Midlife Crisis Queen: The Weblog

“There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” -Anais Nin

I’ve been thinking a lot about my own process of becoming a writer lately. And now I realize that this process is not so different than becoming an authentic human being.

For example, the first line of an instructive article on finding writer’s voice states, “Good writers develop a style and sound that is unique to them. It’s called voice.”

This is really not so different than the process we all go through from birth. We learn to speak, but at first we truly don’t know what to say. I didn’t speak until way past age three. Totally freaked out my mom!

We learn to say what pleases those around us. We learn that being funny always works to endear people to us. Or we learn that appearing upset attracts nice attention. The question becomes, how do we make people want to be around us?

As a writer we may try to please editors with our work. We may re-make ourselves and our interests into something that others want or need. How do we get others to read our work?

As we mature as human beings and as writers, we gradually gather the courage to become our true selves. We find there is a part of ourselves that wants out. No more performing. No more meeting only the needs of others. We find our voice in the world.

This week I found my voice as a writer. I have decided not to change myself to fit into the very limited needs of any specific editor. My blog is my place to be completely me; to express my passion for the rights and needs of midlife sojourners, to be silly or irreverent, or make fun of all the ridiculous things I see around me. My blog is my voice!

Just as I found the courage to allow my true self to emerge in the midst of my own midlife crisis, so I now have decided to express myself in my writing without rules or restraint.

Since the very beginning of my writing career, I have constantly struggled with the down right stupidity of so much of the popular, mainstream shlock we call “consumer magazines.” I feel certain the world would be a much better place if we never saw another article on how to perfect your makeup or how to lose weight!

Trust me, if someone truly wants to lose weight in our world today, they will. And your vapid articles aren’t going to make any difference!

If we make an effort, we all know who we are inside. The next question then is, do we let that person have a voice? Do we trust in our inner voice and decide to fully accept ourselves, and then take complete responsibility for all that we are or can contribute?

Barack Obama is reaching a lot of people around the world right now. Why? Because he insists on authenticity from himself and those around him. Enough falsehood and play acting!

Inauthenticity is consuming us all, and this world cannot endure anymore of it!