35. 40. 55. Which number did you decide was too late? Changing direction does not erase what you have learned. You bring that experience with you.
A change of direction does not have to be a rejection of every year that came before it. Your experience comes with you, including what you learned about what does and does not fit.
Before announcing a new life, describe the part you want to change. Is it the work itself, the way your days are arranged, a commitment you no longer want, or a direction you have been following out of habit?
That distinction matters. A different routine and a different profession are not the same decision. Name the change clearly enough to examine its consequences and the people it affects.
You can begin with a conversation, a small project or a period of learning. Decide what that step should help you find out. It might confirm an interest, reveal a difficulty or show that you were asking the wrong question.
Beginning again is allowed to be thoughtful. You do not have to prove your courage through a sudden break with everything. The invitation is to stop letting fear of starting over make every decision for you.