It's Never Too Late to Begin Again: Discovering Creativity and Meaning at Midlife and Beyond (Artist's Way)

Excellent starting point to help retirees remember and identify activities and interests that they may enjoy in their newly found time.

When I saw the title of this book, "It's Never Too Lateto Begin Again," I just bought it. I didn't know what to expect, but was more than a little surprised and amused when I discovered the book was aimed toward retirees. I retired recently. And as I read the first pages, it was difficult to believe the timing of this book finding me. Aspects of my life and what I had been experiencing were being laid out in print. Apparently, I'm not the only one to go through this. As someone who bought and went through "The Artist's Way" when it was newly published, this book feels very familiar. Maybe it seems comfortable like an old pair of slippers. The tools were reintroduced: write Morning Pages to dump out the clutter and debris, schedule a Weekly Artist's Date and take walks. The book is divided into twelve weeks. Twelve weeks. Twelve Steps. Coincidence? The chapters are all named "Reigniting a Sense of _____" and so the adventure begins. This book is the result of the author's years of giving workshops and seeing the particular set of problems being experienced by the newly retired. Some of the exercises in the book were impossible for me to complete. I can't recall many of the requested memories. I know it is important to just acknowledge the situation and keep moving. Make a note and move on. Maybe something will trigger a memory later (or not). Maybe it just is what it is. What this is, is a timely book written by an Artist.

I have every book that Julia Cameron has published. My favorite is still “The Artist’s Way,” one of her earlier books. This is an easy read. If you need motivation to get unstuck or if you simply want to polish the motivational skills you already started, this is a great gift for yourself.

There’s definitely a spiritual and/or religious bent to some of the book, but (as a non-religious person) I did not find it overwhelming or annoying. Cameron acknowledges spirituality apart from religion, and spirituality is not the focus of the book. It’s more of a tool in a toolbox that she presents. “Morning Pages” are the first tool that Cameron teaches us. She tells us to write three pages every morning, by hand (no computer), stream-of-consciousness style. She provides many anecdotes showing us how people have learned surprising things about themselves (and their relationships, jobs, etc.) through this exercise. I’m a fan of freewriting in general, and although I usually see writing teachers advocate it in smaller amounts, I can see how forcing yourself to fill all three pages would probably bring a lot more to the surface. Her second tool is memoir. You divide your age by the 12 weeks the course is meant to last, and write about that many years each week, starting from the beginning. Again, it’s meant to bring things to the surface, make connections you might not have come up with otherwise, etc. For some people the memoir becomes a purpose and project unto itself. Weekly ‘artist dates’ act as a refueling method. Choose something a little interesting, special, or deliberately out of your comfort zone, and go do it alone. Go to an aquarium or zoo. Enjoy a trip through an art gallery or museum. It’s meant to jolt us out of our inertia and boredom; she calls it ‘assigned play’. Then there’s something particularly easy: walking (twice a week, for at least twenty minutes at a time). Each week in the book comes with questions to ask yourself, plenty of examples from her students, and tips to get around things that may be blocking you. Cameron presents ways to deal with distractions, drama, and ‘crazymaking’ people. I like the book well enough that I bought a copy for a recently-retired person I care about. Sure, it has that ‘new age’ feel to it, but I think that works well in this case, and in my opinion doesn’t change whether or not it will work for you. This is about finding and fulfilling your dreams and goals, one step at a time. NOTE: Book provided free by publisher for review

I'm probably not at quite the right stage for this book yet, just semi-retired with growing businesses, but I adapted it as I look forward to the next chapter. My job was more about focusing and paring down, than adding new things to my schedule - ensuring I was making room for the right things. As a technical writer for 30+ years, the writing exercises didn't intimidate me. That said, if you're like me, do yourself a favor and get yourself not one, but three separate journals so you can use a different one for the three types of exercises. I like the ones by Compendium. Some days, I found myself writing for 4+ hours, and I still want to go back and revisit/expand on certain stages/issues. A few of the exercises were a bit hokey, but overall, a worthwhile project.

More than I had hoped for! Written by the author of Artists Way, she has written this book using the fundamental concepts of that book. You write 3 morning pages everyday. Every week you do 2 nature walks and 1 artist date and reflect on those experiences. And you also draft your life story by answering questions each week with different periods of your life in focus. It is the best gift I could have given to myself after retiring. Excellent!!!

I love Julia Cameron’s books! This particular book is written particularly for seniors and folks retired! We gathered as a small group in my 55+ community and did one chapter a week together. You don’t have to be an artist to do this! Anyone, everyone in their 60’s onward will benefit! This is a workbook with fun weekly exercises and tasks to perform! Do it with a friend or two so you could have meaningful discussions and support each other! In 3 months you will definitely notice a change in perspective and perhaps reawakening lost dreams of your youth?

Wow! I've only finished chapter one the day before yesterday and already this book is changing my life. It's meant to be read one chapter per week, but I will probably be on the first chapter for a while longer in order to suck all the juice out of the beginning practices before I move on. I have tried journaling--I am a writer after all--but I brought to journaling the same expectations and pressure that I brought to work I intended to publish so I could never stick with it. What a joy "morning pages" are! A precious little gift to myself that reveal to me things about myself I never imagined--and one needn't be a writer to have that same experience. I am looking forward to the suggested two 20 min walks every week---and you have to understand that I am someone who has loathed and avoided all exercise all my life. These walks will NOT be for my health or to lose weight; they will be a present to my deepest self, to my soul. I can hardly believe that I am considering physical activity with joyful anticipation rather than dread and obligation. What other miracles will the next 11 chapters reveal?

An adaptation of the Artist's Way for the over-60s. Thought-provoking, encourages you to look back at your life and establish what you want to do next.

Love this book and love Julia Cameron. If you are stuck in the creative process Julia helps with suggestions for writing and different activities.

Please buy this book — it complements The Artist’s Way and explains in even more detail the importance of Morning pages — the ‘memoir’ tasks on a weekly basis is critical as is the artist date. I have loved every bit of this book. Worth it

Julia Cameron is always inspiring. I've read and used The Artist's Way and The Writer's Way. The other day, I took my new book, It's Never Too Late ....'down to the local cafe with me and began reading the introduction, which in itself was inspiring. I haven't read much so far but I did take out my notebook and pen and began writing all sorts of random things which were on my mind. Julia Cameron speaks my language. Now I just need to keep it up. The exercises seem to be similar--in fact a lot of what's in the other books is repeated--but there's more of a focus on the idea that it's never too late to begin something new.

This book came at just the right time. I have been able to embrace my new status of Retired with curiosity and wonder. I enjoyed reflecting on my life in the memoirs. I have many Artist Dates planned and look forward to trying out a different coffee shop each week. The Morning Pages have become my favourite thing.