Snark & Sensibility

PLEASE WELCOME

RACHEL J. GOOD

TO

HAVING THE PRIME OF MY LIFE

At a writing retreat recently, one of the women asked me that question. Without even thinking, I started to answer, “Forty.”

Then I stopped. Obviously, if my oldest daughter is 43, I can’t be 40. So why did that number come to mind?

Because it’s the age I feel deep down inside. I often struggle with the reflection in the mirror. That woman looking back isn’t who I am. Not inside, anyway.

Sometimes I still feel 20, the perfect age to enjoy college life. Perhaps that’s because I spent the past several summers on campus finishing my MFA thesis. While I was at school, socializing with girls younger than my children, I relaxed into my 20-year-old self.

Most of the time, I feel 40.

But then I read in the news that “older” people are most at risk right now,

and it dawns on me that they’re referring to me.

But somehow that age doesn’t feel real. Friends and colleagues are retiring, but I’m just starting on new adventures.    

At one of my recent book signings, an old friend asked, “How do you have so much energy? I can barely get up in the morning and do a little housework. By early evening, I’m dozing over my knitting while we watch TV.”

Until she asked, I’d never even thought about it. I love what I do, and that gives me the motivation to keep going. I’m not ready to settle into a rocker with my crocheting – at least not every night. And probably not often during the day either. I have too many things I want to accomplish, learn, and try. Maybe keeping busy and active is what gives my brain the idea I’m 40.

In fact, my mind is so crammed with exciting possibilities, I feel like I’ll need another 60 years or so to complete all the projects I have in mind. Who knows? Maybe I’ll write another article like this at age 112 or 120, and when I’m that age, I’ll be thinking I’m only 80.

Whatever happens, I’ll be grateful for however many years God gives me

and try to accomplish as much as I can in the time He grants me.

So, how did I answer that question: “How old are you?”

I had to be truthful, so I said, “My spirit is 20, my body and mind think I’m 40, but my driver’s license says I’m a senior citizen.”

What about you? How old are you?

ABOUT RACHEL J. GOOD

USA Today bestselling author Rachel J. Good writes life-changing, heart-tugging novels of faith, hope, and forgiveness. She is the author of several award-winning, bestselling Amish series – Love & Promises, Sisters & Friends, Unexpected Amish Blessings, Surprised by Love, and two books in Hearts of Amish Country – as well as the Amish Quilts Coloring Books. Also, she has stories in many anthologies, including the Amish Christmas Twins with Shelley Shepard Gray and Loree Lough.

She is also the co-author of the Prayerful Author Journey, a series of planners for writers, and she enjoys teaching writing, productivity, and creativity classes around the country. Connect with her at her:

http://www.racheljgood.com

https://www.facebook.com/racheljgoodnovels

https://twitter.com/RachelJGood1

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14661177.Rachel_J_Good

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rachel-j-good

https://www.instagram.com/rachelj.good

Newsletter sign-up: http://bit.ly/1qwci4Q

ABOUT HIS UNEXPECTED AMISH TWINS

When Micah Miller’s brother and sister-in-law are killed in a buggy accident, he’s devastated, but he fulfills a promise to raise their seven-year-old twins, Abby and Isaac. While struggling to deal with the twins’ grief and Abby’s anger toward God, he discovers an Amish farm offering horse therapy for grief. And he’s thrilled to find the owner cares about and prays for the twins.

Hope loves helping each child, but she takes a special interest in the twins and determines to help them heal both emotionally and spiritually. As she gently guides Abby back to God and makes the little girl smile again, Hope also makes Micah’s life brighter. As he emerges from his depression, he longs to make them one happy family, but only God can overcome the many obstacles in their path.

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-Amish-Twins-Blessings-Book-ebook/dp/B07R8WSLB6

ABOUT PRAYERFUL AUTHOR JOURNEY

The Prayerful Author Journey is an inspirational day planner for writers, allowing you to prioritize and celebrate your spiritual, personal, and writing life. In an easy-to-carry size, it can help organize your calendar, focus your prayer life and Bible study, track your word count along with submissions and sales, manage and track expenses, review the previous year, set goals and milestones, keep track of contact info for editors and other publishing professionals on your team, and celebrate your achievements.

The perfect daily planner for first-time and professional authors alike. (Undated version; 2020 dated version also available)

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Prayerful-Author-Journey-undated-Inspirational/dp/1646490789/