Fifty and Not Faking It!
What do milestones really mean?
Welcome or welcome back! Series two, episode two of A Writer’s Life! If you’d like to hear me read this, then click here: (Music by FASSounds and Music_For_Videos from Pixabay.)
5 minute read
I made it! Half a century and I feel so honoured as I personally know that not everyone has the privilege of reaching the age of 50. I celebrated my 50th birthday a couple of weeks ago and it was exhilarating!
Once upon a time, I would have reached a birthday milestone and mourned all the things I hadn’t accomplished yet, how my life wasn’t what I expected it would be at that age, and beat myself up for not achieving the set goals.
The set goals - set by who? And for the benefit of who? We spend so much time trying to live up to a set of impossible standards. Standards that can grind us down rather than lift us up.
On the morning of my birthday, I experienced deep gratitude and a real acknowledgement of everything I had achieved and where I am now. I wasn’t looking to the future and pressurising myself to reach new goals. I simply enjoyed the moment. I enjoyed the family and friends in my life. I enjoyed my cards, kind thoughts and gifts. I enjoyed my house, the clothes on my back, food in my cupboards and glorious nature a stone’s throw away.
But most of all, I enjoyed my independence and confidence. That true knowing of self that doesn’t necessarily come when you reach a certain age, but when you develop a certain mindset. A mindset that grows over time through lived experiences.
Writing and self publishing my own book was an acceleration in this process. Holding the book in my hand and knowing that I did it. That I respected, honoured and cared enough about myself to pour time, energy and resources into making this happen. I matter. I have something to say. I deserve to be heard. I know people want to experience my words.
These may sound like a string of affirmations and could be used as such, but for me, they are simply - my truth. My book changed me. I feel enhanced and there has been such a flurry of activity since then:
hitting the open mic scene with some spoken word
becoming more active within London Writers’ Salon (see what I’m up to here)
having poems and a drabble published
writing for a website
interviewing authors for a website (same one)
working with incredible, talented people
Did I need to have written and published a book to achieve all this? No, but I needed the confidence that going through the whole process has given me. I revealed the real me and I only started with a few words. Then a few more. And some more. Until unbeknownst to me at first, I had a book!
There was a lot I had to learn, perceived barriers I felt I had to overcome and mistakes I had to make. But first I had to decide whether to self publish or go the traditional publishing route. Which would be best for me? I’ll share more about traditional vs self publishing in the March newsletter.
Ok, you know that I have skilled myself up and published a book. Well, I want to take it a step further and see you fantastic writers take your words out into the world! There’s no need to do what I did and spend hundreds and hundreds on courses, get all hunched up and bent over reading through millions of blogs, and become glassy eyed watching YouTube tutorials.
I’ve retraced my steps and picked out the best bits. I will be launching a course later this year, tentatively entitled “From Notebook to Paper Book” where you can join me on a six week adventure supporting and guiding you through the Amazon KDP self publishing process. Just think, at the beginning you’ll have a selection of poems, stories, prose, memoir and by the end you will be able to click a few times and order your own book! Hold it in your hands. You will be an author!
So, in full transparency, expect to read a little more about the upcoming course and how it came into being. I’ll still be chronicling my writing life because it’s all tied up together.
If this feels like it’s not really for you then feel free to unsubscribe. No hard feelings. I get it. Our email inboxes need to be rationed. If it is for you, then hold on for the ride and know that as being part of this community, you will get the tasty tidbits and offers before anyone else! If you know of anyone else who might be interested in self publishing, feel free to share the newsletter!
Questions or queries around traditional vs self publishing? Not sure if you’re quite ready to publish? Hit me up in these micro office hours I’m offering to subscribers only.
A fifteen minute chat to chew the cud. Limited slots. Limited availability. I’m only offering it to you lovely lot for sticking with me.
Questions? Hit reply and let’s start a conversation. Happy writing! See you in March and thanks for reading (or listening).
If it’s your first time here, here’s a quick welcome video to view at your leisure: watch me
Click to hear me recite the poem
Take a glance Back over your shoulder Look how far you have come Look how high up you are See the view Take it all in You made it You know You feel it That joy The ecstasy of being Doing the thing that Has you smiling and laughing And excited And hungry for more And wanting to tell everyone And share The fact You have found The holy grail Of you And loving you Gratitude abound Peace throughout Joy overflowing All hail the light. ©2022 Sarah Elliott From: Warrior Wisdom Sun by Sarah Elliott
Happy Birthday- and welcome to the 5th floor! 🎉
The perfect dose of awe-inspiring inspiration! Beautiful, Sarah.