When I stopped letting age define me

In my late teens, I wanted to learn to play the harp and hoped to become a professional harpist. But the head of the harp department at the local music conservatory told me I was too old to take up the study and make a career of it. 

Years later, after establishing myself in another arts-related career, I met a world-famous harpist in New York City. I told her that if I had met her when I was a child, I would have taken up the harp, and I shared the story of being denied the opportunity to study the harp because of my age. She immediately told me that if I stopped letting age define me, I would never again be too young or too old to do anything. And if I did this, she’d take me as a student. I agreed and commenced studying with her.

I found out later that this woman was a Christian Scientist. Her encouragement to stop letting age define me was my introduction to the practical truths taught in Christian Science. I am grateful for finding this freedom—and for my fulfilling career as a harpist that followed.