She became a rockstar at 45. To say that her first love had been turbulent would be to grossly understate the damage done to her body and her mind. When she exited that relationship (even though for years she remained on the run from an ex who was determined to undo her), she took with her only her name and a mountain of debt. She had 4 boys, no income, no husband, and no idea how she was going to craft her comeback.
Yet, here she was: beginning again.
Little did she know that her comeback would be more epic than her first act. Or that from her lowest point, she would become a rockstar legend in just under 4 years. Or that what she had survived and overcome would cause her to become authentically Tina Turner.
She would go on to sell more than 100 million records worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling recording artists of all time. Tina Turner received 12 Grammy Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and three Grammy Hall of Fame inductions. She was the first black artist and the first woman to be on the cover of Rolling Stone. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: with Ike Turner in 1991 and as a solo artist in 2021. In 2005, she received the Kennedy Center Honors and the Women of the Year award.
The life of Tina Turner serves as a sterling example for women everywhere:
It is never too late to start over.
In her own words, these are the words of wisdom of Tina Turner:
Quotes from Tina Turner
1. Stand Up for Your Life
“I decided to stand up for my life and fight for my future. Standing up meant that I had to start by sitting down and searching within.”
2. Learn from Unpleasant Experiences
“We must learn the lessons from any unpleasant experiences we’ve had. If we do not, they will continue to hold power over us, and we will feel compelled to repeat them.”
3. Stay Present
“Clear perception is always grounded in the present.”
4. Transform Challenges into Opportunities
“As intensely bad as the problems are, that’s how intensely good the benefits can be.”
5. Face Problems with Confidence
“Changing poison into medicine starts with facing your problems with the confidence that you have the power within you not just to overcome challenges but also to thrive because of them.”
6. Find a Mentor
“It’s safe to say that every great leader, in any field, first had a great mentor.”
7. Create a Mission Statement
“If you haven’t created a mission statement for your life, I encourage you to do so and be candid with yourself about what you value and what you truly want.”
8. Remove Doubt
“Remove all doubt from your mind.”
9. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
“Stepping out of your comfort zone is a lifelong practice.”
10. Make a Choice
“Will I step forward or will I stay where I am now?”
11. Self-Motivate
“Rather than self-medicate, I chose to self-motivate.”
12. Continue Growing
“I’ve passed eighty but I have not ‘arrived’ because I challenge myself to grow and to be of service to others.”
13. Recognize Your Value
“In realizing my own value, I recognize the value in all others.”
14. Change Your Perception
“Our perception determines the way events affect us. So, when we change the way a past event affects us, we effectively change the past.”
15. Never Give Up
“Please, never give up.”
Final Thoughts
Whenever you fear that you are too late, remember Tina Turner. Her breakdown was the catalyst for her greatest comeback. We learn from her that it is never too late to begin again.
Auxiliary Resources:
- The Knowing Woman →, the confidence course for women.
- Go deeper in your journey of healing: “Strength In Our Scars” by Bianca →
