How Start a Creative Career in the Latter Years.  

How Start a Creative Career in the Latter Years.  

Do you believe you can still pursue a creative career when you are much older?

There are many popular lies that have made many to associate creativity with children and youth. That past a certain age, the creativity is gone. Once one has retired they have expired. This is perpetuated by the media’s obsession with the youth and the celebrity culture.

Yes, one can miss opportunities to express their creativity while in pursuit of their career goals, but we serve a merciful God who restores and creates new opportunities. If we look at creativity as part of human identity, purpose, and calling, then the is no right or wrong age. Some things do not have an expiry date until death. Creativity is one of them.  

The creative industry needs new older heads to inject an alternative perspective.  The experience, patience, and knowledge acquired working in a different industry, in addition to spiritual and emotional maturity, are great ingredients for a creative career at an older age.

There are times the youth get into creative careers because that is the only option. The desperation, inexperience, and lack of patience make them fodder for exploitation. Older people who have not grown in the creative industry might help end those exploitative practices. Plus, this would be an opportunity to lead by example: To teach the young generation about life, dreaming, and pursuing a calling no matter the age.

The youth need refreshing too: “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint,” (Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV).

Steps

Believe and stand on God’s promises

It starts with the belief that as long one is alive, the Lord has a purpose for them. Two biblical examples: Moses was 80 years old when he led the Israelites out of Egypt, and Caleb was 85 years old when he got his mountain.

The Lord has specifically promised: “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; 13planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. 14They will still bear fruit in old age, (Psalm 92:12-14).

Courage to start

The youth have a certain courage that allows them to take risks. One should never stop taking risks, stepping out by faith. Living by faith has no expiry date! Many settle for less, thus spending time protecting the lead, thus taking risks and stepping out by faith becomes impossible.

Connect the dots

Take time to reflect on all the experiences. The purpose is to identify the lessons and experiences that enhance creativity. And perhaps you can add ‘what if?’ to identify possible avenues of creativity. It does not have to be a ‘what if’ on the big decisions of life like changing jobs. It could be if you had changed a mode presentation or used your drawings for illustrations.

Evaluate rejected ideas.

It is possible to have an inventory of rejected ideas. Ideas one was passionate about, and held strong convictions about their viability, but were rejected by colleagues or superiors. With a fresh eye and no work-related pressure, the ideas can look different. Perhaps, those ideas were rejected because they were creative, innovative, different. It is even possible those ideas were way ahead of time, and this is their time and season. Evaluate too, the ideas and passions you had to sacrifice along the way in pursuit of academic and work excellence.

It is time to remove the expiry dates on the dreams, laughter, joy, and creativity. It is not over yet. “The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favour to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all,” (Ecclesiastes 9:11).

Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash

Martin Mburu

Judge Dogood © is a fictional character created by Martin Mburu

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