Good start!

I think you could truly just begin with ..."I was in my early 40s and I looked in the mirror..etc.," and go on from there. This was your epiphany or "aha" moment, and since most of us over 30 have them - then you don't really need to tell us what it is you're doing, just do it on paper and your reader will feel, see, and get involved with your experience.

For me, sometimes, I have to write a few lines to really get my motor started - but later - I cut out all of those lines because they were for the writer, not the reader. To help me get my head into what I'm writing, get back into that voice, or mood. I think you're doing a great job...you're climbed the ladder, you've walked down the diving board, you've held your breath...now...let's plunge!

Thanks for that advise, I will mull it over in my mind and see if it makes more sense to cut most of it out? It might suit me better because some of it I didn't like anyway, like the part that says"delving into the crevices..blah blah blah..Hope all is well w/you? You are so good at replying, I just wanted you to know it means so much that someone out there does!! I wish more people would. Peace

this is my "Self Reflection" hanilol.wordpress.com/acidiclife/
It is funny because I feel the opposite, people may have had an Ah HA moment but soon after lose the significance of it. There is more people in upstate oblivia then not. I feel that people have failed, including myself to hold the simplicity of life and infact most younger people and some older folks have ineed not had the revelation needed to change to make self better and have not kept the change they have made to make good things happen. Our demcracy has turned bad and the people have yet to snap into the reality that independence and freedom has been lost. Peace love.

Thank you and please understand that I'm only sorry I can't reply with tone-of-voice intact. I just ready my reply and thought, "Wow, does that sound snarky? I sure didn't mean it that way." Sometimes I just cut to the chase and sound really cranky, when that isn't my intention at all. (Please insert sincere helpful, cheerful tone here!) :)

When folks post here, I'm thinking (as you said & I agree - I wish more people would comment) they are not wanting someone to tell them what to write, or do it for them; they are seeking critique on a way to shape what they've written into something managable that doesn't leave the author lying there in a pool of their own red ink, and to pull on the heartstrings of the reader, not tear out the heart of the author.

So! With that said, please feel free to ignore, laugh, delete, or whatever you like to any comment I may with which you do not agree. The most important thing is to keep writing, to keep working your way through the things you want to say that allows you to share the experience without leaving yourself vulnerable to it (and not be blocking yourself from genuine love and creativity in the process.)

A hard task, yet one I'm very confident you will be able to do. It may not be your choice, but I hear in some of your writing a deep sense of irony that you have turned into a flair of wry wit. I'm thinking you might be very comfortable with irony as a perspective platform.

Thanks for allowing me to babble all over your page. :)

I liked your pep talk to yourself, Timmy0292, and now we are in for a ride of your life. I've got my seat belt on and are ready to go. Can't wait to see what shows up.

I just had to say, Faintly, that I enjoy your comments almost as much as your journal postings. You are so perceptive and witty and so generously give of yourself. That's very nice of you...

Gayle