The Surprising Story Behind the Poem “When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple”
The poem’s actually titled “Warning” and it celebrates aging with panache. English poet Jenny Joseph wrote in 1961 at 29. Did she fulfill her own prophecy?
Writers
J.K. Rowling observed, “There’s always room for a story that can transport people to another place.” Perhaps that’s why writers constitute Later Bloomer’s largest category. Our books and stories can become healing gifts to ourselves and to the future.
Alexandra David-Néel: Her Mystical Adventures in Tibet and Beyond
In 1924, at age 56, a genteel Frenchwoman disguised as a peasant hiked through the Himalayas to become the first Western woman into Tibet’s forbidden city, Lhasa.
Beatrix Potter: How Her Passion for Conservation Shaped England’s Lake District
Many know Beatrix Potter from her charming books or the 2006 film Miss Potter, but the real Beatrix was complex, fascinating, and far ahead of her time. In her 50s, she helped found the National Trust.
Inge Ginsberg: The 99-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Who Become a Heavy Metal Sensation
Inge Ginsberg escaped Nazi Austria over the Alps, ran a spy villa in Switzerland, and wrote lyrics for Dean Martin. At 99, she fronted a metal band.
Dick King-Smith: How He Used “Failure” to Create a Courageous Talking Pig
By his 60s, Dick King-Smith felt he had failed at farming and teaching grade school children. Then he combined his former careers into a vocation for writing, and a “Babe” was born!
Kathy Pooler: Using Memoir as a Tool for Transformation (Guest Post)
We all have a book inside of us—a narrative about who we are and where we fit into the world. Kathy Pooler explains how writing a memoir can be a tool for transformation.