For decades, my life was defined by white nursing shoes, stethoscopes, and the fast-paced rhythm of hospital corridors. I loved my career as a Registered Nurse, and later, my time working as a school registrar. I spent my days focusing on the needs of patients, students, and my own growing family. Writing children's books was a quiet dream I kept tucked away in the back of my heart, a beautiful "someday" project that I assumed had passed me by.
But life has a beautiful way of reminding us that our stories are rarely finished in the chapters we expect.
Stepping Into a New Chapter
When I finally retired, the familiar busy routines of my working life slowed down. It was during this period of transition, combined with the profound loss of my father in 2020, that I realized the clock was not running out. Instead, a whole new canvas was opening up in front of me.
Saying 'yes' to this creative journey later in life has already taught me a few invaluable lessons about chasing your dreams:
- Time Is a Gift, Not a Barrier: Age and experience are not limitations. In fact, decades of listening to people, raising children, and loving grandchildren gave me a well of empathy that made my writing so much richer.
- Legacy Matters: Sometimes, the dreams we carry are not just for ourselves. Publishing my stories is a way to honor the legacy of my father, Papa Eddie, who always believed these words belonged in the world.
- Courage Grows with Action: You do not need to know every single step of the publishing process to begin. You just need the courage to write the first sentence and take things one day at a time.
The Adventure is Just Beginning
If you are holding onto a creative dream, a hidden talent, or a quiet whisper in your heart that says try, I want to encourage you to listen to it. Your timeline does not have to match anyone else's, and retirement is not an endpoint. It is simply an open door to a brand-new adventure.
Stepping into the world of writing after I retired and working to place these stories into the hands of my grandchildren is a joy I almost missed out on. Trust your heart, take the leap, and remember that it is never, ever too late to begin.