What if I got real with my writing?
What if, instead of talking theoretically about growth and self-help, I started to write about what it was REALLY like to be a 62-year-old woman in 2018?
Would people read it? Could I stand to be that real?
It’s gonna get real up in here!
I think I was born with a pen in my hand. I wrote stories when I was a little kid.
My dad wrote stories too. He wrote about being an Irishman who moved to America to raise a family. He wrote about faith and family and all its challenges. He never did anything with his writing because he was too busy providing for the eight kids he sired.
I’ve had some success in writing, having 7 books traditionally published and many more things published than I can even recall. I’ve spoken at conventions around the country and been on radio and TV.
Besides raising my own brood of four kids, now all young adults, writing has been the joy of my life, along with the speaking and encouraging that has accompanied it.
Sometimes I don’t even feel like the same person who wrote those books. My books are about parenting, adoption, and homeschooling.
For me, family life was both a bouquet of blessings and a nightmare of difficulties. I’ve survived, as have my kids.
But life is different now. The young adults don’t “need” me in the ways that they needed me when they were young. The intense, hands-on years of raising young souls are over.
As they grew, I stared into my future and it scared the hell out of me.
When you mother wholeheartedly, sometimes we forget who we are.
I did.
I was so busy doing for others and tending to the needs of others that I began to lose some of my self.
That self was always underneath, often clawing for attention. I definitely ignored her. But she refused to be silenced.
It has been a great joy and adventure to rediscover and express myself!
Sometimes 62 feels old. Sometimes it feels like adolescence all over again.
But it’s adolescence with money and good insurance. And I’m having a much better time of it.
It’s an interesting time in life isn’t it Christine? We finally come up for air and start thinking about what we can do for ourselves – what’s “real” for us and what we want to invest our time and talent in. I love that you’re making such a intentional process of deciding what’s next for you.
On a side note….. I was wondering if your blog makes you much of an income because you have SO many ads and pop-ups. I’ve avoided them because they’re distracting to me, but I was curious as to whether having as many as you do makes it worthwhile?
Thanks for linking up with us at #MLSTL – I’ll be sharing this on my SM xx
Thanks. The ads are experiments. I have a service – monumetric.com. They DO produce revenue, but it’s a bit distracting. Plus, I need to tone down the lead magnets too. I am always learning!
Thanks for letting me know Christine – I find pop-up ads etc really distracting and they cover up so much of the actual blog – I just noticed you have three or four that have to be closed to be able to see what you’ve written and then several other ads in amongst your text. I find the little one I have in my sidebar does almost nothing revenue wise and wondered how many it takes to make it worthwhile including more. I think I’ll stick with what I’ve got for now.
Found you through #MLSTL — and will be looking for your insight on getting real!
I have always wanted to write and that is why I started the blog. Now that I have the time to write I find it hard to find things I really want to write about. lol
Maybe you need to write about the ambivalence. Getting what you think you want and still feeling stuck. I’m sure many other people feel this way and you’ll strike a chord!
Hello Christine and it is lovely to have you join us at #MLSTL. I’m 61 in August but like many, I don’t feel it. Life is not always perfect, but I’m making the most of it. I’m inspired by so many women of our generation who are taking on new things and embracing life. Have a beautiful week and see you at the next link up. 🙂
“adolescence with money and good insurance” GREAT summary of this time in our lives. I resonate with all you said (and even wrote a bit on the loss of identity on my #MLSTL post this week).
In answer to your question (although perhaps it was rhetorical) … YES… we would read the real adventures of a 62-year-old woman processing this new phase of life. I am always encouraged to learn I am not alone in my thoughts and feelings.