Second Chances
Hi Everyone,
Since I’ve finished some editing, I had a chance to have lunch with some women friends today, and I was intrigued and inspired by some things they said and what they’re doing. Actually, I was downright impressed.
I’ve always kept my hand into interior design in some form, although writing has been my main career since I was nineteen. But my training and schooling in design has always stayed with me, both in fashion and interior design. And in the past ten years, I’ve had a passion for contemporary art, and had a gallery for the work of emerging artists for four and a half years. That was a whole new career for me, and I absolutely LOVED it. I loved looking for new artists, going to art fairs to discover them, visiting their studios, discovering their new work, and being the ‘matchmaker’ between the artist and the collector. And my goal was to keep the prices reasonable, so many people could enjoy the work I found. And I loved every show I curated, and the artists almost became a second family for me. The years that I had the gallery were fun and exciting for me, to learn something new, and discover a whole new world, and ‘second career’ as an art dealer. I still curate at least one show every year for a gallery in San Francisco, and I have a ball with it. Branching out into art has been a wonderful addition to my life.
More recently, two years ago, three French composers asked me to write lyrics for their music, and I embarked on doing that, and producing an album with them, which will be on the Internet very soon. I knew nothing about the music world, and it has been a tremendous learning experience for me. It is truly exciting to learn new things, and adapt the skills you have to a new area—–or to learn something completely different. I think learning new things keeps life interesting and challenging!! Most of the year, I’m writing, but I try to take a few months off, and use that time to learn something new.
Today, at lunch with my friends, I was fascinated to hear what one of my friends is doing. A successful and talented interior designer, two years ago, she decided to start a shoe business, which was a complete departure for her, and venture into a totally new field. Maybe it was something she had always wanted to do. At first, as people do, I’m not sure anyone took her seriously…..shoes?…oh that’s nice….whatever. But she’s actually done it, and her staid and perhaps predictable life has opened up to new horizons. She and her son in his mid 20’s started the business together. She traveled extensively to China, Vietnam, and Brazil, and more recently Mexico, to explore production options and visit factories. I KNOW I wouldn’t have the guts to do that, my new ‘career’ ventures have been closer to home and much more timid, than negotiating with factories in Asia. She chose the factories that worked for her, picked fabrics, and dealt with everything from the design (of canvas sports shoes), to the colors, the shape, the production, the fit, distribution, advertising, and everything it takes to start a business. And she’s done it. The shoes are now in stores, great to look at, fun to wear, and comfortable, and doing well. I’m soooo impressed!!! It has turned into a serious, well thought out, successful business. And she has learned everything about it from the ground up, and is doing well. Bravo. (You can see her shoes at http://www.blukicks.com/ )
At the same lunch today, while talking about her business, someone mentioned one of her relatives. The last time I saw her, she was a very intelligent older woman, who played an excellent game of tennis, but as far as I know had never worked. And today, I discovered that she has opened a fish restaurant, runs it all herself, is doing well, and has learned the business also from the ground up. Or from the water up, she’s not just an ‘investor’, she even fishes occasionally for the restaurant herself, but is running a serious fish restaurant and working very hard at it full time and doing well.
Another friend in France, after a long career in the luxury business, mostly in perfume and cosmetics, has become a ‘matchmaker’ between companies seeking investors, and those seeking to acquire or invest in small companies. Presto magic!! A new career!!
I have to say, I am so impressed by the courage it takes to start something new, to do something you may have always dreamed of, or something you hadn’t thought of previously in your wildest imagination. Most or many of these small new ventures are started on a modest budget, and take an enormous investment of personal time and effort and hard work. But I think it is a fantastic opportunity to stay engaged in the world, and get involved in something new. Another woman I know just told me this week that she has opened a small needlepoint shop as a ‘second job’. I really admire and salute these new careers, found with courage, imagination, built with sheer hard work, and the guts to try something new. And I really admire those who follow their dreams, no matter what others say or think. And bravo for trying something new!!!
love, danielle
Leave a Comment
If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.
Thank you for your blog from today, 6/10/2013. I needed to hear that at this very moment. I just started to write my first novel two days ago on 6/8/2013, on my father’s 75th birthday. It was completely unplanned but the words have found pen and paper and I’m on a journey now. That along with being 4.5 years sober in AA, life is full of unexpected turns.
I have written you once or maybe twice before (around 2006?). But I don’t expect you to remember me. But just reaching out to say thanks once more for all that you have done in the writing world and for staying so real and human. I guess also the reason I’m writing is because you and your work give me strength and courage to write. That is probably why I looked up your website this evening as I write. Even though it is fiction there is still a lot of risk taking as you may know. A lot of the main character is me. So I’m jumping out of an airplane so to speak and I’m just looking over my shoulder to make sure that people like you are still there, shining a light for me.
My very best regards,
Erika Tveter
San Francisco, CA
I am really inspired together with your writing skills as well as with the structure to your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it your self? Anyway stay up the excellent high quality writing, it’s rare to look a nice blog like this one nowadays!
kamagra 100mg prix: acheter Kamagra sans ordonnance – kamagra 100mg prix
albertsons pharmacy: Pharm Express 24 – computer rx pharmacy software
https://semaglupharm.com/# does rybelsus cause eye problems
side effects lipitor 20 mg atorvastatin cost without insurance or atorvastatin controlled substance https://www.google.dk/url?q=https://lipipharm.com why is lipitor bad for you kГёb lipitor atorvastatin side effects ed and atorvastatin or rosuvastatin what drugs should not be taken with atorvastatin
https://semaglupharm.com/# Affordable Rybelsus price
https://prednipharm.shop/# Predni Pharm
lipitor lawsuit commercial side effects of lipitor atorvastatin No RX Lipitor online
prednisone 20mg tab price order prednisone on line or prednisone rx coupon http://wiki.wlug.org.nz/matt/m.php?a5B5D=3Ca20href3Dhttp3A2F2Fprednipharm.com2F3EC391C58DC390C2BBC390C2B5C390C2BAC391E2809AC391E282ACC390C2BEC39181C390C2BDC390C2B0C390C2B1C390C2B6C390C2B5C390C2BDC390C2B8C390C2B520C39183C391E280A1C390C2B0C39181C391E2809AC390C2BAC390C2B020C391E280A0C390C2B5C391E280A6C390C2B020C390C2B4C390C2B8C390C2BFC390C2BBC390C2BEC390C2BC3C2Fa3E online prednisone prednisone in canada prednisone 4 mg daily and generic over the counter prednisone buy 10 mg prednisone
side effects of rybelsus 7 mg rybelsus without prescription or semaglutide cancer risk https://maps.google.sn/url?sa=t&url=https://semaglupharm.com is rybelsus approved for weight loss semaglutide pros and cons does semaglutide stop working and is rybelsus for weight loss rybelsus for weight loss side effects
Semaglu Pharm: what happens if you take rybelsus with food – Semaglu Pharm
https://semaglupharm.shop/# Semaglu Pharm
LipiPharm Lipi Pharm LipiPharm
Safe online pharmacy for Crestor: CrestorPharm – Crestor 10mg / 20mg / 40mg online
lowest dosage of lipitor atorvastatin and paxlovid or lipitor prices http://images.google.hn/url?q=http://lipipharm.com whats the difference between atorvastatin and rosuvastatin lipitor vs mevacor alcohol and atorvastatin and 80 mg atorvastatin 20 mg atorvastatin
https://lipipharm.com/# atorvastatin for blood pressure
crestor brain fog Affordable cholesterol-lowering pills CrestorPharm
prednisone buy no prescription prednisone 100 mg or prednisone in india https://cse.google.tk/url?sa=t&url=https://prednipharm.com prednisone 50 mg tablet canada prednisone 10mg tablet cost prednisone in india and generic prednisone otc prednisone online australia
CrestorPharm: Crestor Pharm – CrestorPharm
CrestorPharm: Affordable cholesterol-lowering pills – Crestor Pharm
http://semaglupharm.com/# generic for rybelsus
buying prednisone without prescription prednisone 100 mg prednisone 20 mg tablets
Lipi Pharm: Lipi Pharm – can atorvastatin cause joint pain
https://semaglupharm.com/# Rybelsus 3mg 7mg 14mg
http://crestorpharm.com/# Crestor Pharm
USA-based pharmacy Lipitor delivery Affordable Lipitor alternatives USA п»їBuy Lipitor without prescription USA
fenofibrate vs atorvastatin lipitor ed or is lipitor over the counter https://toolbarqueries.google.bi/url?q=https://lipipharm.com is it dangerous to take a double dose of atorvastatin is lipitor covered by medicare grapefruit atorvastatin and atorvastatin 40 mg price walgreens atorvastatin 20mg là thuốc gì
pronounce rybelsus: Semaglu Pharm – rybelsus 7 mg tablet
https://semaglupharm.com/# SemagluPharm
prednisone 20mg online pharmacy prednisone 20 mg tablets or prednisone for sale in canada https://www.google.ht/url?q=https://prednipharm.com prednisone 20 mg tablet price 3000mg prednisone prednisone 10mg buy online and prednisone pack buy prednisone nz
semaglutide alcohol Semaglu Pharm Where to buy Semaglutide legally
https://semaglupharm.com/# Semaglu Pharm
Predni Pharm: prednisone tablets india – buy prednisone 10mg online
rybelsus vs jardiance weight loss best foods to eat on semaglutide or online semaglutide https://www.google.com.ai/url?q=https://semaglupharm.com rybelsus weight loss before and after pictures ozempic semaglutide what is the active ingredient in rybelsus and rybelsus 3 mg cost semaglutide los angeles
LipiPharm LipiPharm Lipi Pharm
https://lipipharm.com/# Lipi Pharm
rosuvastatin/ezetimibe brand name: Crestor 10mg / 20mg / 40mg online – Crestor 10mg / 20mg / 40mg online
what happens if i take too much atorvastatin lipitor beta blocker or can lipitor cause weight gain https://cse.google.md/url?sa=t&url=https://lipipharm.com why should over 70s not take atorvastatin? lipitor 20 mg lipitor and leg cramps and atorvastatin 20 mg pill image cost of atorvastatin 40 mg
what happens if you take rybelsus with food 2.5 mg semaglutide or can i cut rybelsus in half https://maps.google.com.ai/url?sa=t&url=https://semaglupharm.com rybelsus semaglutide rybelsus 14 mg reviews oral semaglutide cost and rybelsus weight loss before and after microdosing semaglutide chart
https://semaglupharm.com/# Semaglu Pharm
prednisone 20mg by mail order cheap prednisone online 50 mg prednisone from canada
USA-based pharmacy Lipitor delivery: LipiPharm – Safe atorvastatin purchase without RX
CrestorPharm side effects of stopping crestor Buy cholesterol medicine online cheap
atorvastatin 80mg: Lipi Pharm – atorvastatin images
https://semaglupharm.com/# empower pharmacy lawsuit semaglutide
Online pharmacy Rybelsus: Semaglu Pharm – SemagluPharm
atorvastatin substitute ezetimibe and atorvastatin or atorvastatin 40 mg c3 https://www.google.im/url?q=https://lipipharm.com livalo vs atorvastatin what to avoid when taking atorvastatin how does lipitor work and generic for lipitor cost of atorvastatin 10 mg
https://semaglupharm.com/# Semaglu Pharm
rosuvastatin dementia ezetimibe with rosuvastatin CrestorPharm