On Fiction Writing and Beauty in Middle Age

I can't believe I'm once again over here staring at the tail end of another month. I genuinely don't understand where the time goes or why it goes so quickly. Maybe it really is just something that comes along with being older. This hasn't been my most productive month for various reasons, but I'm hanging in there regardless. 

Luckily, I haven't wholly spaced Camp NaNoWriMo after deciding on a whim to give it a try at the end of last month. I really enjoyed my little journey back into the wide, wonderful world of creative writing back in November. Still, I'd been feeling pretty guilty about not having gotten around to editing any of my work yet. Camp NaNo's been great for that, though, so I'm super glad I went ahead and participated. 

Say what you will about any of the NaNo events, but I've learned not to knock them at this point in my growth as a writer. Not only are they fun and challenging, but they help you cut right through your usual collection of excuses as to why you're not making time for writing projects you say you want to complete. They've shown me what's possible when I put my mind to making it happen, even if I'm genuinely busy.

On that note, I can't seem to stop thinking of even more ideas for wonderful stories I'm sure would be a blast to write. Like NaNo, I thought creative writing was something I'd outgrown over the years and no longer truly enjoyed. This is quite simply not true, and I can tell I'm going to want to start doing it more regularly. I just wish I had somewhere to publish some of these where I could be sure they'd be read and enjoyed. 

At present, I'm playing with the idea of floating a couple out there on Medium here and there just to see how they do. I know P.S. I Love You has a Fiction Friday thing they do, so there must be someone over there who enjoys reading the occasional story along with their daily dose of self-help articles and personal essays. I'm just very excited about rediscovering this side of myself as a writer, and I'm dying to share it with the tiny handful of people who like my things. I suppose it can't hurt. You never know when something will unexpectedly find a larger audience.

........

In other news, I'm still hanging in there with the whole self-care thing I've been working on for the past few years. That turned out to be really fortunate when the pandemic hit, as I already had a fitness, nutrition, and beauty routine that was working out pretty well. I feel myself getting terrible again about sharing enough on social media, though -- especially when it comes to new photos and whatnot -- so I'm trying to nudge myself back into the habit. 

That is another thing I wish I saw more people my age doing with some level of consistency, especially other women. I've always loved taking care of myself, playing with makeup, and just plain having fun with my looks. I loved it when I was younger, and I think I may love it even more now that I'm older. At this age, most of the catcalls and drive-by attempts to start something are over with. I'm also very taken at this point in my life, so it's hardly as if I'm looking to attract potential partners. So far as I know, my appearance is no longer a part of how I earn my living either.

My finally beauty feels like it's my own again to enjoy, cultivate, and celebrate however I please as a result. I feel entirely free to try things just for fun -- crazy things, silly things, pretty things. I don't have to take myself so seriously anymore -- yes, physically, but also on other levels -- and it's lovely.