When you ask women over 50 what it means to be “creative,” you get a treasure trove of insight. When you use Julia Cameron’s book, It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again: Discovering Creativity and Meaning at Midlife and Beyond, as a roadmap for conversation, magic happens.

In 2020 and 2021, this book was the basis for discussion in my virtual program Rediscovering Creativity.

Amidst uncertainty, disruption, and plain old fear, soulful groups of women came together seeking respite. I used the first four chapters of It’s Never Too Late… to inspire four weekly conversations: Reigniting a Sense of Wonder, Reigniting a Sense of Freedom, Reigniting a Sense of Connection, and Reigniting a Sense of Purpose.

A Prescription Journey

The journey we took was comforting, inspirational, and fun! Just what the doctor ordered. And these women soon realized that “makers” are not the only creative people in the world. Everyone is a Creative Being whether or not they wield a paint brush.

Along the way, another interesting thing happened. The first group of women who joined in Circle to rediscover creativity weren’t ready to end their conversations after four chapters.

There was more gold to mine in the rest of Julia’s book. So they stayed together, meeting every month on Zoom to dive in to what else she had to offer about living a creative life and finding meaning. I developed some questions for their consideration.

These questions are opportunities for any woman (or man) to reflect on the past year or two. And they can also help set a course for future months as we navigate life now.

Here are just a few:

Reigniting a Sense of Honesty

Living life more honestly is empowering. How do you censor yourself? How has self-doubt shown up in your life? Have you made peace with either of these things?

Reigniting a Sense of Humility

Our ego wants to be an expert; our inner artist is humble enough to be a beginner. How does it feel to be a beginner? Do you feel the push/pull between the ego and the artist in your life?

Reigniting a Sense of Resilience

We all need “a path to spiritual alignment.” Where does your resilience come from? Why is resilience important to your Creative Self?

Reigniting a Sense of Joy

The gift of renewed creative energy. What are 10 fun things you allow yourself to do? What makes you laugh? What small luxuries could you / do you indulge in?

Reigniting a Sense of Motion

The gift of a dynamic life. How are you defining productivity these days? How are you moving forward? How do you wiggle free when you feel stuck?

Reigniting a Sense of Vitality

“…when we honor our true identity, vitality is the reward.” How do you refill your well when it’s running dry? What are 5 simple things you can do for your health? 

Reigniting a Sense of Adventure

Finding what excites or intrigues you. Is there a risk you were afraid to take that you’re now afraid not to take? Do you feel the promise of adventure calling you? What is it saying?

Reigniting a Sense of Faith

Developing your spiritual Self. How are you embracing the “magic of today?” How much is “enough” today? 

All of these questions (and so many more) help us calibrate where we are and show us where we’ve been. They help us stretch toward who we are becoming.

Life is a creative process. We create ourselves every day. And there’s such deep meaning to be found when we treat ourselves as the glorious Works in Progress that we are.

Thank you, Julia Cameron, and cheers to all the Everyday Artists that you inspire.

How do you define “creativity” in your life? Is it important to nurture your creativity? What questions or ideas are inspiring you these days?

These days it is not uncommon to make a career change mid-life. Many people in their 50s – and even into their 60s – are asking themselves, “What do I want to be when I grow up?”

The numbers of those 60+ having to continue to work later in life are growing due to both need and desire. Many are drastically changing course, realizing that remaining in the workforce for another 20 years opens an opportunity to follow a passion.

More than ever baby boomers are starting businesses of their own. There is even a term for it, ‘boomerpreneurs.’

I am a perfect example of this phenomenon. I am a lawyer by trade, I loved practicing law and was very fortunate to have had a successful law practice. However, when I had four teenagers at once, I was forced to pause my legal career to be home.

I realized over the years that my passion was technology and teaching others about technology. As all my kids were off to college and beyond, I began casually helping others. I decided this was how I wanted to spend my work days, and so I started The Tech Wizard.

Taking Advantage of Technology

Fortunately, in this day and age, there are many aspects to starting a business that no longer require a substantial financial undertaking.

Technology can allow you to have opportunities that existed never before. Almost every element of running a business can be underwritten with less capital providing the infrastructure necessary to launch operations and generate income.

While this is a great benefit to many ‘boomerpreneurs,’ it can also be a roadblock for those who don’t feel comfortable with technology and aren’t fluent with computers, social media and apps.

I was lucky because technology is my thing. Using tech tools to get my business started came naturally to me. Yet, there was still a process of discovering what apps or services were best for me and my style of work.

For many, the technological options can be overwhelming. I work with ‘second career’ entrepreneurs and small business owners all the time: to provide them guidance, to help set up their business or change systems as needs evolve.

Here is a list of some of the apps and software that I recommend to my clients who are considering launching a small business. These systems can help your business run more efficiently and reduce your stress level significantly, without costing an arm and a leg.

Financial Management

Harvest

Harvest is a simple time tracking tool, which allows you to track time and expenses. It also makes it easy to create and send professional looking invoices.

Stripe and PayPal

Great options to accept payments via credit card are Stripe and PayPal. Free to set-up and get started, each costs a flat percentage of charges (usually around 3%). Even better, they are mobile friendly. Payment can be collect in-person using a smartphone or terminal, or online.

Quickbooks and Freshbooks

Quickbooks and Freshbooks both offer accounting software to help you track your income, expenses and generate invoices to keep the book balanced. You can also opt to collect payments (for a fee) and more. Both apps integrate with Stripe and PayPal for easy tracking of expenses and income.

These software systems interactively function behind the scenes. Once set up, they act as your virtual CFO.

Marketing

These days, a website is an essential part of doing business, and for most business, this is a must! Fortunately, there are many do-it-yourself website build options out there, such as Weebly and Wix. For an e-commerce site, Shopify provides an accessible platform to set-up an online store.

These platforms can get you up and running with an online presence in a short amount of time and with little technical knowledge. What’s more, their support staff is very well-versed and helpful if you hit any snags along the way – or need customization to support your website needs.

For the more advanced user, WordPress is a fantastic platform that can help you create a custom website without having to learn how to code. There are numerous tutorials and online help guides to help you through the process if you want to do it all yourself.

Social media has completely changed the world when it comes to marketing. Options to help reach a target audience, including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn, provide a competitive presence at a fraction of the cost of traditional marketing.

There is no doubt a learning curve to using, connecting with and engaging your audience via social media. Fortunately, there are a plethora of articles, videos and classes (online and in-person) that can get you up to speed on how to most efficiently use it for your business.

Human Resources

No one can do it alone. These days, you don’t need to hire full-time team members and provide them an office space.

There are ‘virtual assistant’ options who bill by the hour. You can hire someone for 5, 10 or 20 hours a week, so you are only paying for what you need. I am based out of Los Angeles and have a virtual assistant who lives in Iowa.

With Dropbox, Asana, 1Password, email, Slack and video conferencing we can communicate and share documents seamlessly, so that the time difference and 1,800-mile distance isn’t an issue.

Virtual assistants do almost every type of task integral to your particular business. You can pick and choose from the management of social media, photography, video editing, logo design, building a website, answering phones and email, booking travel and more.

Taking the Plunge: It’s a Mindset Thing

The nugget when considering whether to start a new business or redefine how you are currently conducting business is: do what makes you happy. But you have to believe in you.

As the saying goes, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work another day in your life.” Being able to wake up and follow your passion every day will keep you healthy, vibrant and alive.

Being an entrepreneur is a lot of hard work and can be lonely, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Surround yourself with people that support your goals and desires. Get rid of negative vibes and self-talk. Just do it. I am grateful for every day and have never looked back.

Have you considered a second-act career as an entrepreneur? What is holding you back from taking the plunge? Please share your concerns and thoughts below!

Our friends, pets, and family links are like a beautiful rope bridge that supports us as we wobble across the chasm of life. When we are young, we often run along that bridge not looking over the edge, just heading for the opposite bank.

As we get older and that opposite bank looms into view, these links become increasingly important. They keep us away from the temptation to look down and get intimidated by the chasm below.

Is Your Bridge in Need of Refurbishment?

All the links in your bridge need to be regularly serviced. This year, instead of sending Christmas presents I am taking time to tell all the recipients of my Christmas cards what they mean to me and how they have impacted my life.

Too often it is only at funerals that these things are said. But if I can’t think of anything to say, I am crossing the person off my list. This strategy might seem harsh, but instead of a chore the Christmas list is turning into an absolute pleasure as I rediscover just what my friends and family mean to me.

How they take this change of direction is up to them, but it makes sense to me. Many of us feel that Christmas has become a materialistic nightmare, and this is my solution.

Does Your Bridge Need Replacement Timbers?

We also need to create new links in our bridge. One of the ways I have found helpful is by connecting with people who inspire us, not necessarily of our generation.

I am passionate about women fulfilling their potential, and I came across a new one this week. She is racing driver Caitlin Wood, an Australian girl whose passion is to be the first woman to win the world’s most important endurance race – 24 heures du Mans.

How thrilling is that? A breath of fresh air in my old lungs, I would say. I have made the link and will follow her with excited interest.

An Extra Dimension

Our pets make for another link in the bridge. Some of us are passionate about animals, and adopting a rescued cat or dog is an awesome step. They bring such unconditional love into our lives it is breath taking. We can learn so much from animals and the way they deal with life.

With the help of the three-legged, one-eyed Romanian refugee dog that has just bounded into my life, I am making links with all kinds of people with various challenges with whom I had no way of connecting before.

Beware of Rotten Timbers

It is worth checking the state of your links as your bridge is only as strong as its weakest link. So, anyone who is dragging you down needs to be dealt with.

If you can help bring someone up, that is commendable. However, some people are like black holes who will suck your lifeblood, drag you down, and continue undeterred on their depressing path. They will weaken your precious bridge of life.

Describe Your Bridge

Just how well are you linking in with your friends and family? Sometimes it means burying your pride and making the first move. Christmas is a great time to mend and build bridges.

Are there people who you could influence and help in some way? Do you have space for an animal in your life? I would love to hear about how your links work and how they enrich your life. Please share your thoughts below.

In our ideal world, multifunctional products would dominate our daily beauty routine. We don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want to save time and money as they get ready each morning. You know the saying “kill two birds with one stone?” Well, what if we told you that there’s a tinted face sunscreen that can actually kill three? 

The sunscreen we’re talking about is EltaMD’s UV Daily Moisturizer, a hero product that acts as a sunscreen, moisturizer, and light tint all at once. It’s a favorite of none other than Hailey Bieber, who has some serious words of praise for the 3-in-1 essential. 

“A lot of sunscreens make my skin break out, and this one has been my Holy Grail,” she says in a YouTube video she did for Elle earlier this year

Now, these kind words are no shock. EltaMD is known for its effective sunscreens that fuse skincare and sun protection, but this formula takes it up a notch with the natural-looking tint. You can push your foundation with this 3-in-1 time and money saver. What’s even better is this product’s ability to combat visible signs of aging.

RELATED: What’s the Difference Between Physical and Chemical Sunscreens, Anyway? 

You know a product is worth it when it’s reached Holy Grail status for Hailey Bieber. Keep reading to hear more about how this sunscreen wears many hats and addresses a bunch of skin concerns all at once. Plus, it costs $32.50, which for sun protection, skincare, and light coverage, is quite the bargain.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Courtesy of Amazon.

Let’s start with the obvious: sun protection. At its core, this product is a face sunscreen with an SPF of 40. Dermatologists tend to recommend you wear sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every single day. It provides UVA and UVB (a.k.a. broad spectrum) protection, which means it shields your skin from both types of UV light. UVA has everything to do with skin aging, while UVB deals with skin burning.

This tinted face sunscreen clearly checks off the box for sun protection, but what about its skincare benefits? The formula engages hyaluronic acid to moisturize your skin and help minimize the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Its sidekick ingredient, vitamin E, also plays a part in the sunscreen’s anti-aging powers by blocking your skin from free radicals. 

Last but not least, there’s a subtle, natural-looking tint to this sunscreen. You can wear it on its own or add more coverage with your fav foundation.

With a near-perfect rating on Amazon, thousands of reviewers share Bieber’s love for this multipurpose product. “My dermatologist recommended it and I love it,” wrote one shopper. “I use the tinted formula in the non-sun months to give my face a bit more color. I don’t buy any other kind for my face now.” 

Another shopper calls it the best sunscreen she’s ever applied, saying, “Most sunscreens I’ve used are thick and break me out. This sunscreen is lightweight and makes my skin feel soft.” She wears this tinted sunscreen with her usual concealer to create a natural everyday makeup look.

In our ideal world, multifunctional products would dominate our daily beauty routine. We don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want to save time and money as they get ready each morning. You know the saying “kill two birds with one stone?” Well, what if we told you that there’s a tinted face sunscreen that can actually kill three? 

The sunscreen we’re talking about is EltaMD’s UV Daily Moisturizer, a hero product that acts as a sunscreen, moisturizer, and light tint all at once. It’s a favorite of none other than Hailey Bieber, who has some serious words of praise for the 3-in-1 essential. 

“A lot of sunscreens make my skin break out, and this one has been my Holy Grail,” she says in a YouTube video she did for Elle earlier this year

Now, these kind words are no shock. EltaMD is known for its effective sunscreens that fuse skincare and sun protection, but this formula takes it up a notch with the natural-looking tint. You can push your foundation with this 3-in-1 time and money saver. What’s even better is this product’s ability to combat visible signs of aging.

RELATED: What’s the Difference Between Physical and Chemical Sunscreens, Anyway? 

You know a product is worth it when it’s reached Holy Grail status for Hailey Bieber. Keep reading to hear more about how this sunscreen wears many hats and addresses a bunch of skin concerns all at once. Plus, it costs $32.50, which for sun protection, skincare, and light coverage, is quite the bargain.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Courtesy of Amazon.

Let’s start with the obvious: sun protection. At its core, this product is a face sunscreen with an SPF of 40. Dermatologists tend to recommend you wear sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every single day. It provides UVA and UVB (a.k.a. broad spectrum) protection, which means it shields your skin from both types of UV light. UVA has everything to do with skin aging, while UVB deals with skin burning.

This tinted face sunscreen clearly checks off the box for sun protection, but what about its skincare benefits? The formula engages hyaluronic acid to moisturize your skin and help minimize the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Its sidekick ingredient, vitamin E, also plays a part in the sunscreen’s anti-aging powers by blocking your skin from free radicals. 

Last but not least, there’s a subtle, natural-looking tint to this sunscreen. You can wear it on its own or add more coverage with your fav foundation.

With a near-perfect rating on Amazon, thousands of reviewers share Bieber’s love for this multipurpose product. “My dermatologist recommended it and I love it,” wrote one shopper. “I use the tinted formula in the non-sun months to give my face a bit more color. I don’t buy any other kind for my face now.” 

Another shopper calls it the best sunscreen she’s ever applied, saying, “Most sunscreens I’ve used are thick and break me out. This sunscreen is lightweight and makes my skin feel soft.” She wears this tinted sunscreen with her usual concealer to create a natural everyday makeup look.