s and have just had my first three novels accepted for publication. I only mention my age to make the point that it is never too late to follow one’s dreams. Having said that, there are some caveats. Beyond a certain age, dreams such as climbing Mount Everest, participating in marathons and swimming the English Channel are probably not advisable. Leaving those extreme activities aside, it should never be too late to pursue one’s dreams or passions.
I was born a year after the end of World War II and became part of what later became known as the Baby Boomer generation. Many adjectives have been used to describe this generation and in recent years, these have been none too flattering. But whatever our generation eventually turned out to be, in our youth, despite the rebels among us, we were an obedient generation.
I cannot remember a time that I did not want to write. I must have displayed some talent because when I was nine or ten, my teacher told my mother “Your son should be a writer”. She never shared this piece of information with me. When in high school, I finally declared to my parents that I wanted to be a journalist. Their reply was “Don’t be ridiculous” and that was the end of the matter. So I became a doctor.
Forty five years later I am still a doctor. That is another trait of us Baby Boomers. We stick. With only a few exceptions, we are one career people. We are also by and large, on partner people, but that’s for another time. My career as a doctor has been satisfying and rewarding – personally, professionally and financially. I have no regrets about my chosen career. But the urge to write has never left me. Finally, in my twilight years I decided to act on it.
I started my first novel two years ago, wrote about a third of it and put it away in a drawer. I rediscovered it eight months ago and finished it. It is “The Eden Effect”. As it turned out, my first novel was actually my second. During a clean-up at home, I came across a box in a storeroom, containing half a dozen chapters of a book I had started, I could not recall when. It must have been a long time ago as the paperclips holding the sheets of paper together had almost rusted through. I finished that book too, “Gold Standard”.
The third book “Switch” was written from scratch, six months ago. It is the shortest (they are all quite short) and my favourite.
I sent the three books in turn to a publisher and was pleasantly surprised and more than a little excited, when all three were recommended for publication. They were then edited, typeset and covers were designed. Finally I received the printer’s proof.
I can’t tell you how wonderful it felt to see those books with my name on the cover (not my real name, I used a pen name). I have had positive feedback from family and friends who I allowed to read the books and there have been a few encouraging reviews so far.
At the present time, copies of all three books are on the high seas somewhere, making their way to Australia from Shanghai (where else) where they were printed. They should hit the bookstores in the next few weeks and will also be available on Amazon.
That is when the real test will come. Do I hope they will be successful? Of course I do. But I am a realist and have prepared myself for failure. No matter. I have finally done what I have dreamed of doing for so long. And I am not alone. Among my friends there is an architect whose longstanding love of art has led him to build a private art gallery where he plans to share his art with the public. Then there is an accountant who has turned his hand to baking cookies which are now being sold in gourmet food stores all around Australia. Imagine what the reaction would have been if he had told his parents when he was in his teens that that was what he really wanted to do.
So, this is my message to my generation, my fellow Baby Boomers. It is never too late. If you have a passion to do something different, to break the mould, do it. Don’t wait and don’t be afraid of failure. Pursue your dreams, whether they are old or new. Just be careful not to break a leg or have a heart attack doing it.
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