Why chasing dreams is never too late
“This is more than achievement—it’s alignment.”
That line from actress and psychology practitioner Jodi Sta. Maria’s recent Instagram post struck me while I was in a contemplative mood earlier this week. It captures something I’ve been learning slowly over the years—that fulfillment doesn’t come from simply collecting milestones. It comes from living in alignment with who we are becoming and showing up for ourselves, even when it feels difficult.
If you think about it, how often do we disqualify ourselves from starting because we think we’re too old, too damaged, or too late? How often do we look at our past mistakes or the lost years and tell ourselves that it’s too late to dream again?
Jodi reminds us otherwise.
In her caption, she wrote, “When God plants a dream in your heart, it’s never by accident. It’s His gentle reminder that you’re made for more, that your steps are guided, and that even in the waiting or the struggles, He is shaping you for the promise. Hold on, trust the process, and keep moving forward… because what He begins in you, He intends to complete.”
That kind of faith hits differently when you know Jodi’s story. She shared that she once tucked her dreams away, whispered them to God quietly, not knowing if or when they would unfold. She doubted herself, she questioned the timing of her life, but she kept moving.
And now, we see the fruit of that perseverance. Aside from being an award-winning actress and a mother, she is an ear acupuncture detoxification specialist, a positive psychology coach, an interpersonal psychotherapy Level A practitioner, and soon, a master’s degree holder in counseling and psychotherapy, as well as a grief support practitioner.
It’s tempting to call these things “achievements.” But as Jodi has shown, they’re really signs of alignment. Each step was not about chasing recognition—it was about consistently showing up, healing, and growing. She continues to evolve. As a proverb says, “A rolling stone gathers no moss.”
Her journey is something close to my heart.
When I pursued further studies at 38, I remember questioning if it was too late. I remember thinking about the people younger than me who had already reached similar milestones earlier in their lives. I asked myself, “Is this still worth it?” But Jodi’s words echo my own realization. It’s not about being first—it’s about being faithful. It’s about grit. It’s about taking the next right step, even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it feels scary.
There’s so much pressure in our culture to be fast. Graduate early. Land a dream job immediately. Hit milestones on schedule, as if life is a checklist we all must complete at the same pace. And yet, the truth is this: life is not linear. Dreams do not expire.
Jodi’s story is proof.
She reminds us that working and healing can happen side by side. That progress doesn’t have to be loud to be real. And that consistency, more than intensity, is what shapes us.
That’s what I see in Jodi’s journey. She didn’t just heal privately—she kept showing up publicly, bravely sharing her path, and in the process inspiring so many of us who are still figuring ours out.
So, if you’ve been doubting yourself, thinking you’ve missed your moment, I hope you hear Jodi’s words as much as I did: You’re not too late. You’re not too broken. Just start.
Start scared. Start small. But most importantly, just start. It’s the alignment that happens when your life, your purpose, and your healing move together in rhythm.
If you have a nagging dream to pursue, then this is your sign. Like Jodi, we owe it to ourselves to keep moving forward—bravely, consistently, and always aligned.
For your random thoughts, e-mail the author at randomrepublika@gmail.com.
