Over the past few years, I have been so busy working on my career, raising a family, getting that degree, and trying to take care of myself. When I’m in front with a microphone, some people see me as cool and collected, and maybe even some sort of super woman. What they don’t know is that I have my own struggles as well. Knowledge doesn’t exempt me from experiencing life, and that’s just fine by me.
At one point, I stayed away from friends who wanted to meet up or have coffee. I was sorting myself at the time, and going through midlife madness, too!
Yes, I have my own midlife story. Yes, psychologists like me get the blues, too. I have to be honest here. It was not a walk in the park. But this excruciating experience brought out the best in me – and I hoped brought out the best in you too. There is beauty in 40, indeed.
So there goes my story, and then this book, Beauty of 40: Unwrapping the Gift of Midlife, happened. It was not an accident. I wrote my reflections on turning 40 and shared it on social media. One of my friends, writer-editor Jing Lejano, saw the wisdom in my reflections, fanned the flames, and encouraged me to make a book. Hell, yeah, why not?
If I was able to somehow help myself and a few souls to sort out their midlife happenings, then it would have been well worth it for me. I could not be more excited to write about it in the context that almost fortysomethings can relate to.
Since it was a personal book, the book launch was intimate as well. It was a beautiful Saturday morning, last May 11, 2019, when I unwrapped the book along with close friends, colleagues, and students. I invited them to muse with me about this midlife milestone and together, we expressed gratitude for having each other on our journey to midlife.
Here, some pictures from that special day.
Interested in Beauty of 40: Unwrapping the Gift of Midlife? Send me a message to get signed copies. It is also available at shop.kerygmabooks.com and St. Paul’s Bookstores.