Beautiful story, Jessica, and one that resonates with me. I did get married young, had two children one year apart, and divorced when they were 6 and 18 months. Since then, it's been MY life, the way I want it. Not always easy, but always exciting. I talk about my born-again single life in my post tomorrow. I think you might see yourself in some of it. Blue💙
'Sometimes, very often we’re only served opportunities once in our lives and when they’re gone they’re gone. The version we would have been disappears too.' So well put, I've so often felt this - both in my life and in my friends' too. In the early 2010s I received funding for an arts PhD, but I didn't have the self-belief to push myself all the way towards an academic career. At the same time, I wanted to explore other options like freelance writing and living abroad. My decision to leave academia after finishing the PhD was born out of fear and curiosity all at once -a real mix of good and bad! But I've learned to watch out for fear-based self-sabotage disguise as the desire to take a trip!
This was such a beautiful read Jessica, thank you. I’m also a huge lover of Big Magic, I truly believe it found me just when I needed it most. I’ve always felt creative but had never found the one creative endeavour that felt like my calling, until I realised it was writing. I’ve been dreaming of writing paying my bills for years now, but always remembered what Liz mentions in the book about not putting too much pressure on our creativity to pay the bills. Some days I wonder if by overthinking that, it is perhaps telling the universe I don’t want it.
This really resonated. I recently wrote a piece about grieving the lives we thought we’d live after feeling similar about where I thought I’d be at this age when I was younger. The dreams I thought I’d have lived out. Thank you for reminding me that I can still fulfil these past versions of myself in a different light 🤎
Beautifully written, not many people understand the power they have to make decisions that they thought were no longer for them, or that they've missed their opportunity. It's never too late. It's a powerful moment when you recognise that.
Absolutely. Like you, choosing safety over the unknown I studied English at University instead of Creative Writing. Yet here I am, a Substack writer now with a second degree in art. At 58. A long time coming but worth the wait and probably something I can more fully enjoy and appreciate at this later life stage.
This is exactly what I needed to read today and thank you for sharing this. Your idea on the personal learning syllabus is genius and I want to take action on that as well. I’m in construction marketing, but I think what it would be like if I did take the exchange trip to London to study art and science journalism. The idea of missing out on a life that was meant for us seems to add pressure, but the idea that everything that’s meant for you is yours takes that off. I loved reading every word of this, thank you
Thank you Jessica....I am 64 and found this thought provoking and inspiring. I can definitely resonate with the Teenager who didnt feel able..worthy to pursue interests..or know what they were. Life has shown me the opportunies i can follow...Looking to dive in and build my confidence muscle..definitely the Year of the Fire Horse!!.😉😊
Edging closer to 50 here and believing there's still many sliding door moments that will come. I think there's a beauty in those moments and planting our feet solidly in new places to explore the possibilities.
I'm in my mid fifties and definitely in a place where I am grieving my lost selves, the versions of me who travelled the paths I didn't take. I'm learning to make peace with some of the decisions I made - or didn't - and it helps with creating a really intentional way forward. Love the idea of sitting with your teenage self and now doing English Lit A Level! Amazing! I was lucky - I did follow my passions and studied English Literature, French and Art with Art History. Now that I wouldn't change, although I would have loved to have studied philosophy too, but I guess that's why I write about yoga now...! Thanks for a wonderful post.
This is so lovely, I think it takes so much vulnerability and courage to figure out and act on what we want. I had a "what if" moment of deciding to remain in Canada where I grew up and go abroad, and abroad I went. Sometimes I feel sad because my friends seem to be living different lives I'm not a part of, but I also know I have no regrets about what I chose. I would love to hear about the AI prompt you used and how that helped. Thanks!
Oh wow, I love the way you articulate things. As a 38 year old I have similar thoughts to this. I moved to Australia to go backpacking when I was 18 - deferring a place at university where I was going to study art further. The year of backpacking turned into 14 years and becoming a single mum to two kids before moving back to the UK 7 years ago. I often wonder what my life would have looked like if I’d gone to university.
One thing I know was that when I was 18 absolutely nothing could have stopped me from running headfirst into doing what I wanted, I had hardly any thoughts of the future and just wanted to travel. I sometimes think I was reckless and wish I’d been more sensible but I know I had to learn lessons of self worth and security and so many other things. I also feel a kind of ache for things that I know the moment has passed for, or even if I do it, know won’t be the same kind of experience. It’s a sad kind of feeling and I don’t think I’ve heard many people talk about this, so thank you for writing this post and giving me another way to think about these things myself X
At 61 and looking to retire, I am considering what I still want to do. It is harder to tap into than I thought after decades of "doing the right thing" and living within the boundaries that pop up. I am interested in what AI prompt you used and how it moved you forward. Sometime just a little reflection from AI goes a long way in helping!
I saw the news (by accident) today and there was a story about AI being used to create images of women in bikinis. I thought, there are those of us using it for than and those of us using it to structure a syllabus for our teenage self. So many uses, all dependant on us and our intentions. I don’t have the exact prompt I used anymore but I use Claude and it would have been something along the lines of … I really regret not taking a level English literature, French and Art. I’d love to fill the gaps this has left in my adult life through a sustainable tailored syllabus that accommodates my day to day but also stretches me and my knowledge. I’d like it to look beautiful, simple and contain all I need for my studies. Ask me any questions you need to so the syllabus is personalised, optimised, complete and I can make a start straight away…. I also enjoy using AI as a French tutor where we do 20 minute focused sessions so it could be worth considering incorporating some tutoring into your syllabus too, though I think real tutors are much better if possible x
Beautiful story, Jessica, and one that resonates with me. I did get married young, had two children one year apart, and divorced when they were 6 and 18 months. Since then, it's been MY life, the way I want it. Not always easy, but always exciting. I talk about my born-again single life in my post tomorrow. I think you might see yourself in some of it. Blue💙
'Sometimes, very often we’re only served opportunities once in our lives and when they’re gone they’re gone. The version we would have been disappears too.' So well put, I've so often felt this - both in my life and in my friends' too. In the early 2010s I received funding for an arts PhD, but I didn't have the self-belief to push myself all the way towards an academic career. At the same time, I wanted to explore other options like freelance writing and living abroad. My decision to leave academia after finishing the PhD was born out of fear and curiosity all at once -a real mix of good and bad! But I've learned to watch out for fear-based self-sabotage disguise as the desire to take a trip!
This was such a beautiful read Jessica, thank you. I’m also a huge lover of Big Magic, I truly believe it found me just when I needed it most. I’ve always felt creative but had never found the one creative endeavour that felt like my calling, until I realised it was writing. I’ve been dreaming of writing paying my bills for years now, but always remembered what Liz mentions in the book about not putting too much pressure on our creativity to pay the bills. Some days I wonder if by overthinking that, it is perhaps telling the universe I don’t want it.
This really resonated. I recently wrote a piece about grieving the lives we thought we’d live after feeling similar about where I thought I’d be at this age when I was younger. The dreams I thought I’d have lived out. Thank you for reminding me that I can still fulfil these past versions of myself in a different light 🤎
This: “We’re not choosing the safety option anymore, the survival option. We’re choosing the beautiful thing.” I’m in! 🌹🙆🏻♀️
Beautifully written, not many people understand the power they have to make decisions that they thought were no longer for them, or that they've missed their opportunity. It's never too late. It's a powerful moment when you recognise that.
Absolutely. Like you, choosing safety over the unknown I studied English at University instead of Creative Writing. Yet here I am, a Substack writer now with a second degree in art. At 58. A long time coming but worth the wait and probably something I can more fully enjoy and appreciate at this later life stage.
Oh Jess, how I relate to this...
This is exactly what I needed to read today and thank you for sharing this. Your idea on the personal learning syllabus is genius and I want to take action on that as well. I’m in construction marketing, but I think what it would be like if I did take the exchange trip to London to study art and science journalism. The idea of missing out on a life that was meant for us seems to add pressure, but the idea that everything that’s meant for you is yours takes that off. I loved reading every word of this, thank you
Thank you Jessica....I am 64 and found this thought provoking and inspiring. I can definitely resonate with the Teenager who didnt feel able..worthy to pursue interests..or know what they were. Life has shown me the opportunies i can follow...Looking to dive in and build my confidence muscle..definitely the Year of the Fire Horse!!.😉😊
Thank you for your honesty and refreshing style. I’m staying for more!
Edging closer to 50 here and believing there's still many sliding door moments that will come. I think there's a beauty in those moments and planting our feet solidly in new places to explore the possibilities.
I'm in my mid fifties and definitely in a place where I am grieving my lost selves, the versions of me who travelled the paths I didn't take. I'm learning to make peace with some of the decisions I made - or didn't - and it helps with creating a really intentional way forward. Love the idea of sitting with your teenage self and now doing English Lit A Level! Amazing! I was lucky - I did follow my passions and studied English Literature, French and Art with Art History. Now that I wouldn't change, although I would have loved to have studied philosophy too, but I guess that's why I write about yoga now...! Thanks for a wonderful post.
This is so lovely, I think it takes so much vulnerability and courage to figure out and act on what we want. I had a "what if" moment of deciding to remain in Canada where I grew up and go abroad, and abroad I went. Sometimes I feel sad because my friends seem to be living different lives I'm not a part of, but I also know I have no regrets about what I chose. I would love to hear about the AI prompt you used and how that helped. Thanks!
This was exactly what I needed to read today, thank you. 🥰💖
Oh wow, I love the way you articulate things. As a 38 year old I have similar thoughts to this. I moved to Australia to go backpacking when I was 18 - deferring a place at university where I was going to study art further. The year of backpacking turned into 14 years and becoming a single mum to two kids before moving back to the UK 7 years ago. I often wonder what my life would have looked like if I’d gone to university.
One thing I know was that when I was 18 absolutely nothing could have stopped me from running headfirst into doing what I wanted, I had hardly any thoughts of the future and just wanted to travel. I sometimes think I was reckless and wish I’d been more sensible but I know I had to learn lessons of self worth and security and so many other things. I also feel a kind of ache for things that I know the moment has passed for, or even if I do it, know won’t be the same kind of experience. It’s a sad kind of feeling and I don’t think I’ve heard many people talk about this, so thank you for writing this post and giving me another way to think about these things myself X
At 61 and looking to retire, I am considering what I still want to do. It is harder to tap into than I thought after decades of "doing the right thing" and living within the boundaries that pop up. I am interested in what AI prompt you used and how it moved you forward. Sometime just a little reflection from AI goes a long way in helping!
I saw the news (by accident) today and there was a story about AI being used to create images of women in bikinis. I thought, there are those of us using it for than and those of us using it to structure a syllabus for our teenage self. So many uses, all dependant on us and our intentions. I don’t have the exact prompt I used anymore but I use Claude and it would have been something along the lines of … I really regret not taking a level English literature, French and Art. I’d love to fill the gaps this has left in my adult life through a sustainable tailored syllabus that accommodates my day to day but also stretches me and my knowledge. I’d like it to look beautiful, simple and contain all I need for my studies. Ask me any questions you need to so the syllabus is personalised, optimised, complete and I can make a start straight away…. I also enjoy using AI as a French tutor where we do 20 minute focused sessions so it could be worth considering incorporating some tutoring into your syllabus too, though I think real tutors are much better if possible x