You can probably tell from the title of this blog post that I’m a Millennial – we do so love our little verbing word quirks; thus, you can also surmise that the unelicited aches and pains of mid-life have commenced for me. To say I find the realization that groaning when one gets up in the morning is not merely a symptom of my “ancient” parents is disconcerting to say the least.

Where have all the years gone, I ask myself? Why do I feel so ill-equipped to be the age I am, and to act it? That said – I am not old by any stretch of the imagination (except, naturally, to the ever-pithy teenagers I have the profound privilege of teaching). Having recently achieved (suffered?) my 35th year of existence, I decided to research the authorship achievements of others and the ages at which they contributed so profoundly to the literary world. Suffice to say: it was an edifying experience, but not a self-confidence-building one.

Did you know Jane Austen wrote the initial draft of Pride and Prejudice when she was 21 years old? Emily Brontë was 27 when she wrote Wuthering Heights and Agatha Christie was 21 when she finished her first novel to be published. That’s not even considering the teen authors out there! Christoper Paolini wrote the first book of his Inheritance Cycle, Eragon, when he was 15 – one of my favourite book series.

Oddly, rather than feeling crappy about my own lack of contribution, I ended up feeling really inspired by the limitless spirit of human ingenuity. Just as when I follow different artists or crafters on social media, despite feeling somewhat inadequate when considering their myriad talents and projects, I also feel – much more strongly – a sense of wonder and appreciation for people’s boundless creativity and commitment to self-improvement.

Thus, in tandem with my ever-growing aches and pains, I have also begun to develop a grandmother-ish, wise-woman fondness for these ‘young people’ and their gifts. May they continue to write, create, and craft – and simultaneously – may they continue to innovate and break new ground as they age. It’s never too late to teach an old(er) dog new tricks.

And with that profound, heartfelt soliloquy, I will wish you a happy festive season and a wonderful new year.

K.I.S.