I started writing when I was 40, and I now have nine novels selling on Amazon, and a number of short stories published in the small press. For me, writing is not a hobby, it is a need I had been longing to fulfil since childhood, but only in my later years did I have the courage to begin. Not only do I love telling stories, but I have also found unexpected benefits. Writing helps maintain mental sharpness. It helps maintain emotional health. Furthermore, by moving in and out of the heads of my characters, I have developed, in "real" life, an empathy with other people to a degree which is startling. Moreover, writing makes every day meaningful. Whether by capturing memories, sharing stories, or just organizing thoughts, writing has enriched my life. Writing has also improved my memory, boosted my self-esteem and connected me with other people.
One thing I learned early in life, is that nobody is really interested in the lives of others, and that includes mine! Nonetheless, using my own thoughts and experiences and adapting them, adding to them, and making them relevant to today's readers is a powerful tool for reflection and growth. However, using and adapting my own experiences has helped to recognize and appreciate my own journey and this acknowledgment can significantly elevate self-esteem.
On a more mundane level, writing brings a structure to life that might be missing for those who are retired. And yet, creative writing is not about simply recording thoughts, it is a task that requires clarity and precision, imagination, and an awareness of the potential needs of today's readers. All of these can sharpen the mind and, more importantly, encourage the older writer to package their experiences in a way that makes them interesting to a younger reader rather than boring them with another anecdote that might begin with "back in the sixties..."
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