Years back, I found myself in a really cool gift shop in Marina Del Rey. They carried all sorts of hilarious signs, mugs, plaques and cards. I was in there for quite some time cracking up! Back in the day, when folks still sent cards for birthdays and holidays, I used to spend a lot of time in the humorous card section. I could never settle on just one! So, while out west, away from friends and family I would on occasion, go to this shop and buy a silly card for a friend. At one point, I said I was going to mail my granddaughter a card once a week. It would be something inspiring. I did for a brief period, although I don’t recall them being acknowledged!
During one of my visits, I came across this black and white card that simply said, “Leap and the net shall appear.” It spoke to me. I had done all this writing, but it was living in my computer and in countless notebooks. I had taken so many classes, but was afraid to share anything outside of very close friends and family.
Years later, when I finally got up the nerve to share this one collection of stories I had written over several years with a friend, he picked up the phone and called me. (If you knew this person, you would know, this was a rare occurrence!) He called me FROM HIS VACATION! He had read the collection on the beach and wanted to offer some feedback. He loved it! In fact, he asked if I had written them myself! (and this was over ten years ago and long before ChatGPT!) Of course I had! He wanted to connect me with a friend of his who had written for TV and had a background in theater. I was a tad scared, but agreed.
He too loved them, so much so he wanted to produce them with me on stage. I was thrilled. Of course, the rest is history. In May of 2018, my show hit the stage to a sold-out audience. (I have to give props to my friends and family who busted their collective asses to fill that theater!) There had been no advertising. Word of many mouths sold tickets, and it was a great success. (Although the night before at the final rehearsal, I wasn’t quite so sure when no one could remember their lines!) It was too late to turn back. I just had to pray I wouldn’t have to escape from the back door of the theater in embarrassment! I am happy to report that I did not. In fact, there was a standing ovation. (My first and only to date.) Next to the births of my daughter and grandkids, it was truly one of the best nights of my life.
I had stepped out of my comfort zone, just like the card said!
Now, do not ask me what happened after that! Fear crept in and I start second guessing as to whether this was a one-time anomaly. Could I do it again? I became overwhelmed with doubt and then the unthinkable occurred and I now had grief as a reason to become stuck, when the truth is that grief was just a part of it. Doubt and fear were at the top of the list.
In my youth, I was pretty bold and fearless. I was never afraid to fail. In fact, failure wasn’t even a consideration. I had quite “the set” on me. I believed there was nothing I couldn’t do if I set my mind to it and for years, I lived it. BOLD and as my sister would say, “BALLSY!”
As I have aged, I find that I’m more cautious. Oh hell, scared shitless is a more accurate description! Well damn! Where the hell did my “BOLD” go? I wore a tutu for God’s sake! I wore gold boots! I wore a jumpsuit to a black tie event. I used to just go for it! I “should” just go for it!
But you know, there comes a point in life where the word “should” starts to lose its power. I’ve lived, learned, and seen enough to know that the only thing worse than taking a risk, is not taking a risk and wondering what might have happened if you had!
And that is where boldness comes in. I’m not talking recklessness. I’m talking boldness that comes from experience, perspective and self-awareness. Being bold at this point, is less about proving something and more about expressing something. YOU! It’s about honoring the person you’ve become by allowing your choices to reflect your true desires rather than your fear of what others will think.
When you’re younger, for many, life revolved around fitting in, pleasing others and living up to some external standards. But later in life, boldness means giving yourself permission to live on your own terms. It means, saying NO when something doesn’t serve you and YES, when something lights your fire!
Whether it’s learning a new skill, a new language and just not being afraid to try new things BE BRAVE. BE BOLD. It could be something as simple as changing your style. Bold acts bring energy and a sense of renewal. Bold acts remind us that growth doesn’t have an expiration date.
When you take chances and defy expectations it also gives others silent permission to do the same. You become living proof that it’s never to late to reinvent yourself, to chase a dream or to fall in love with life again.
Boldness builds confidence and confidence attracts opportunities. You realize that playing it safe can be far riskier than stepping outside of your comfort zone.
Boldness can challenge stereotypes. Boldness is about taking up space, claiming joy, and rewriting what it truly means to life fully at every stage and every age!
Be bold. Color your hair. Change your style. Write that book. Speak your truth. Start your podcast or blog. Chase a dream! Take that class and be the oldest person in the room!
I am currently taking my own advice and entering my first script contest this month! Wish me luck.
And finally, speaking of films and boldness, I want to acknowledge the passing of one of my favorite actresses. We lost the very talented Diane Keaton recently. One of the first film workshops I attended in LA was at the writers’ guild. The special guest was writer/director Nancy Myers. (Also a fav of mine. She makes movies I want to watch featuring mature women!) She was talking about the script development of “Somethings Gotta Give.” (Also a fav of mine!) Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson starred in this film. Diane, to me was not only a great actress, but a very stylish woman. Often in black and white, I loved her bold style. I found her interviews to be both interesting and always hilarious. She seemed to be quite the character. Knowing I was a fan of Diane’s, my sister came across this excerpt from an interview of Diane’s and sent it to me. It fit perfectly with what I was writing, so here it is:
“Here is my biggest takeaway after 60 years on the planet: There is great value in being fearless. For too much of my life, I was too afraid, too frightened by it all. That fear is one of my biggest regrets. Don’t give up on yourself. So, you make a mistake here and there; you do too much, or you do too little. Just have fun. Smile. And keep putting on lipstick.” ~ Diane Keaton 1946-2025
No idea where the photo came from!