"It's never too late to be who you might have been."

 --George Elliot

This quote hits a little personal for me. 

On October 12, 1993 I started working as a Corrections Officer inside the Warren County Jail in Lebanon Ohio.  I was quite successful at the career, achieving the rank of Corporal within 5 years, then the rank of Sergeant less than a year later, and ultimately the rank of Lieutenant 3 years after that.  I was planning on further promotions, eventually becoming the Jail Administrator (Warden) and planned on retiring after 30 years at the young age of 53 years old.  Well, the Lord had different plans for me; in June 2013, while working at my desk, I had what the doctors termed a "sudden onset stroke".  That was my last day of work in the Warren County Jail.

I went on sick leave and was employed with Warren County for a few more months while I recuperated.  However, in January 2014 I ran out of sick hours and had to make a decision.  I could have asked fellow employees to donate sick leave to me, and I am sure many would have as I always donated to others when they needed it.  However, morally, I could not do so as I knew the chances of me returning to the job were slim; I was still (and do to this day) get dizzy very easy.  So, I made the decision to leave the job I loved on January 30, 2014.

Now at this point I am a 43-year old man with an MBA in a career I can no longer do, I still have a mortgage, a car payment, 2 pre-teen girls, and other bills; what do I do?  I thought for sure it was "too late" to do anything productive.

Today, after a couple of years of trying some careers, I am finding success in the funeral industry.  I get to help people plan a funeral that they want, and make a decent living doing so.  In fact, this year, my first full year in this profession, I should make more than my highest year at the Sheriff's Office.

It is never too late!