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

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 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?

The perfect gift for someone who is retiring or already retired and does not know what to do with their time. Wish I would’ve discovered this book years ago!

I gave this book five stars, however if you have already read Artist's Way andVein Of Gold, and skimmed through much of her other work, then I wouldGive it four stars.For one thing, this book had too many anecdotes. People who are close toSixty-five had better focus on their finances and their afterlife. And thisMeans dropping everything and doing hatha yoga and Raja yoga, andBecome an advanced practitioner.I mention yoga and no other spiritual tradition, because there is a vast bodyOf knowledge available in America. People should have some direct controlOver their health and yoga is the answer.Apart fromThe writing was not up to par in this book. It certainly does not compare toAW or VOG. Also I may be an optimist, but old people are generallySupposed to be wiser than the young.To conclude, if you are watching your finances and your health, you do notNeed this book. Creating art is not difficult for the old, who have had toContend with real trauma like childbirth and loss of parents.

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