Shownotes
Lately I've found myself wondering if I should still be performing in a rock band at age 53.
After 35+ years in the biz, am I too old for this? Sometimes my aching body says yes! But more often it's my nasty nagging inner-critic (ego) that says I look too old and it's silly for a woman my age to be prancing around the stage, belting it out like Tina Turner. Nobody told Tina to stop doing it when she was 53 so why should I?
I believe that when your soul calls you to do something creative, it shouldn't matter what age, gender, type you are. Creativity transcends stereotype so just go for it!
Links:
- Order my colouring Book - It Starts With A Heart
- Subscribe to my mailing list
- Send me an email
- All Abilities Australia
- Rest Easy Expo
Transcript:
Well, hello everyone and welcome back to another episode of the joyful creative. This is the seventh episode. And if you've been listening to all the episodes so far, I just want to say, thank you so much for listening, for tuning in for giving me your support. If there's anything in particular, a subject about creativity that you'd like me to cover in a future episode. I'd love to hear from you. You can get in contact with me via email or social media, all the links are below in the show notes. So, yeah, reach out and let me know. And if you know anybody who could really do with this sort of support and inspiration, then by all means, please share this episode. You can message or text them the link and then they'll be able to listen as well. That will be wonderful.
Also just a little update on my episode from last week where I talked about my collaborative artwork with all abilities Australia that was auctioned off at a gala last Friday night. The piece fetched $2,300 at the live auction for the fundraising gala. And yeah, I'm just so pleased with that result. All abilities Australia are an amazing organization that really support adults with various mental and physical abilities. They do such a great job and they were fundraising to purchase a big van a wheelchair accessible van that they can transport the participants around town in to take them out on excursions and around the place.
And when I was working with these people, I really felt how valuable it would be for them all to have the enriching experience of being able to go to an exhibition or an art gallery or a live performance or any other type of arts that's outside their four walls and so hopefully the money raised from this artwork will help them to reach their goal to be able to purchase this van.
Another public service announcement I have is that this Saturday I will be presenting at the Rest Easy Expo at Technology Park. So that's this Saturday time of recording the 24th of August, 2024. It's going to be amazing. So many vendors that are all geared up to share their information on improving your quality of sleep, rest, relaxation, wellness, all that good stuff. The tickets are $10 if you buy them beforehand, if you turn up on the day, they will be $15. So if you're thinking of going, if you're in the Brisbane area, I recommend getting online and booking your tickets early so you can save yourself $5. So I will be there with a giant colouring page. That'll be a free activity for anybody to come along and contribute to this massive colouring page pick up a pencil, have a little bit of time out and do some colouring. And. Yeah, it's going to be amazing.
I'm also going to be presenting a modified version of my mindful creativity workshop at the expo, that's another free activity. I'll be taking people through the doodling part of my workshop. I normally do some work with ink and other materials, but just to keep it simple I want it to really show people how easy it is to really drop into that relaxing flow state with nothing more than a fine liner pen and a piece of paper. And these are materials anybody could have in their hand bag or the backpack, whatever you carrying around. And if you're sitting there waiting at an appointment or on public transport or any time when you would normally get out your phone and scroll through social media, which can be not as relaxing as we'd hope. Having a pen and paper available just to go through some repetitive mark making is really a wonderful thing for your central nervous system and to reduce stress. So I'll be presenting that at the Rest Easy Expo. So if you're in the Brisbane area, like I said, come along, so if you do see me there absolutely come say hi. I would love to meet you.
Now if I sound a little bit like a drag queen today, um, I can tell you, I'm certainly not looking as glamorous as a drag queen. But my voice is very tired because I've just done a week of five gigs in six days. Five very high energy big jumping around like Tina Turner and singing like Tina Turner. Not the whole time, but, yeah, these gigs have been quite high energy, which is a lot for a 53 year old like me.
And I just wanted to talk about that because I've recently been thinking, When is the time when I'm just, I've got to pull the pin on this? When does the time come when I am too old to be performing in that situation? And it's a really hard one because when I'm performing, I just love it. I really get a buzz out of singing, performing, and especially that music. It really actually energizes me. And I know I do it well. I have over 30 years experience performing as a professional vocalist. And yeah, I really love it. I love the people I work with. I actually work with a lot of very young musicians, so I do feel a bit like the mum of the group. But we all have great banter Uh, they're very respectful of me but I'm really happy to say that I am performing at my peak at the moment, and I'm very happy to be a mentor to those younger musicians. I think working with younger people actually does keep you young. So I'm really grateful for the opportunity to keep doing this. But yeah, my body feels it when I have done a gig and today I really am feeling very tired. My voice is tired. I do wonder when is the time that it should be put to bed. My husband says I'm silly for even thinking that because while I still enjoy it, why am I even considering giving it up? And I guess I'm thinking of giving it up because sometimes I wonder about how it appears to the audience that I'm, I'm 53. I think I look okay for my age, but I certainly don't look 25. You know, I've got a bit of middle-aged spread and some jowls and some crows feet around the eyes like we all do at this age. I'm not ashamed of them. But yeah, I just wonder about the perception from the audience when they see me jumping around, whether it seems weird or dumb. And really that's just the ego talking if I really think about it.
My spirit tells me that I'm still supposed to be performing because it still brings me a lot of joy and the audience love it too. I get lots of good comments after my performances. Nobody says “You're a great singer, but gee, you know, you do look a bit middle-aged”, nobody's talking about what I look like. So why am I even worrying about it? Why do I think it's an issue? Why do I think that my age should preclude me from performing if it still brings me joy and still brings other people joy and still brings a capability to the band that I'm working with? I realize when I say it out loud, it's ridiculous.
But it made me wonder whether there are other people out there who might be shying away from potential creative pursuits because of their age, because of their gender? Maybe you're a young person in your twenties and you feel like maybe cross-stitching might seem a bit Nana-ish. Or maybe you're a bloke and you really want to get into knitting, and you feel like it's a bit feminine and strange. And what if you’re a middle-aged woman that wants to get into deejaying? I actually have a friend who is learning to DJ and it's super hot. Like it's, it's crazy good that she's during that. When I look at other people, of course I say, This is the most empowering thing you can do is just to push through any doubts that are to do with the ego, wondering whether you look silly or it's not the thing for a person my age or my gender or my type to be doing. And this is where the spirit comes in.
I'm sounding a little woo here, but you know, the soul has a calling. And it might not be the same calling all the way through your life. You might have different callings at different times of life. I think we're all experiencing that. I know people who are changing careers and changing marriages and changing gender. Recently, there seems to be this wave of people, just shaking things up and burning down what's been and building up something new. And that's sort of all in together with, if you want to do something creative and your soul is calling you to do it, then there was a reason for that. There is something in the universe, that's presented an idea to you, and if you're thinking about it, and if you can't stop thinking about it, then do it. It doesn't have to be sensible. It doesn't have to be normal. In fact who wants to be normal anyway? Um, Yeah, go for it I say.
But what I do think is to be careful of making the distinction between creative pursuit that really is your soul's calling and something that maybe your ego might think might be a cool thing to do. For example, I have a guitar sitting there that really hasn't been touched for a while because when I'm busy, it's the first thing to go. But I really fancy myself as a chick with a pick. I'd really love to just be standing up there, not just singing, but also strumming the guitar. I love the idea of me doing that. And funnily enough, when I think of doing that, I don't think I yes, but you're 53, you can't do that. That's just, how hot would that be? But I don't show up for the guitar. I do show up for my visual art. I don't know whether it's mainly because singing and performing is sort of my job so to add guitar, it is a bit of a creative, extra thing. But my real creative calling is to delve into visual art. That's what I'm really drawn to do. And that's what I do every day.
But yes, if you're thinking, oh, I just really wanted to do some artwork so therefore I'm going to paint with oils or they're going to be big canvases and they're going to be like this other artist that I like. Well, unless you actually going to show up for it and actually buy the materials and make the time and create the space to do that, then maybe it's just a thing that your ego thinks that it will be cool to do. But if you have an idea in mind and might even seem silly or might even seem weird at your age, gender, Time of life and whatever and you can't get that idea out of your head then that's a real thing. That’s, That's something to be listened to. And if you can't get away from it, then you need to be there.
So this is just a bit of a short kind of reality check for myself actually. And hopefully it might be useful for somebody out there who's having a few doubts about what they should pick up or whether they should pick up something that they're thinking about. And yeah, just feel empowered, feel empowered to do the thing that your soul is calling you to do. And if you don't like it after a while, or there's any reason why you need to give it up, then just give it up. There's no rules. You can just try something and then try something else. But yeah, listen to your gut. And if your gut’s telling you to do it, pivot, try something else, then what's stopping you is my question.
So on that note, I hope that you all are inspired to pick up something creative. And if you're wondering why then just go back to my first episode. If you haven't listened to it, or if you forgotten about it it just goes back to the why, why it's good to do something creative, if your soul is calling you to do it.
So on that note, keep creative my friends and I'll see you in the next episode.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy
Transcripts
Welcome to The Joyful Creative.
2
:I'm Deborah O'Toole.
3
:I'm a multi passionate creative
and I believe regular creativity
4
:is essential for well being.
5
:Whether you love painting, writing,
knitting, music, gardening, or any
6
:other creative pursuit, here you'll
find the inspiration and support
7
:to make your creative practice a
joyful priority in your busy life.
8
:So let's get creative.
9
:Well, hello everyone.
10
:And welcome back to another
episode of the joyful creative.
11
:This is the seventh episode.
12
:And if you've been listening to all
the episodes so far, I just want to
13
:say, thank you so much for listening.
14
:For tuning in for giving me your support.
15
:If there's anything in particular, a
subject about creativity that you'd
16
:like me to cover in a future episode.
17
:I'd love to hear from you.
18
:You can get in contact with me
via email or social media, or the
19
:links are below in the show notes.
20
:So, yeah, reach out and let me know.
21
:And if you know anybody who could
really do with this sort of support
22
:and inspiration, then by all
means, please share this episode.
23
:You can message or text them the link and
then they'll be able to listen as well.
24
:That will be wonderful.
25
:, also just a little update on
my episode from last week.
26
:Where I talked about my collaborative
artwork with all abilities Australia.
27
:That was auctioned off at
a gala last Friday night.
28
:The pace fetched $2,300.
29
:At the live auction.
30
:For the fundraising gala.
31
:And yeah, I'm just so
pleased with that result.
32
:All abilities Australia . Are
an amazing organization.
33
:That really support.
34
:Adults with various mental
and physical abilities.
35
:They do such a great job and
they were fundraising to.
36
:To purchase a big van and a
wheelchair accessible van that
37
:they can transport the participants
around town in to take them out.
38
:On excursions and around the place.
39
:And when I was working with these people,
I really felt how valuable it would be for
40
:them all to have the enriching experience
of being able to go to an exhibition or
41
:an art gallery or a live performance or
any other type of arts that's outside
42
:their four walls and so hopefully the
money raised from this artwork will.
43
:Help them to reach their goal.
44
:To be able to purchase this fan.
45
:Another public service announcement
I have is that this Saturday I will
46
:be presenting at the rest easy expo.
47
:At technology parks.
48
:So that's this Saturday time of
th of August,:
49
:It's going to be amazing.
50
:So many vendors that are all geared
up to share their information on.
51
:Improving your quality of sleep, rest,
relaxation, wellness, all that good stuff.
52
:The tickets are $10.
53
:If you buy them beforehand, if you
turn up on the day, they will be $15.
54
:So if you're thinking of going, if
you're in the Brisbane area, I recommend
55
:getting online and booking your tickets
early so you can save yourself $5.
56
:So I will be there with
a giant coloring page.
57
:That'll be a free activity for
anybody to come along and contribute
58
:to this massive coloring page.
59
:Pick up a pencil, have a little bit
of time out and do some coloring.
60
:And.
61
:Yeah, it's going to be amazing.
62
:I'm also going to be presenting a modified
version of my mindful creativity workshop.
63
:At the expo, that's another free activity.
64
:I'll be taking people through
the doodling part of my workshop.
65
:I normally do.
66
:Some work with ink and other
materials, but just to keep it simple.
67
:I want it to really show people
how easy it is to really drop
68
:into that relaxing flow state.
69
:With nothing more than a fine
line of pen and a piece of paper.
70
:And these are materials anybody
could have in their hand bag or the
71
:backpack, whatever you carrying around.
72
:And if you're sitting there
waiting at an appointment
73
:or on public transport or any time when
you would normally get out your phone
74
:and scroll through social media, which.
75
:Can be not as relaxing as we'd hope.
76
:Having a pen and paper available just to
go through some repetitive mark making is
77
:really a wonderful thing for your central
nervous system and to reduce stress.
78
:So I'll be presenting that at the rest.
79
:Easy expo.
80
:So if you're in the Brisbane
area, like I said, come along,
81
:so if you do see me there
absolutely come say hi.
82
:I would love to meet you.
83
:Now if I sound a little bit like
a drag queen today, um, I can tell
84
:you, I'm certainly not looking
as glamorous as a drag queen.
85
:But my voice is very tired because
I've just done a week of five gigs.
86
:In six days.
87
:Five very high energy.
88
:Big jumping around like Tina Turner
and singing like Tina Turner.
89
:Not the whole time.
90
:But, yeah, these gigs have been
quite high energy, which is a
91
:lot for a 53 year old like me.
92
:And I just wanted to
talk about that because.
93
:I've recently been thinking.
94
:When is the time when I'm just,
I've got to pull the pin on this.
95
:When does the time come?
96
:When I am.
97
:Too old.
98
:To be performing in that situation.
99
:And it's a really hard one because
when I'm performing, I just love it.
100
:I really get a buzz out of singing,
performing, and especially that music.
101
:It really actually.
102
:Energizes me.
103
:And I know I do it well.
104
:I have over 30 years experience
performing as a professional vocalist.
105
:And yeah, I really love it.
106
:I love the people I work with.
107
:I actually work with a lot of very
young musicians, so I do feel a
108
:bit like the mum of the group.
109
:But we all have great bands.
110
:Uh, they're very respectful of me
111
:but I'm really happy to say that
I am performing at my peak at the
112
:moment, and I'm very happy to be a
mentor to those younger musicians.
113
:I think working with younger people
actually does keep you young.
114
:So I'm really grateful for the
opportunity to keep doing this.
115
:But yeah, my body feels it.
116
:When I have done a gig and today
I really am feeling very tired.
117
:My voice is tired.
118
:I do wonder when is the
time that it should.
119
:Be put to bed.
120
:My husband says I'm silly for even
thinking that because while I still
121
:enjoy it, why am I even considering.
122
:Giving it up.
123
:And I guess I'm thinking of
giving it up because sometimes
124
:I wonder about how it appears.
125
:To the audience that I'm, I'm 53.
126
:I think I look okay for my age,
but I certainly don't look 25.
127
:You know, I've got a bit of
middle-aged spread and some gels
128
:and some crows feet around the eyes.
129
:Like we all do at this age.
130
:I'm not ashamed of them.
131
:But yeah, I just wonder
about the perception.
132
:From the audience when they see me jumping
around, whether it seems weird or dumb.
133
:And.
134
:Really that's just the ego talking.
135
:If I really think about it.
136
:My spirit tells me that I'm still
supposed to be performing because
137
:it still brings me a lot of joy
and the audience love it too.
138
:I get lots of good comments
after my performances.
139
:Nobody says.
140
:You're a great singer, but gee, you
know, you do look a bit middle-aged,
141
:nobody's talking about what I look like.
142
:So why am I even worrying about it?
143
:Why do I think.
144
:It's an issue.
145
:Why do I think that.
146
:My age should preclude me from performing.
147
:If it still brings me joy and
still brings other people joy
148
:and still brings a capability to
the band that I'm working with.
149
:I realize when I say it
out loud, it's ridiculous.
150
:But it made me wonder whether there are
other people out there who might be.
151
:Shying away from.
152
:Potential creative pursuits because
of their age, because of their gender.
153
:Maybe you're a young person in
your twenties and you feel like.
154
:Maybe cross-stitching
might seem a bit Naresh.
155
:Or.
156
:Maybe you're a bloke and you
really want to get into niching.
157
:And you feel like it's a
bit feminine and strange.
158
:And what if your.
159
:Of middle-aged woman that
wants to get into deejaying.
160
:I actually have a friend who is
learning to DJ and it's super hot.
161
:Like it's, it's crazy good
that she's during that.
162
:When I look at other people, of
course I say, This is the most
163
:empowering thing you can do is just to.
164
:Push through any.
165
:Doubts that are to do with the ego,
wondering whether you look silly or.
166
:It's not the thing for a person my age
or my gender or my type to be doing.
167
:And this is where the spirit comes in.
168
:I'm sounding a little woo here, but.
169
:You know, the soul has a calling.
170
:And it might not be the same calling
all the way through your life.
171
:You might have different callings
at different times of life.
172
:I think we're all experiencing that.
173
:I know people who are
changing careers and changing.
174
:Marriages and changing gender.
175
:Recently, there seems to be this
wave of people, just shaking
176
:things up and burning down.
177
:What's been and building up something new.
178
:And that's sort of.
179
:All in together with, if you want
to do something creative and your
180
:soul is calling you to do it,
then there was a reason for that.
181
:There is something.
182
:In the universe, that's presented
an idea to you, and if you're
183
:thinking about it, and if you can't
stop thinking about it, Then do it.
184
:It doesn't have to be sensible.
185
:It doesn't have to be normal.
186
:In fact who wants to be normal anyway.
187
:Um, Yeah, go for it.
188
:I say.
189
:But what I do think is to be careful of.
190
:Making the distinction between.
191
:Uh, creative pursuit that really is your
soul's calling and something that may be.
192
:Your ego might think might
be a cool thing to do.
193
:For example, I have a guitar.
194
:Sitting there that really hasn't been
touched for a while because when I'm
195
:busy, it's the first thing to go.
196
:But I really fancy myself
as a chick with a pig.
197
:I'd really love to just be standing
up there, not just singing,
198
:but also strumming the guitar.
199
:I love the idea of me doing that.
200
:And funnily enough, when I think of doing
that, I don't think I yet, but you're 53.
201
:You can't do that.
202
:That's just, how hot would that be?
203
:But I don't show up for the guitar.
204
:I do show up for my visual art.
205
:I don't know whether it's mainly because
singing and performing is sort of my job.
206
:So to add guitar, it is a bit
of a creative, extra thing.
207
:But my real creative calling
is to delve into visual art.
208
:That's what I'm really drawn to do.
209
:And that's what I do every day.
210
:But yes, if you're thinking, oh, I
just really wanted to do some artwork.
211
:So therefore I'm going to paint
with oils or they're going to be big
212
:canvases and they're going to be.
213
:Like this other artist that I like.
214
:Well, unless you actually going
to show up for it and actually buy
215
:the materials and make the time
and create the space to do that.
216
:Then maybe it's just a thing
that your ego thinks that.
217
:It will be cool to do.
218
:But if you have an idea in mind
and might even seem silly or
219
:might even seem weird at your age,
gender, Time of life and whatever.
220
:And you can't get that
idea out of your head then.
221
:That's a real thing.
222
:That's.
223
:That's something to be listened to.
224
:And if you can't get away from it, then.
225
:You need to be there.
226
:So this is just a bit of a short kind of.
227
:Reality check for myself actually.
228
:And hopefully.
229
:It might be useful for somebody out there.
230
:Who's having a few doubts about
what they should pick up or whether
231
:they should pick up something
that's they're thinking about.
232
:And yeah, just feel empowered,
feel empowered to do the thing that
233
:your soul is calling you to do.
234
:And.
235
:If you don't like it after a while,
or there's any reason why you need
236
:to give it up, then just give it up.
237
:There's no rules.
238
:You can just try something
and then try something else.
239
:But yeah, listen to you.
240
:Gosh.
241
:And if he guts telling you to do
it, pivot, try something else.
242
:Then.
243
:What's stopping you is my question.
244
:So on that note, I hope that you all are
inspired to pick up something creative.
245
:And if you're wondering why then
just go back to my first episode.
246
:If you haven't listened to it,
or if you forgotten about it.
247
:It just goes back to the why, why
it's good to do something creative.
248
:If your soul is calling you to do it.
249
:So on that note, keep creative my friends
and I'll see you in the next episode.
250
:I hope you enjoyed this
episode of The Joyful Creative.
251
:If you did, be sure to subscribe
so you catch them every week.
252
:And if you can, please take a moment
to leave a review or share it with a
253
:friend so the podcast can reach more
people who need support and inspiration.
254
:Thanks for listening and keep creative.
