Yesterday I turned sixty. My husband, friends, children, and close relatives made an extra effort to make it a special day despite the lockdown. I went for walks, twice - first with my friends and then with my husband. The whole day flowers, phone calls, and text messages kept on arriving. In the evening, I was treated to a surprise birthday party.
It was one of those milestones when you look back and think, “where the hell six decades had gone?”
My 93 years old father-in-law asked me, “Out of the last six decades, which one was the best?” After pondering a little while, I responded, “All of them.”
Don’t they say life begins at sixty!
Suddenly I had forgotten all the pain from years of trial and tribulations, anxiety and apprehensions, and fears and dreads for preceding decades.
When we are going through tough times, we think they are never going to end. But they do. Things always look much more dreadful when we are going through them. But once we have gone through them, they seem trivial.
Life is like a river. It has several turns, and each one represents a pivotal moment. Sometimes these moments are apparent, such as moving to a new place, starting a new job, or meeting someone who plays a significant role in our lives. But other times, these pivotal moments arrive without any fanfare or headline.
Because it’s not the moment that is spectacular – it’s what it will lead to.
For me, one such moment was when I published my first book. I wrote it in one week and then published it with any fanfare. It was a personal challenge I set myself. I was responding to a tiny voice in my head that said to me on the morning of 15 June, Write that damn book and write it fast.
I am so glad I listened to that voice and did what it asked me to do. I know now that it was a pivotal moment. It will lead to all those things I want to do in the next two decades of my life: to write books—lots of them.
On my 60th birthday, I released the second version of the book, with a brand new professional cover.
The only thing standing between you and your desire to start your author career is your first book.
If you have the slightest desire to write a book, you should do what I did. Write and publish your book in a week. Want to know how to do that, grab my book here.
For the next five days, it is available for 99 cents.
That’s it from me this week.
I would love to hear from you. Please drop me a line in the comments section.
Take care.
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Happy Birthday, Neera!! That was so kind of your family .. Turning 60 is a call for a celebration. Not many live to this milestone. I am sure for you it is just a number. You have become so much wiser with a reservoir bank of knowledge... if only you had to your disposal. How much life would have been better. Cherish every moment my friend. Do what makes you happy. Stay blessed and happiest birthday again.