An old video from the 2017 Forbes Women's Forum is going viral again on social media, especially among women, for its inspiring message about success and new beginnings at any age.
In that speech, the famous American judge Judith Sheindlin, known worldwide from the show Judge Judy , delivered a message that is still touching thousands of people today.
"If you don't make it in your 20s, you can make it in your 30s. If you don't make it in your 30s, you can make it in your 40s. And if you don't make it in your 40s, you can make it in your 50s. It's never too late," she said.
Then, Sheindlin brought up the extraordinary story of Grandma Moses, the woman who began painting at the age of 80 and became one of the most famous American artists of the last century.
Her real name was Anna Mary Robertson Moses and she was born on September 7, 1860 on a farm in New York state, into a family of 10 children. Her life was not easy at all. She married farmer Thomas Salmon Moses at the age of 27 and gave birth to 10 children, but five of them died in infancy.
For decades, Anna lived a simple rural life, working on the farm and taking care of her family. Art was not a profession, but just a small passion that she expressed through embroidery and home decorations.
Everything changed when, at the age of 78, she developed arthritis and could no longer embroider. It was her sister who suggested she try painting as an easier alternative. And that suggestion changed her life.
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Shortly before turning 80, Anna began painting with whatever materials she had around the house, including wall paint, pieces of wood, and small canvases. Although she was self-taught and did not follow the classical rules of art, her paintings began to attract attention for the nostalgic way in which they depicted rural American life.
She painted simple scenes of farms, traditional holidays, snowy winters, and family life, deliberately avoiding elements of modern industrialization. Her works conveyed warmth, memories, and an America that many felt was disappearing.
Her talent was noticed when collector Louis J. Caldor accidentally discovered the paintings and helped her organize professional exhibitions. Within a few years, “ Grandma Moses ” became an international phenomenon.
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In the 1950s, her exhibitions broke attendance records and her name became a symbol of hope and new beginnings. Life magazine featured her on the cover for its 100th anniversary, while many universities and organizations honored her for her contributions to the arts and culture.
She continued to paint until a few months before her death, at the age of 101, in 1961.
Art historians still consider her today as a cultural icon and a symbol of inspiration for women, housewives, retirees, and anyone who thinks it's "too late" to start something new.
While her most famous quote continues to inspire entire generations:
“Life is what we make it. It always has been. It always will be.”
