As I entered my early, wide-eyed 30s, I made the bold decision to leave my stable job as a mental health counselor and dive headfirst into the unpredictable world of art business. Despite being relatively new to pottery, I was reassured by friends in the art festival scene that I had what it takes to succeed.
For two decades, my life was a whirlwind of nonstop action: from creating art and traveling to art shows across the U.S., to establishing a freelance writing career and working on a book. I also became a certified professional life coach and took on a part-time role as a magazine editor for a nonprofit. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and I lost my magazine job, I felt the sting of losing my most reliable source of income.
In the midst of uncertainty, I found myself facing the reality of aging and feeling lost for the first time in my life. It turns out there’s a name for what was happening. It’s called “maturing.”
After losing my job, I stumbled upon Arthur C. Brooks’s book, “From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life.” Brooks shares insights from seven years of research, revealing that happiness in later life comes from tending to our relationships and embracing the wisdom acquired with age.
Brooks shares the story of Charles Darwin, highlighting the deep wisdom that we acquire with age and the value of forging meaningful relationships. This knowledge brings a newfound perspective and meaning to the second half of life.