Part of reinventing ourselves, I have learned, is reinventing the rules. Stretching their boundaries, interpreting them from different angles, and even better, writing our own rules. It’s truly up to us to reflect not only who we are, but how far we can go.
After spending a number of years at home raising my children, I knew the time had come for something more. My daughters were getting older, going into high school, soon to be off to college, leaving me with plenty of unscheduled time. With their growing independence, my independence would grow as well. As they depended on me less, I would have to depend on me more. So I faced the question: What do I do? Do I return to work? Do I pursue an advanced college degree? These questions were the hands on the clock indicating the moment had arrived when it became time to reinvent myself.
An idea kept returning to me. I’d always loved to read, and years before my mother had suggested that I write a book. Our discussion went off on an author tangent, with me believing only other people wrote books. She gently informed me to write what I know. Something along the lines of a memoir. Or perhaps fiction using themes from my own life. But I had no formal training, I’d countered. I hadn’t published before. I wouldn’t even know where to begin.
Little did I know that I had begun my book with that conversation. The seed of the idea was planted and took root. Not long afterwards, I began writing freelance articles, dipping my toes into a writing life.
My mother’s phrase came back to me again and again. The more I wrote, the more I researched the craft of writing and saw the credo to “Write what you know,” repeatedly.
And so I did. I had already turned forty, and in recent years had listened to stories of friends and acquaintances who, turning the corner on that milestone birthday, celebrated with girls’ weekends out. Most of these included dinners, shopping, stays in
