69 Year Old Fashion Model and Cancer Survivor is an Inspiration

On a particularly discouraging day for me here in upstate New York, my mother handed me an article about model, author and motivational speaker Valerie Ramsey. I've been happy lately with the way my online writing has been going, but feeling stuck sometimes in some other aspects of my life. I'm not living in the area where I really want to be, and jobs have been pretty scarce here.

On top of the frustrating job situation, I've been struggling with a sense of direction in my life. I feel like I want to go in exciting new directions with my life, and I have a lot of really interesting ideas, but excuses pop up in my head. While I'm still young, I wonder if it's too late for me to pursue some of my aspirations in life. I've wanted to combine performing with writing, but after a failed attempt to follow those dreams in New York City, I've been trying to live with the idea that those times of reaching for the stars might be behind me now, that there are stages of life (at this point I should be more settled and on a sensible life path, and chasing dreams is an activity for the young).

Sometimes the universe brings you just what you need to see, when you need to see it. Today this article came into my hands about Valerie Ramsey. Ramsey isn't your typical model/speaker/author, as she didn't really start to pursue her dreams until she was in her fifties. Valerie Ramsey is a mother of six who decided she wanted a career after her kids were grown. So she took an entry level job in her fifties and through a lot of hard work and fortitude, she rose up through the ranks in public relations.

But there were obstacles for Valerie Ramsey to overcome when she was in her late fifties. As she started her career in public relations, she learned she had a heart abnormality and uterine cancer, and she also broke her foot! Ramsey was determined to overcome these obstacles, and she survived heart surgery and beat her uterine cancer (a disease that took the lives of her mother and grandmother). One day a talent scout spotted Valerie Ramsey, and her modeling career was launched at age 63! Ramsey is signed with a number of important agencies and does runway and commercial work for companies like Lexus.

On top of all that, Valerie Ramsey wrote a book called "Gracefully" to motivate others to reach out for their best life (the book was co-authored with her daughter, writer Heather Hummel). These days, Valerie Ramsey is also a motivational speaker, sharing her message that it's never too late to follow your dreams.

Valerie Ramsey is a big believer in looking ahead and always going forward, asking yourself "what's next?" I find Valerie's story totally inspirational and wanted to share it with others today. I'm generally happy living upstate in New York, and not sure I'd want to move back to the city; however, Valerie's story has taught me not to limit myself. I'm in the process of excavating buried dreams, dusting them off, and asking myself "what if?"

Is there an age limit on a deeply held dream, and are the self defeating beliefs I have about chasing my dreams just an illusion? If a 69 year old woman can raise 6 kids, then start her first job in her fifties and rise up to a high level position, beat cancer, then become an in demand fashion model, doesn't that show that life offers infinite possibilities for all of us?

I feel that by staying open to abundance, thinking outside of the box, and remaining positive in the face of negative circumstances, miracles can happen and dreams can come true. Valerie Ramsey's story is a tribute to what can happen when we say yes to life and have the courage to go boldly forward, constantly pursuing our goals. If you'd like to read more about Valerie Ramsey and her life and work, check out her book and visit her official site: www.valerieramsey.com.

Source:
www.valerieramsey.com