Copyright Aurora News-Register
Across Hamilton County, more people are proving that it’s never too late to start over. Whether it’s a teacher turning entrepreneur, a farmer punching a timeclock in town or a long-time public servant discovering new ways to serve, mid- and late-career Nebraskans are rewriting their work stories — not out of necessity, but out of choice and purpose. It’s a quiet but powerful movement, taking shape one decision at a time. For generations, the idea of “a career for life” defined success. You picked a lane early, stayed the course, and hoped your work would sustain you — financially and emotionally — until retirement. But today, more people are asking deeper questions: What if I’m meant to do something different? What if fulfillment, not familiarity, is the real goal? People like Mike Herman have answered those questions with action. After more than three decades tending crops and cattle at Grain Place Foods, Herman traded his tractor for a Ryde Transit van, driving seniors to appointments instead of managing rotations in the field. His story isn’t about slowing down, it’s about shifting gears to keep moving forward with purpose. “I have no regrets,” he said. Others, like Jessica Clark, turned a lifelong curiosity into a calling. What began as a dream sparked on a walk down Fifth Avenue in New York City grew into Roam & Ivy Flowers, a thriving floral business rooted, quite literally, in her family’s Hamilton County soil. After two decades as a massage therapist, Clark took a leap of faith to build something entirely new. “As you get older, you raise a family and I think last year I hit 40 and I thought, why not?” And then there’s Jody Griffith, who turned a successful banking career into public service when she was appointed Hamilton County treasurer nine years ago. Her journey, like so many others, reflects the power of community and the courage to embrace change. “I was ready to try something new and was given the perfect opportunity.” Each of these stories reflects a truth worth celebrating: reinvention is not a failure of the past, but an investment in the future. The work ethic that built this community — the same grit and resilience that defines Nebraska — doesn’t fade with time. It evolves. In an era when technology, health, and lifestyle changes are reshaping what “work” even means, the willingness to learn something new, or to chase a long-held dream, may be one of our most valuable local resources. These are not stories of midlife crisis, but of midlife courage. So whether you’re 25 or 65, maybe this special section will stir a thought or two. Maybe it will remind you that purpose isn’t limited by age or experience. And maybe, just maybe, it will inspire one more Hamilton County neighbor to take that leap and start their own next chapter. Because as these local stories show, it’s never too late to change course, and there’s no wrong time to try something new. -- Kurt Johnson
