I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you’re not too old.
I moved to LA from DC at 35 years old. A lot of folk thought I was nutty to try to capture my film / TV dreams at such an age. That’s because they would never, so they projected their fear on me.
Thank goodness I’m stubborn, which is a skill I’ve perfected with age. My stubbornness is targeted, focused, and intentional.
I’ve been in LA for four years. And in that time, I sold a film, sold a television pilot, and was staffed. Folk wonder how I moved so fast. It is partly due to having some life wisdom and life experience and using them as an advantage versus a handicap.
I’ve done some sh*t. Failed A LOT. And learned much more in these almost 40 years. Especially when it comes to navigating people, which is a lot of what Hollywood is.
From a more practical perspective, I do have less time than my younger counterparts. A sister has to think about retirement. But you know how it is when you have less time, you’re more focused. You find ways to get things done quicker. Hello forced productivity.
Because of age, I have a stronger understanding of who I am and what I’m capable of. I hit a personal rock bottom before moving out here, so I know that most stuff really ain’t that deep. I know that I can bounce back, rebuild, and come out on the other side stronger.
Because I’m what some would consider old, I’m okay saying no. When an executive suggested I become an agent assistant a couple of years back, but prefaced it with, it would be soul-crushing, I had no problem being like, yeah that’s not my ministry.
My life’s too short to have my soul crushed to gain contacts. I’ll find another way. And I did… While most people around me are younger than me, I feed off of their energy. I learn from their successes and their mistakes.
I don’t try to compete with them, that takes too much energy. I compete with myself. And I don’t often get caught up in dumb shi*t. My patience is like nah. My time is like we got stuff we need to write. And my joy IS a force field.
I celebrated my 39th birthday in my first writer’s room. Some may not see that as ideal, but it was the perfect room for me. Because I had done some living, I had real life to bring to the table. Yesterday, the trailer for my first episode of television dropped!
That may be one of the greatest things my age has afforded me. I don’t take anything for granted. I know what it feels like when life (and fear) storms through and paralyzes you creatively for years. I almost didn’t make it here. Yet here I am.
My grounding is deep. My joy is plentiful. My awe is awesome. And with that, I can confidently say, I’m not going anywhere.