It was a gathering of mostly young children who were to receive certificates for completing a horse-riding course. Their parents watched fondly as the little tykes, some older teenagers among them, ran up to receive the piece of paper that certified them budding riders. Invited later to share their experiences the kids grinned shyly, their earlier exuberance replaced with the normal inhibitions that overwhelm most of us when asked to speak before an audience.

Only one person took the mike that day. A 45-year-old lady who wasn't there in the capacity of parent but as an initially unwilling participant of the course. There was a visible look of wonder on her face as she spoke about how the ten-day course had changed her perceptions about animals. "I was extremely frightened of animals," she admitted. "I always refused to have anything to do with them. And then I decided to face my fear by enrolling in the horse-riding course. I'm amazed at the change in me - where once I wouldn't go anywhere near an animal, leave alone such a big one, now I'm actually able to touch it without cringing."

It took guts for the lady to stand up and admit to her phobia. It was also very courageous of her to participate in a course where her fellow students were young children. Inspired by an 80-year-old woman who decided to learn sky jumping, the lady made her own leap of faith. Trying to remain undaunted by her fear, she settled into the saddle and while she may have shivered in fright initially, she was able to stay the course. Apart from learning a new skill, she has managed to overcome a longstanding and probably irrational fear. Confident and happier, she can now look forward to the perhaps small but significant changes that this will bring to her life.

That's what it takes. A leap of faith. And it's never too late to make it. We get so conditioned to a certain type of behaviour or lifestyle or even work ethic that it becomes impossible to initiate any changes. For decades we live and work and play in a certain way, unwilling to chart a different, unfamiliar course. We nurture childhood fears till they grow into full-scale adult phobias, we make much of our so-called inadequacies. But nothing is carved in stone. Life is about change and we need to find the courage to accept that.

It could be something as simple as learning a new skill or developing a new hobby. Just because you have never read a book in your life doesn't mean you can't begin now. You don't need to be an athlete to learn how to roller-skate, or a technician to be an amateur radio operator. You can learn a new language at 50 - it might be difficult but it will definitely be rewarding.

Interestingly more and more people these days seem to be willing to make this leap of faith in their professional lives. As they enter mid-life they realise that they're spending their working lives engaged in something that doesn't captivate them anymore. Increasingly aware of their own mortality, they are struck by the realisation that time is running out and they haven't done any of the things they promised themselves in their idealistic youth. So you have management gurus who drop out of the race to become organic farmers, or doctors who ditch their stethoscopes in favour of the paintbrush, or engineers who start specialty restaurants.

Like the horse-riding lady who turned her aversion of animals into something approaching a liking, others have tried to overcome their natural fears and qualms about following new paths. It doesn't require reserves of physical strength. What it needs is the right attitude, a willingness to take risks and make mistakes, and the courage of your convictions.

I know of an 85-year-old gentleman who is learning web designing when he has some time to spare from experimenting with his new digital camera. He's made that leap of faith with ease, and when others his age are keeping track of their ailments, he's designing a fulfilling new life for himself. So what's keeping you and me from doing the same?