Changing Hobbies: From Artist to Author

There was a time I wanted only to draw — it didn’t matter where or when. I eventually pursued an art degree, but I changed majors when I realized it would be hard to support a family on that.

So, I changed my major to marketing, which served me well. I made the financial gains needed to support my family while still exercising some of my latent creative energy in the process. It was a practical decision that served a purpose at the time. Art was put aside for the time being.

Rediscovering a passion for art

Many years later, I rediscovered my passion, and art became a hobby. Sporadically, as time allowed, I pursued my passion for drawing. I took more art classes, this time for pleasure instead of a career. My passion would ebb and flow, dictated by a hectic schedule — a delicate balance between a full-time job, being a single mom, and finishing my bachelor's degree in marketing. Months, even years, passed before I picked up my drawing tools again... until more recently.

With my macular degeneration diagnosis, suddenly there was more urgency to "finish what I started." My goal was to complete 8 drawings of my grandchildren before it was no longer possible, as my central vision began to blur. It was on my bucket list, and I got busy.

Realizing my limited time as an artist

Christmas was my deadline to complete portraits of my grandchildren, frame them, and include them as a very special, personal gift. As I approached this deadline, my vision began to shift from the beginning stage to the intermediate stage, making it more difficult to see the detail needed to complete my portraits; but I did finish them all, and they are now proudly hung in their homes. That pretty much was the end of my portrait drawings.

With the advancement of my macular degeneration, it’s far more challenging now to draw as I once did. However, there were other creative options catching my attention!

Making space for a new hobby

Before anything could change, the most critical next step was to let go of one passion to allow room for another. As my central vision grew worse, I realized the need to shift my perspective away from drawing and be open to new opportunities.

I always enjoyed writing — hmm! And I was already writing articles as an advocate for MacularDegeneration.net. My next adventure was becoming abundantly clear!

A time to refocus

Just a few months ago, I finished writing my first book, Co-Creating A Meaningful Life With Macular Degeneration. Who would have guessed in my mid-70s that I would write my first book? Not me!

How amazing that my macular degeneration journey was a gateway to my next creative discovery! But before I could even think about writing, I first had to make that crucial shift from fear of the future with macular degeneration to acceptance, opening doors to other possibilities. It was time to refocus on what I could gain versus what I was losing. Once that happened, multiple opportunities occurred. It’s funny how that works!

Have you made space for a new adventure?

First things first: First, change perspective — THEN embark on a new adventure. It doesn’t work in reverse!

You might ask yourself some of the questions I had to answer: What’s on your bucket list? Have you made space for a new adventure? What do you want to try next? Or what adjustments can you make to continue, in spite of macular degeneration?

That old expression, "Where there’s a will, there’s a way," isn’t far off the mark! We CAN think outside the box. There IS more.

We are all meant to shine

It could truly be the beginning of the next, new phase of your life, yet to be discovered. It’s time to reimagine the future and PLAY BIG! Author Marianne Williamson says it best: "Your playing small does not serve the world... We are all meant to shine."

Why not make a shift in perspective and play big — starting now?