Nadine J Walters – My Life

Question for me today: What is your favorite quote?

Answer:
My very favorite quote is from Nelson Mandela: “It always seems impossible until it is done.”

I have this quote on a simple, unframed poster that has followed me from room to room, project to project, and crisis to crisis for more than ten years.

I’m not entirely sure why it stuck with me the way it has. Maybe it’s because I’ve always been someone who tries to see things through to the end. I don’t often have someone else there to pick up the pieces, and perhaps it’s also because my parents—especially my mother—instilled in me the value of perseverance. I seldom give up, and when I do, it’s not easy.

I understand the profound origins of this quote, and I know that nothing in my life compares to the scale of Mandela’s challenges. But even small things can feel overwhelmingly impossible in the moment. That’s why I come back to this quote when I’m facing something new, something daunting, or simply something I don’t want to do. Whether it’s remodeling the house, redoing the yard, planning a trip, or making a major purchase—tasks that seem small on the surface can sometimes feel insurmountable. In those moments, I look at that poster, gather my resolve, and get it done.

The last significant thing I let go of was being a yoga instructor. Some might say it was a shift rather than giving up, but even in my 70s, it felt like a loss. I had taught for five years, and it took time, effort, and courage to get there. Stepping away was bittersweet—but also necessary. Becoming a teacher was one of those “impossible” things I managed to accomplish. Teaching was a pleasure, an honor, and at times, a weight on my shoulders. I achieved it, and then it was time to let it go.

I’ve had the rare opportunity to enjoy two very different careers—first in business, then in education. In both, I believe I was more than competent. I absorbed all I could, gave it my best, and recognized when it was time to call each chapter complete. The first transition was forced by circumstance; the second was retirement. Ironically, that final step—retirement—felt like the most impossible one to take. But I did it, and I did it well.

Even now, I continue to face moments that feel impossible. I don’t always know what “it” is that I need to overcome each day, but I move forward anyway. That old poster serves as a reminder: I’ve made it this far—and that means nothing is truly impossible.