Friday, January 31, 2020

Happy birthday to me

Today is my 56th birthday. I find it increasingly hard to believe I'm as old as I am, but I also realize that 56 is not what it was when I was a kid. I don't just mean in the childlike sense of anyone over 50 seemed ancient, but even looking at photographs of my mom and my aunts, in their 50s, they were much older than I look or feel today.

I've wanted my entire life to be a writer. I've written for my entire life. It took me until I was 54 to start seriously seeking publication. At 55, I signed a publishing contract and published my first book. Now my birthday gift to you all is to say if there is something you want to do with your life, get off your butt and do it. You're not getting any younger. If you wait 5 years to start all you will be is 5 years older.

I may regret the time I spent not attempting to publish, but I still wrote. Many of those stories are on my computer now, in one form or another. Many more are in my head, asking to come out. I am bulging with stories. And now that I've started, I will not allow anyting - including me - to derail the path that I should have taken long ago.

I've said it once, and I will say it as many times as I need to. Get out of your own way.

4 comments:

Galica said...

It's your birthday, but you've given me the present. Thank you.
And Happy Birthday!

linda said...

Hi. Long time reader here!
I just got off the phone with our doctor's office. The staff member was telling me I was due for a certain girly exam. I said that I had heard it was unnecessary after age sixty five. The nurse told me I needed to have the exam until I was seventy.
It wasn't till I got off the phone that I remembered...... uh, I am seventy.
I sure don't feel it! and am not putting my feet up in those stirrups either. lol
You are still just a youngster. Happy birthday.

Vicki M said...

Happy birthday! And thanks for the reminder to just do it.

DawnSSL said...

Happy birthday and congratulations on your awakening. I was talking to my SIL and she invited me to join her at a senior center that she frequents.. She said although your only fifty you can participate in most activities, with a small fee.. I thought to myself “ wait I will be fifty in two weeks “
I couldn’t really believe it for a second.. sort of an out-of-body experience.. when I was young, I thought I would “know” when I became middle-aged.. But apparently not!!!