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Sarah Tinsley's avatar

I can relate to this! My head is always full of shoulds. Really great post, reminds me that it isn't a competition, and that we're all on our path to different things, at different times.

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Liz Champion's avatar

Thanks Sarah! Yes, definitely important to remember that we are all at different stages.

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Sasha DeWitt's avatar

P D James didn't have her first book published until she was in her mid-40's. I saw her give a talk before she passed. She was going strong up until the end. By then she had like 40 years of writing. So no such thing as too late. These thoughts are so true though - we have them, but they don't serve any purpose.

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Liz Champion's avatar

Thanks Sasha. What an amazing career! She was writing and being published in her nineties. Definitely no such thing as too late. I think Toni Morrison was also first published in her forties. 📖

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Fran Hill's avatar

I honestly think it helps to remember that, while you're looking at Beth and Mike and thinking 'I should have', someone's probably looking at you and thinking the same and wishing they'd achieved what you have. And I wouldn't mind betting that Beth and Mike have exactly those thoughts about others who've got awards they didn't, or deals they didn't. These feelings are ubiquitous and seem to come with the territory!

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Liz Champion's avatar

Thanks Fran. They do seem to come with the territory.

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