I started playing piano at 25. Programming at 30 and made it my career. Figure skating at 31.

And every time, people seemed shocked. “Wait, you didn’t start as a child?” “You’re learning that now?” There’s this weird belief that once you pass a certain age, you can’t learn anything new anymore. That you’ve missed the boat.

And I think that’s ridiculous.

You Don’t Have to Go Pro

Of course, I’m not going to the Olympics. I’m not going to be a concert pianist. But why should that stop me? Why is joy, growth, or even mastery only valid if you make it your profession?

If I limited myself only to what my parents signed me up for, my life would look very different — and much smaller. I was a competitive swimmer as a kid. I was good. I won things. And today? I never swim. I find it boring. I liked winning more than swimming itself.

Now compare that to piano, figure skating, and programming — all things I chose myself as an adult. Those bring me joy. They feel like mine.

The Fear of Being a Beginner

People often say they’d love to try something, but then immediately follow up with “but I’m too old,” or “it’s too late,” or “I’ll never be good at it.” But here’s the truth: you’re probably not too old. You might just be scared to be bad at something.

And yes — starting something new as an adult is vulnerable. It can be awkward. But what’s the worst-case scenario?

• You try piano lessons and discover it’s not for you. Okay. Nobody dies.
• You try programming and find it too hard. Okay. You spent some time, and now you know more than you did before.
• You try skating and you fall. Literally. And then you get up. That’s the whole point.

It’s Okay to Change

We’re allowed to outgrow things. I used to cycle a lot, now I don’t. I used to play guitar. Now it’s just an expensive dust collector in the corner. It doesn’t mean I failed at these activities. It just means I found something I liked more.

And the truth is, learning new things is hard. You don’t always see immediate results. In my skating group, I’ve seen so many people come and go. They show up, skate for a few months, don’t see quick progress, and then they quit.

But I’m still there. Week after week. Year after year. And when I look back two years ago, even though it didn’t always feel like I was improving, I actually was. That’s the beauty of consistency.

Keep Showing Up

This mindset — of showing up, of trying things, of persisting — is what made all of this possible. I used to think I wasn’t smart enough to be an engineer. And yet here I am. Not only working as a software engineer, but also building something I care about: Cadenso, a music practice app to help musicians track and connect through their practice. That wouldn’t exist if I hadn’t kept going.

A lot of this ties into the book Grit by Angela Duckworth. She writes about the power of perseverance over talent. She argues that what matters most isn’t how gifted you are, but how long you’re willing to keep going. And I see that in my life over and over again.

The Courage to Try

I remind myself:

I’d rather try and fail than never try at all. Because if I never try, I’ll always wonder — what if?

• What if I could have learned this?
• What if it could have brought me joy?
• What if it could have enriched my life in ways I can not imagine now?

And honestly, that regret would be worse than failing.

We’re adults. We get to choose what we do. Let’s normalize that. The world opens up when we stop putting arbitrary limits on ourselves. It’s okay to be a beginner. It’s okay to struggle. And it’s okay to follow your passion — even if you’re not “good” at it. Yet.

A Personal Note

I’ve been that person googling “Am I too old to start figure skating?” or “Can I learn programming in my 30s?” I didn’t believe in myself. I thought I had missed my chance. But I tried anyway — and it changed my life.

If you’re reading this and feeling that doubt, I want to say: it’s okay to be scared. Do it anyway. You might just surprise yourself.

If this resonated, I’d love to hear what you’re learning — or dreaming of starting.