Today I’m taking a break from 31 Days of Fearless Entertaining because
Second Act.com has asked the 40’s – 50’s age group bloggers who are creating a second act in their own life to share their stories.
Often I bite my tongue and hold my breath as I watch my kids struggle, stumble and find their way through the teenage years and into young adulthood. This transition for me is hard to watch, yet as I let go of my children, I am beginning my own journey into a new phase of my life.
After homeschooling for 19 years and my last three kids now in a homeschool charter school, I’m looking at new options for myself. In the past, my hours were jammed full with explaining the area of a cylinder, verb phrases, piles of notebooks, lost pencils and “yes, you need to read 20 more minutes.” But that now is changing.
Three years ago I took an online writer’s course which changed my life and I began writing part time for regional parenting publications. Writing on a variety of topics including parenting issues and women’s health keeps me invigorated. I’ve interviewed a former Congressman, an Olympic athlete, doctors, authors, and a plethora of psychologists for my pieces.
One of my favorite assignments was about a foster care program called Camp to Belong designed to reunite foster siblings at a week long camp. Sharing my parenting journey and advice about what do you do when your kid wants to go vegetarian was personal yet hopeful for any hesitant parents. (There’s three of us veggies in the house now.)
Additionally, I also discovered that I love being a virtual assistant. I’m managing a Google Group for the 2012 Blogathon and as well as doing research work virtually for a professional writer. I love the variety that it brings, the tech knowledge I learn along the way and the fast pace.
With two recent graduates from George Fox University (Mom brag!) at home, along with their three siblings, my house is still very full, busy and chaotic. I can now share with my oldest, who’s a new personal fitness trainer that he needs to learn how to use Buffer to schedule his tweets and send out his own newsletters with MailChimp to keep his name in front of his clients. Getting a little tech savvy…hmmm?
Confidence comes with age, and I want to take on dreams that I’ve held on the back burner. As I’m transitioning into a new phase, I’m blogging this month about an honest fear in own life. It’s been worth the risk of sounding a bit whiney and feeling vulnerable because my fears have connected with people. And as those fears are losing their grip in my life, other fears don’t seem to be that big any more.
(Kayaking was not my idea of fun but because I’m a bit scared of the water, I had to try it with my hubby. It ended up being a thorough work out and I felt so empowered that I faced it.)
What fears do you face in your newest life transition?
this is a great post Jan. And I’m happy for you that you found something you really enjoy doing. Who would have thought “virtual assistant” would even exist when we were going through school and trying to decide what we wanted to do with our life?
Transitions can be both scary and empowering. Sometimes I wonder if I would be the happy person I am now had I not taken that scary jump into writing. I don’t think so. I think the freedom that I obtained from following this dream is a direct result of the chances I took and the fears I had to face in order to do them.
I’m going to be 51 next week and I can truly say that every year – for me – just keeps getting better and better. And who knows? maybe I’ll change course again in 10 years. We’ll just have to wait and see. 😉
Hi Marijke,
I didn’t even know about VAs until 6 months ago. I love writing and VA work.
I agree with you that when we face one fear then it’s easier to face another one.
Happy Birthday to you! P.S. I’m celebrating mine today. 🙂
Jan, like you, I’m afraid of water. I want to be in it. I’m a Pisces. But I have fear of it that stems from my childhood. So when I went on a 15-day Colorado river raft tour last April, I was sure I was nuts. But I held on as tight as I could as we went over the rapids. By the halfway mark, I had calmed down and was actually enjoying the excitement. No one fell in. If the raft had flipped, I’m not so sure I’d be writing this same comment. But I’m really glad I faced my fear to try something so amazing. I don’t want fear to keep me from living a full life.
And what is so amazing is that you can take your accomplishment everywhere you go with you and it propels you to further challenges. Congratulations! Thanks for sharing.
I love this post. So many people I know, including some homeschoolers, seem to think that the empty nest phase will be particularly tough for homechooling mamas, who have spent years and years with their kids, day in and day out. But most of the homeschooling mamas I know, like you, are excited about the next act. Guess it’s the homeschooler in us, eh? 😉
Jenni, Initially when I realized that I would eventually be done some day, I was a little disturbed. But the more I thought about it – the more I got excited about the myriad of possibilities. HSing was so worth it- so valuable – so life changing. But now, boo-yah! I’m ready! (and eventually I stop talking like a kid. 😉 )
Very nice, Jan! Like both you and Jackie, I have a fear of the water—one I can’t quite explain. I’m also a water sign, so I understand Jackie’s comment about being drawn to it. I, too, have found kayaking to be a fun and gently adventurous way to enjoy the water and even commune with the river for a little while.
Hi Jennifer,
As soon as I was on the water, I was fine. But as I was stepping into the kayak with hands on both sides of it, I was sure I was in the Titanic. 🙂
I was out of breath from reading about all of your transitions happening at once. However, the picture of you in the kayak really caught my eye. I did it as a challenge to myself also and wrote about it http://www.traveling-through.com/2011/04/4-lessons-in-kayaking-paddling-through.html
I did the Second Act challenge also today. What a fun one to tackle.
I LOVE the design of your blog and enjoyed this post.
Thanks, Sheila. I won my website with Ron Doyle at the 2010 Blogathon.
Happy birthday! So enjoyed your post. Today has inspired me to focus on my second act more passionately (I turn 40 in August). Loving Blogathon this year!
Thank you so much for the birthday wishes. Today has been very inspiring to read everyone’s “second act.”
Thank you for stopping by.
It is encouraging to read this, Jan.
Good for you, Jan, for transitioning, well, several times! From Mom to homeschooler, to writer and now to VA. They all sound very rewarding and there’s nothing like learning new things. Wishing you all the very, very best!
Hey Lisa,
I love writing and the VA work so it’s a very nice blend. Thank you, Blogathon buddy! 🙂
This is great, Jan. Life is so very strange, isn’t it?
It’s never what you expect. 🙂
Thanks, Annie.