The best time to start. Julia Cameron Best time to start

The best time to start. Dream, create and realize yourself in adulthood Julia Cameron, Emma Lively

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Title: Best time to start. Dream, create and realize yourself in adulthood
Author: Julia Cameron, Emma Lively
Year: 2017
Genre: Foreign applied and popular science literature, Foreign psychology, Personal growth, Self-improvement

About the book “The best time to start. Dream, create and fulfill yourself in adulthood.” Julia Cameron, Emma Lively

No matter how old you are, your young, incendiary, full of ideas creativity is just waiting for the moment to manifest itself. A simple and affordable 12-week course on creative self-realization will help you streamline your life and make it the way you dreamed of.

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JULIA CAMERON

EMMA LIVELY

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO BEGIN AGAIN

Discovering Creativity and Meaning at Midlife and Beyond

Published with permission from Jeremy P. Tarcher, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the copyright holders.

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition published by arrangement with Jeremy P. Tarcher, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC

© Translation into Russian, edition in Russian, design. LLC "Mann, Ivanov and Ferber", 2017

Any creativity is an alchemical process: we turn the sand of our life into gold.

Julia Cameron

Introduction

Twenty-five years ago, I wrote a book about creativity, The Artist's Way, where I laid out a step-by-step methodology for unlocking creativity, accessible to anyone. I often refer to this book as a bridge because it can help you get rid of fears and limitations and cross over to the other side of the river to an inexhaustible source of creativity. The Artist's Way is intended for readers of all ages, but the older generation, which faces a number of specific problems, has shown particular interest. Many have approached me to help them get through retirement. The book in your hands is the quintessence of teaching experience in a quarter of a century. This is my answer to the question "what next?". It describes the typical difficulties of people who have just retired: an excess of free time, lack of a clear rhythm of life, a sudden feeling of alienation from the familiar environment, euphoria and at the same time fear of the unknown.

Recently, a friend of mine expressed his feelings about this: “A job is all I have. How now without her, is it really necessary ... to do nothing? Answer: no. Lots of interesting things are waiting for you, and you will discover with amazement a source of endless inspiration. You will understand that you are not alone in your desires, and you will learn about special creative exercises that will help you get through a difficult period in your life.

I touched on topics that have become somewhat of a taboo for older people: boredom, mood swings, disconnected social ties, irritability, anxiety and depression. I offer simple techniques: some exactly the same as in The Artist's Way, others modified or created specifically for this book. Together, they will serve as an incentive for a creative revival.

There is creativity in all of us, and now is the best time to start.

My father worked as an account manager for an advertising agency for 35 years. When the stormy and intense activity was left behind, he began to spend time in nature. I got myself a companion for long daily walks - a black Scottish terrier named Blue. He got binoculars and spent hours with pleasure watching finches, sparrows, tits, wrens, and sometimes even exotic "guests", such as herons. For six months my father lived on a boat in Florida and for six months on the outskirts of Chicago. The large and playful bird family gave him extraordinary joy. When it became hard to live alone on a boat, my father moved north to a small cottage in the lagoon. Other birds lived there: cardinal, tanager, blue jays, owls and even hawks. My father talked about them with such enthusiasm that, unexpectedly for myself, I began to buy reproductions of Audubon's illustrations with these birds. I put the pictures in frames and rejoiced every time I looked at them. I, too, "fell ill" with birds, although, unlike my father, I could not devote as much time to this occupation.

“All you need is time and observation,” my father repeated. When he retired, it turned out he had both. The birds were never boring. He was extremely excited when blue herons built a nest near the house. Coming to visit, I always hoped to catch a glimpse of these exquisite birds. Father patiently waited for them, and this ability came to him with age. In the father's former life with constant workloads and stress, there was no place for either birds or dogs. But nature called him, and he answered this call with all his soul only many years later.

At 54, I moved to Manhattan. At 64, approaching the border of old age, she moved to Santa Fe. The only two I knew there were writer and art teacher Natalie Goldberg and Elberta Hohnstein, a Morgan breeder. So two important themes reappeared in my life: I love to write and I love horses. I lived in Manhattan for ten years and wrote a lot, but there was no opportunity to ride. Everything changed thanks to the exercise from The Artist's Way, in which you had to list the most pleasant things for yourself. Topping the list were sage, chamisa, juniper, magpies, red-winged thrush, and big sky. In other words, I described the Southwest. Nowhere on the list was there even a hint of New York. What I am drawn to is the flora and fauna of the West: deer, coyotes, lynxes, eagles and hawks. I forgot about my age while writing, although I now realize that moving from New York to Santa Fe may be my last major move.

I arrived in Santa Fe and started hunting, taking three days to find a place to live. At first glance, I took into account everything I wanted: an apartment, not a house; restaurants and cafes within walking distance; Mountain View. The first thing the realtor showed me was right on all counts, but I didn’t like it at all. We looked at a few more options. The carpeting in most of the rooms was frayed, and years of experience living in Taos suggested that this was not a good sign.

At the end of the first day of searching, late in the evening, we drove to the last house.

“I have no idea why I'm showing you this,” the realtor said apologetically as we made our way through a winding maze of dirt roads to a small adobe house. There lived a woman with four children.

I went inside. Toys and things were scattered everywhere. There were couches in the corners.

- I take it! I told the astonished realtor.

The house was buried in juniper bushes. There was no mountain view. The nearest cafes and restaurants were a few kilometers away. And yet he called me home. A steep entrance is a big hindrance in winter, and, of course, the house will be covered with snow - you will need to get used to this. But it does have an octagonal glazed room overlooking the trees.

Father would have liked this "bird" room. I made an office out of it, where I write and spend most of my time, getting my dose of “bird happiness”. I have been living in this adobe house halfway up the mountain for three years now, collecting books, finding more and more new friends. Santa Fe proved its hospitality. People here like to read and respect my work.

I carefully built my life in a new place. I share common interests with people. I believe that creativity is a spiritual path, which is probably why there are many Buddhists and Wiccans among my acquaintances. Once every three months I have classes in New York, a friendly but too big city. I introduce myself to the audience as Julia from Santa Fe and tell them how good it is to live there. And it is true.

The mail is dropped into a rickety mailbox at the start of the driveway, and you have to force yourself to open it and pull out the contents. For the most part, correspondence does not excite me. I turned 65 in March of my first year in Santa Fe, but back in January, my box was full of aging-related ads. I receive daily reminders for health care and insurance tailored specifically for my age group. The notifications are so intrusive, it's like I'm being watched. And how did they know that I'm 65?

I realized that I was starting to dread my birthday. Even if I feel young at heart, I'm officially classified as old. Meanwhile, the authors of the leaflets lost all sense of proportion: they offered me to buy a plot in the cemetery. As if I'm already on the verge of death. Do you want to burden your relatives with funeral expenses? No, of course I don't.

This mail as a mirror reflected the unsightly reality. There were traces of smiles on his face, wrinkles formed on his neck. I remembered the memoirs of Nora Efron "I hate my neck". I first read this book at 60, and it seemed far-fetched to me. But then I was not yet worried about my neck and I was not yet 65.

But not everyone who has reached this age automatically becomes old. And not everyone who retires is 65: someone stops working at 50, someone at 80. Age is a relative category. As director John Cassavetes said, “It doesn't matter how old you are; if you have retained the need for creativity in yourself, the child continues to live in you. Cassavetes himself is a perfect example of this. He acted and directed, created and watched films that reflected his beliefs. Together with actors, including his wife Gena Rowlands, he told stories about human intimacy and relationships. With age, Cassavetes began to play a difficult and controversial character in his own films. His calling is clear. Even as an old man, he remained young at heart. And we, just like Cassavetes, can revive interest in life, completely surrender to any business. Even at 65, we are still capable of being energetic beginners.

I was warned that the average age in Santa Fe is 60. In the grocery store, I do often see older people with shopping carts. Santa Fe is a city of retirees. I'm almost used to the question: "Are you still writing?" To be honest, I can't imagine my life without it. I move from project to project, always dreading the void between them. I find myself thinking that I do not trust my own development. Although I already have more than 40 books behind me - I am afraid that each new one will be the last and that age will eventually declare a checkmate to me.

I recently turned to psychologist Barbara Mackendlish.

“I'm depressed,” I managed, “I don't think I'll write anything else.

“I think you're afraid of getting old,” said Barbara. - Write about it, and you will see how much easier it will become for you to work.

The answer is creativity.

Theater playwright Richard Nelson is always busy with new projects. And age is not a hindrance. One of his recent works, The Apple Family Plays theater cycle, is an example of such dedication.

The remarkable writer John Bowers presented his first novel End of Story to the public at the age of 60. At 64, he plunged into work on a second, more voluminous and ambitious work, as Laura Wheeler, author of Little House in the Big Woods, did in her time. At a recent meeting with readers, John said that in the bright light of fame, his wrinkles are more visible. Joking aside, John is an attractive man and doesn't get hung up on his age. In my opinion, his active creative nature is much younger than his biological age.

My friend Laura, in her 60s, takes Zumba at a Chicago gym. She explains: "You have to be in good shape." In truth, Laura is not just in good shape: her posture is proud, and her energy is in full swing. “Classes are only three times a week,” she adds modestly. It turns out that this is more than enough to maintain physical fitness and good mood. Laura always loved to dance, in her childhood she was engaged in choreography and now, having found something to her liking, she has completely changed: she glows with joy and practices with such zeal as never before.

White-haired but fit, Wade is a charismatic professor of philosophy at the university. After retiring, he unexpectedly decided to enroll in theater courses. In his youth, Wade played in amateur theater and is now doing what he loves again. He recently played Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets. “Back on stage,” Wade chuckles. He does not hide his delight. Wade's enthusiasm is so contagious that young actors circle around him all the time: they are interested in communicating and learning something new from Wade.

Both Laura and Wade have rediscovered themselves in the addictions of their youth. And this is not a mistake: it is there that the key to the joy of life in old age is hidden.

My friend Barry has worked in communications all his life. After retiring from business, he remembered how he was running around with a camera as a child, and decided to return to a forgotten hobby. Now Barry enjoys mastering the possibilities of digital cameras and Photoshop, in which he "ages" the photo. He posts his photos on Facebook every day: mysterious and beautiful, sometimes realistic, sometimes processed, if it helps him better express his author's opinion. Sometimes he conjures over the image until he "turns" it into a classical painting.

“At the age of five,” says Barry, “I liked to sit on my father’s lap: he leafed through the World-Famous Paintings (“Masterpieces of Painting”) by Rockwell Kent and read me the accompanying inscriptions. It lasted for several weeks, and many of the works of art I saw then remained with me forever. When friends point out that he's always known his calling, Barry is embarrassed: "I didn't know I knew that," he replies. “I guess it happens to a lot of people.”

Picasso said: “Every child is born an artist. The challenge is to stay that way as an adult." It's not difficult: all you need is desire, perseverance, and most importantly, the courage to become a beginner again, and these qualities can be developed in yourself.

I recently had lunch with a friend of mine. He is 67, he is a writer, radio host and teacher.

“The artist doesn't retire,” he said.

And it is true. Tom Meehan, at 83, plays in three musicals on Broadway in one season. Roman Totenberg, an acclaimed cellist and educator, continued to teach and perform well into his 90s. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright was commissioned for Oak Park at 91. BB King stopped touring at 89. Writer and producer Oscar Hammerstein II only lived to 65, but that was long enough to leave us with the Broadway musical The Sound of Music. His latest song, "Edelweiss", was added to the show during rehearsals.

Basic principles of creative revival

1. Creativity is the law of nature. Life is energy, pure creative energy.

2. There is an immanent inner creative force that permeates all living things.

3. When we say yes to our creative essence, we allow a higher creative force to work through us and our lives.

4. We are creators and created to create.

5. The ability to create is a gift from above. Bringing it to life is our return gift.

6. Refusal of creativity is contrary to our true nature.

7. Saying "yes" to our creative essence, we say "yes" to the higher creative force.

8. Creativity entails many natural yet powerful changes.

9. Getting more and more creative is absolutely safe.

10. Our creative dreams and needs come from a divine source. Realizing a dream, we act according to our divine nature.

How to use this book

"The Best Time to Start" is a 12-week course for anyone who wants to develop their creativity. It is not necessary to be a "recognized" artist. The book is intended for older people leaving behind one life and entering another that is yet to be created. For some, the turning point is the exit to a well-deserved rest, for others, parting with adult children who have left their native nest, for someone, the desire to create, and not bear the label of “old man”.

Each week you have to read one chapter and do the exercises. There are four main methods or tools: daily morning pages, a weekly creative date, and solo walks twice a week. Also, all 12 weeks you need to stimulate your memories and write a life story.

Twelve weeks—three months—may seem like a long time, but consider that it's just a few hours a week that brings you closer to the life you've been dreaming of.

Basic Tools

Morning Pages. Daily three pages of "stream of consciousness", handwritten in the morning and intended only for you.

Life story. A weekly process of consciously remembering and reviewing your entire life in increments of several years.

creative date. Recharge yourself weekly with something inspiring.

Walks. Twenty-minute walk twice a week without a dog, a friend and a mobile phone.

morning pages

The basis of creative revival is a method I call "morning pages": three pages of handwritten text about anything. This is the first thing you should do in the morning and not show it to anyone. There is no right or wrong way to write morning pages. They are like a windshield wiper, sweeping away everything that is between you and a clear vision of the day.

The pages, as it were, convey to the universe and to ourselves the exact coordinates of our location. Think of them as a form of active meditation or a tiny broom that sweeps the dust out of every corner of your life. Some cite being busy and promise to work on the pages later when they have free time. Don't be fooled: the morning pages are perfect for retirees.

Replace "I don't have time" with "I have a lot of free time - and I know how to fill it." Another favorite metaphor of mine is the radio. Spilling out on paper our grievances, fears, joys, pleasures, dreams and wishes, we seem to show our true face to the universe. Describing everything that we want, we become more liberated in everyday life, we notice possibilities that we did not pay attention to before. We hear the answers of the universe. Intuition tells us the next step, as if someone is carefully pushing us in the right direction. Morning pages become a true friend. If we diligently avoid something important, they will remind us of it until we take action.

"It's like I woke up..."

“I have come to the conclusion that it is time to review my eating habits and move more. And she lost 20 kilos…”

It's hard to complain about the same problem day after day, page after page, and still not try to do something.

On the morning pages, as if on a bridge, we can move into a new life - the one we dream about.

Some people are afraid of this exercise. But, believe me, the pages will not harm you.

Others doubt: "I don't understand his actions." Try! You can't go wrong with Morning Pages - it's an experimental tool. You will learn to trust in the process.

In an airplane, we do not feel the speed of movement until we get into the turbulence zone. So when writing morning pages, the speed of movement is not always noticeable. This tool inevitably promotes change, and yet there are peeves who think the pages are "boring scribbles."

"Keep writing and you will feel a real breakthrough."

“But nothing happens,” protest the students, who, in my opinion, are moving like a torpedo. Creative renaissance sometimes goes unnoticed because it doesn't change us in the way we expected. Writers begin to draw, lawyers to write, teachers to sing. I often repeat that with this instrument you shake the apple tree, and oranges fall into your hands. Each reveals itself in the direction in which it is predetermined.

And it doesn't have to be art. Carol volunteered for an adult literacy program. The new occupation both brought her joy and filled her free time. Anthony joined the chess union, Monty joined the bridge club. Rethinking hobbies is a frequent consequence of morning pages. So the next time you catch yourself thinking "nothing is happening", think carefully again.

Morning pages require focus, but the effort pays off handsomely. Many begin to write without realizing the healing power of pages. Each of us has traumas: some are deep, some are less deep. These can be childhood traumas or consequences of shocks that happened already in adulthood. And by sharing the innermost with paper, we get a chance to “rewrite” what we have encountered. The morning pages give hope for the future by focusing us on the present moment. Every day is fraught with many opportunities: we begin to notice them, and consciousness, and then life, gradually clears up.

Those who are just beginning to practice this method may initially be overwhelmed by repressed emotions. We are used to hiding "in the shadows", but this no longer saves. We are used to saying: “Yes, everything is fine,” and actually feeling completely different. Pages force us to be specific, not to say "I feel fine" but "I'm angry, angry, afraid." That is, to list many states, none of which can be called "normal". When we learn to call feelings by their proper names, we are freed from their oppression. Having recognized negative emotions, we stop perceiving them as “bad” and write: “I can’t stand ...”, or “I envy”, or “I am beside myself”. We find the strength to deal with repressed emotions. They no longer lie in wait. Through the expression of complex feelings, we master the extremely important art of authenticity. Having built new boundaries on the morning pages, we transfer them to life. Stop being white and fluffy. Our "I" manifests itself first on paper, and then in the real world.

The morning pages orient us to the north. We begin to understand our true values, become honest - first in relation to ourselves, then to others. If we used to be afraid that honesty would alienate people, now we have the opportunity to make sure that relationships with others are only getting stronger.

Morning pages should be written by hand. Why? Isn't it faster to do it on a computer? Wouldn't it be better?.. No, I don't think so.

The speed of writing by hand allows us to accurately capture our thoughts, and not rush past them like a torpedo.

Writing on a computer is like racing at 120 kilometers per hour. “Oh my god, I missed the turn. Was it a convenience store or a gas station? Perception blurs. We are not sure what we see or feel. We miss important signs and details. Now imagine moving slowly: you will definitely not miss the right turn and shop. In the same way when writing pages: we are working on a handmade life, an author's life. Of course, you can work faster on a computer, but speed in our case is not the main thing. Our goal is to get in touch with thoughts and feelings, not to rush past them, convincing ourselves that everything is “normal”. But what does "normal" mean?

The answer comes when we start writing by hand.

I'm sad and the handwritten letter says why. I miss Tiger Lily, my dog ​​who died two months ago. I miss my daughter, who is now in New York visiting her father. I miss the familiar: a four-legged friend stretched out on the carpet; the sweet voice of a daughter talking about her life. No, I don't feel "normal". "Normal" is a dirty glass, a fog between me and reality. When we touch pen to paper, sincerity becomes tangible. Printing out word by word is slower than typing, but allows you to be in touch with your experiences and find solutions much faster.

Morning Pages support us when difficult relationships are changing, help us bypass internal blocks when we set goals and embark on new things.

Exercise
morning pages

Every morning, right after waking up, hand-write three pages about anything. I advise you to use A4 sheets so that your thoughts are spacious. Can I drink coffee before this? As a coffee lover, I will never stand between you and a cup of an invigorating drink, but I ask you not to spend 45 minutes preparing it. Get on the pages as soon as possible - the effect will be more noticeable.

Do not show these pages to your relatives or friends - the entries are exclusively personal, and therefore sincere and fully reflect the stream of your consciousness. This is a spiritual practice, clearing the inner jungle that blocks the path to a new day. Don't treat them like a full-fledged text or "diary" where you need to explore some issue in a structured way. Do the task regularly and the morning pages will change your life.

12 Oscar Hammerstein (1895–1960) was a producer and composer of America's most famous musicals and films. Note. transl.

Julia Cameron, Emma Lively

The best time to start. Dream, create and realize yourself in adulthood

JULIA CAMERON

EMMA LIVELY

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO BEGIN AGAIN

Discovering Creativity and Meaning at Midlife and Beyond


Published with permission from Jeremy P. Tarcher, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC


All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the copyright holders.


All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition published by arrangement with Jeremy P. Tarcher, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC

© Translation into Russian, edition in Russian, design. LLC "Mann, Ivanov and Ferber", 2017

Any creativity is an alchemical process: we turn the sand of our life into gold.

Julia Cameron


Introduction

Twenty-five years ago, I wrote a book about creativity, The Artist's Way, where I laid out a step-by-step methodology for unlocking creativity, accessible to anyone. I often refer to this book as a bridge because it can help you get rid of fears and limitations and cross over to the other side of the river to an inexhaustible source of creativity. The Artist's Way is intended for readers of all ages, but the older generation, which faces a number of specific problems, has shown particular interest. Many have approached me to help them get through retirement. The book in your hands is the quintessence of teaching experience in a quarter of a century. This is my answer to the question "what next?". It describes the typical difficulties of people who have just retired: an excess of free time, lack of a clear rhythm of life, a sudden feeling of alienation from the familiar environment, euphoria and at the same time fear of the unknown.

Recently, a friend of mine expressed his feelings about this: “A job is all I have. How now without her, is it really necessary ... to do nothing? Answer: no. Lots of interesting things are waiting for you, and you will discover with amazement a source of endless inspiration. You will understand that you are not alone in your desires, and you will learn about special creative exercises that will help you get through a difficult period in your life.

I touched on topics that have become somewhat of a taboo for older people: boredom, mood swings, disconnected social ties, irritability, anxiety and depression. I offer simple techniques: some exactly the same as in The Artist's Way, others modified or created specifically for this book. Together, they will serve as an incentive for a creative revival.

There is creativity in all of us, and now is the best time to start.

My father worked as an account manager for an advertising agency for 35 years. When the stormy and intense activity was left behind, he began to spend time in nature. I got myself a companion for long daily walks - a black Scottish terrier named Blue. He got binoculars and spent hours with pleasure watching finches, sparrows, tits, wrens, and sometimes even exotic "guests", such as herons. For six months my father lived on a boat in Florida and for six months on the outskirts of Chicago. The large and playful bird family gave him extraordinary joy. When it became hard to live alone on a boat, my father moved north to a small cottage in the lagoon. Other birds lived there: cardinal, tanager, blue jays, owls and even hawks. My father talked about them with such enthusiasm that, unexpectedly for myself, I began to buy reproductions of Audubon's illustrations with these birds. I put the pictures in frames and rejoiced every time I looked at them. I, too, "fell ill" with birds, although, unlike my father, I could not devote as much time to this occupation.

“All you need is time and observation,” my father repeated. When he retired, it turned out he had both. The birds were never boring. He was extremely excited when blue herons built a nest near the house. Coming to visit, I always hoped to catch a glimpse of these exquisite birds. Father patiently waited for them, and this ability came to him with age. In the father's former life with constant workloads and stress, there was no place for either birds or dogs. But nature called him, and he answered this call with all his soul only many years later.

At 54, I moved to Manhattan. At 64, approaching the border of old age, she moved to Santa Fe. The only two I knew there were writer and art teacher Natalie Goldberg and Elberta Hohnstein, a Morgan breeder. So two important themes reappeared in my life: I love to write and I love horses. I lived in Manhattan for ten years and wrote a lot, but there was no opportunity to ride. Everything changed thanks to the exercise from The Artist's Way, in which you had to list the most pleasant things for yourself. At the top of the list were sage, chamis, juniper, magpies, red-winged thrush and big sky. In other words, I described the Southwest. Nowhere on the list was there even a hint of New York. What I am drawn to is the flora and fauna of the West: deer, coyotes, lynxes, eagles and hawks. I forgot about my age while writing, although I now realize that moving from New York to Santa Fe may be my last major move.

I arrived in Santa Fe and started hunting, taking three days to find a place to live. At first glance, I took into account everything I wanted: an apartment, not a house; restaurants and cafes within walking distance; Mountain View. The first thing the realtor showed me was right on all counts, but I didn’t like it at all. We looked at a few more options. The carpeting in most of the rooms was frayed, and years of experience living in Taos suggested that this was not a good sign.

At the end of the first day of searching, late in the evening, we drove to the last house.

“I have no idea why I'm showing you this,” the realtor said apologetically as we made our way through a winding maze of dirt roads to a small adobe house. There lived a woman with four children.

I went inside. Toys and things were scattered everywhere. There were couches in the corners.

- I take it! I told the astonished realtor.

The house was buried in juniper bushes. There was no mountain view. The nearest cafes and restaurants were a few kilometers away. And yet he called me home. A steep entrance is a big hindrance in winter, and, of course, the house will be covered with snow - you will need to get used to this. But it does have an octagonal glazed room overlooking the trees.

Father would have liked this "bird" room. I made an office out of it, where I write and spend most of my time, getting my dose of “bird happiness”. I have been living in this adobe house halfway up the mountain for three years now, collecting books, finding more and more new friends. Santa Fe proved its hospitality. People here like to read and respect my work.

I carefully built my life in a new place. I share common interests with people. I believe that creativity is a spiritual path, which is probably why there are many Buddhists and Wiccans among my acquaintances. Once every three months I have classes in New York, a friendly but too big city. I introduce myself to the audience as Julia from Santa Fe and tell them how good it is to live there. And it is true.

The mail is dropped into a rickety mailbox at the start of the driveway, and you have to force yourself to open it and pull out the contents. For the most part, correspondence does not excite me. I turned 65 in March of my first year in Santa Fe, but back in January, my box was full of aging-related ads. I receive daily reminders for health care and insurance tailored specifically for my age group. The notifications are so intrusive, it's like I'm being watched. And how did they know that I'm 65?

I realized that I was starting to dread my birthday. Even if I feel young at heart, I'm officially classified as old. Meanwhile, the authors of the leaflets lost all sense of proportion: they offered me to buy a plot in the cemetery. As if I'm already on the verge of death. Do you want to burden your relatives with funeral expenses? No, of course I don't.

This mail as a mirror reflected the unsightly reality. There were traces of smiles on his face, wrinkles formed on his neck. I remembered Nora Ephron's memoir "I hate my neck." I first read this book at 60, and it seemed far-fetched to me. But then I was not yet worried about my neck and I was not yet 65.

But not everyone who has reached this age automatically becomes old. And not everyone who retires is 65: someone stops working at 50, someone at 80. Age is a relative category. As director John Cassavetes said, “It doesn't matter how old you are; if you have retained the need for creativity in yourself, the child continues to live in you. Cassavetes himself is a perfect example of this. He acted and directed, created and watched films that reflected his beliefs. Together with actors, including his wife Gena Rowlands, he told stories about human intimacy and relationships. With age, Cassavetes began to play a difficult and controversial character in his own films. His calling is clear. Even as an old man, he remained young at heart. And we, just like Cassavetes, can revive interest in life, completely surrender to any business. Even at 65, we are still capable of being energetic beginners.

It's Never Too Late to Start Again: Finding Meaning and Unleashing Creativity in Middle Ages and beyond.

“The book you hold in your hands is the conclusion of twenty-five years of teaching experience. This is my attempt to answer the question “What next?” of those of my students who are on the verge of the “second act” of their lives.”

Julia Cameron

Cameron demonstrates to readers that retirement age may very well be the richest, richest and most creative period of their lives.

After you retire, your newfound freedom can be both exhilarating and daunting. The habitual way of life is ending, and a new one is yet to be created. In this book, Cameron talks about how developing the creative side of your personality will help you step into new, uncharted lands. She tells inspiring stories of retirees, for whom creativity not only fills their days, but also gives them a sense of fulfillment in life.

Here you will find a description of a twelve-week course aimed at defining - and creating - the lifestyle you have always dreamed of by reinventing yourself. To do this, the book offers simple tips that will guide and inspire you to make the most of this time of life:

  • Writing a memoir provides an opportunity to review and re-evaluate the experience of the past. You will find guidelines to help you cope with the daunting task of writing a whole book of memoirs, breaking them into several parts.
  • Morning pages - your personal daily stream of consciousness - on which you write down your desires, fears, delights, resentments and joys. They will help you gain focus and clarity of thought for the coming day.
  • Creative dates encourage displays of fun and spontaneity.
  • Walking alone relieves anxiety and clears the mind.

This fun, step-by-step process will help you recognize your dreams and desires and help you understand that it's never too late to start over.

From the author

The book you hold in your hands is the quintessence of teaching experience in a quarter of a century. This is my attempt to answer the students who are moving on to "the second act of the play" to their question "what's next?". In this book, you will find a description of the typical problems that the newly retired face: too much free time, lack of structure, feeling that their environment is outdated, anxiety about the future, coupled with a palpable fear of the unknown. I will quote the words of my friend: “Everything I did was related to work. When I stop working, will I really have to ... do nothing?

Answer: no. You will not "do nothing". You will become engaged in many things and find yourself surprised and delighted with the iridescent flow of inspiration within you - the spring that you can discover in yourself. You will find that you are not alone in your desires and that there are specific creative techniques that can help you get through the specific stages of life that come after retirement.

I tried to address many of the issues that are taboo for the newly retired: boredom, irritability, feeling disconnected, irritability, anxiety, and depression. In this book you will find a simple set of tools. If used in a complex way, they will become an incentive for a creative revival.

We are all creative and it is never too late to explore our creativity.

Who is this book for?

  • For those who are inspired by the stories from The Age of Happiness and want practical advice.
  • For those who in adulthood want to find themselves.
  • For those who want to help their parents find themselves.
  • And for fans of Julia Cameron, who have already embarked on the "path of the artist."


Julia Cameron, Emma Lively

The best time to start. Dream, create and realize yourself in adulthood

JULIA CAMERON

EMMA LIVELY

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO BEGIN AGAIN

Discovering Creativity and Meaning at Midlife and Beyond

Published with permission from Jeremy P. Tarcher, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the copyright holders.

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition published by arrangement with Jeremy P. Tarcher, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC

© Translation into Russian, edition in Russian, design. LLC "Mann, Ivanov and Ferber", 2017

Any creativity is an alchemical process: we turn the sand of our life into gold.

Julia Cameron

Introduction

Twenty-five years ago, I wrote a book about creativity, The Artist's Way, where I laid out a step-by-step methodology for unlocking creativity, accessible to anyone. I often refer to this book as a bridge because it can help you get rid of fears and limitations and cross over to the other side of the river to an inexhaustible source of creativity. The Artist's Way is intended for readers of all ages, but the older generation, which faces a number of specific problems, has shown particular interest. Many have approached me to help them get through retirement. The book in your hands is the quintessence of teaching experience in a quarter of a century. This is my answer to the question "what next?". It describes the typical difficulties of people who have just retired: an excess of free time, lack of a clear rhythm of life, a sudden feeling of alienation from the familiar environment, euphoria and at the same time fear of the unknown.

Recently, a friend of mine expressed his feelings about this: “A job is all I have. How now without her, is it really necessary ... to do nothing? Answer: no. Lots of interesting things are waiting for you, and you will discover with amazement a source of endless inspiration. You will understand that you are not alone in your desires, and you will learn about special creative exercises that will help you get through a difficult period in your life.

I touched on topics that have become somewhat of a taboo for older people: boredom, mood swings, disconnected social ties, irritability, anxiety and depression. I offer simple techniques: some exactly the same as in The Artist's Way, others modified or created specifically for this book. Together, they will serve as an incentive for a creative revival.

There is creativity in all of us, and now is the best time to start.

My father worked as an account manager for an advertising agency for 35 years. When the stormy and intense activity was left behind, he began to spend time in nature. I got myself a companion for long daily walks - a black Scottish terrier named Blue. He got binoculars and spent hours with pleasure watching finches, sparrows, tits, wrens, and sometimes even exotic "guests", such as herons. For six months my father lived on a boat in Florida and for six months on the outskirts of Chicago. The large and playful bird family gave him extraordinary joy. When it became hard to live alone on a boat, my father moved north to a small cottage in the lagoon. Other birds lived there: cardinal, tanager, blue jays, owls and even hawks. My father talked about them with such enthusiasm that, unexpectedly for myself, I began to buy reproductions of Audubon's illustrations with these birds. I put the pictures in frames and rejoiced every time I looked at them. I, too, "fell ill" with birds, although, unlike my father, I could not devote as much time to this occupation.

“All you need is time and observation,” my father repeated. When he retired, it turned out he had both. The birds were never boring. He was extremely excited when blue herons built a nest near the house. Coming to visit, I always hoped to catch a glimpse of these exquisite birds. Father patiently waited for them, and this ability came to him with age. In the father's former life with constant workloads and stress, there was no place for either birds or dogs. But nature called him, and he answered this call with all his soul only many years later.