Chasing Magic: My Journey to a Creative Career in Midlife

Today is my 46th birthday. Turning 46 feels like a shift—a quiet acknowledgment that I’m tipping the scale closer to 50 than 40.

It’s not so much a milestone as a moment to pause and take stock of my journey. Instead of dreading what’s ahead, I find myself reflecting on how far I’ve come and feeling a quiet determination that now is the time to truly embrace who I am. While I’ve always been a creative spirit, my artistic pursuits have often taken a back burner to my “real job.” For the first time in my life, I’m working to merge the two.

While I’ve always been a creative spirit, my artistic pursuits have often taken a back burner to my “real job.” For the first time in my life, I’m working to merge the two.

At its core, this journey is about self-actualization—about aligning who I am with what I do. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. There are days when the work feels endless, and the financial returns are, well, not quite magical yet. But even on the hard days, there’s a deep satisfaction in knowing I’m creating something meaningful, something that’s truly mine.

Creative Life Reimagined

Growing up, I was the kid always drawing, painting, singing, or curled up with a book. My head was firmly planted in the clouds, dreaming of magical worlds and endless possibilities. But then life happened, as it tends to. Somewhere along the way, well-meaning adults in my life convinced me that creative careers were a one-way ticket to being broke, so I shelved those dreams and pursued a career in international education.

This is me waiting for the train in South Korea, where I had my fist teaching job.

I spent years living and traveling abroad, teaching English as a second language, and eventually managing a nonprofit helping refugees and immigrants build literacy skills. I loved that time of my life, but it didn’t exactly leave me rolling in the dough—and once I became a mom, thelifestyle no longer worked for me. And then COVID sealed the deal

Being isolated at home with two small kids was overwhelming, and I found myself longing for something to ground me. Crochet became my lifeline—a creative outlet that gave me purpose and a sense of accomplishment during a time of uncertainty.

Being isolated at home with two small kids was overwhelming, and I found myself longing for something to ground me.

What started as a hobby to pass the time quickly became an obsession. I hoarded yarn, scoured patterns, and made everything from stuffed animals to tiny dresses for my kids. Somewhere along the way, I started thinking, “Hey, maybe I could actually sell this stuff.” At first, I made the usual hats, scarves, and blankets. 

My girls in their Easter dresses. Cardigans courtesy of me!

But then inspiration struck when my family attended the New York Faerie Festival, an annual event my husband is involved with. The festival is a magical haven for costumed characters and whimsical creations, and it gave me an idea: What if I leaned into the fantasy theme and created pieces that felt magical? That idea became my first big goal—getting a booth at the festival.  It took two years before I was confident enough with my work and my inventory to apply for a space, and I am currently (anxiously) waiting to see if my application will be accepted for this summer’s festival.  

My husband and I at NY Faerie Festival 2023.

The Reality of Reinvention

Now, as I approach 46, I find myself in a unique place: pursuing a creative career later in life. It’s both exhilarating and overwhelming. On one hand, I’m doing something I love—designing and making pieces that spark joy for me and (hopefully) for others. On the other hand, starting a business from scratch comes with its own set of challenges, especially when the financial rewards feel like they’re still somewhere over the rainbow.

My Radiant Spell Witch Hat

And then there’s the learning curve. Marketing, social media, photo and video editing—none of it comes naturally to me. Sometimes it feels like these skills are second nature to younger generations, while I’m over here trying to figure out how to gain more than 100 Instagram followers without summoning a digital wizard. It’s humbling, to say the least.

But here’s the thing: even when it’s hard, it’s worth it. There’s something deeply fulfilling about chasing your passion, even when it feels like an uphill climb—especially when you’re carrying a bag of yarn along the way.

Finding the Balance

Despite the challenges, pursuing this path has taught me a lot about balance. Being a mom, running a household, and starting a business all at once sometimes feels like juggling flaming torches—except I don’t really know how to juggle. Some days, it feels like I’m spread too thin, like butter scraped over too much bread. Other days, I find a rhythm that makes it all feel possible.

Over the past year, I’ve learned so much—managing a website, adding captions to my Instagram videos, figuring out photo editing software I didn’t even know existed. None of it has been easy, and some days I question if I’ll ever get the hang of it all. But I’ve also realized that each step forward, no matter how small, is a step worth celebrating. Progress isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up, doing the work, and finding joy in the process.

Looking Ahead

As I step into this new year, I’m struck by how far I’ve come in such a short time. A year ago, I could barely imagine managing a website or creating Instagram videos with captions, and now those tasks feel like part of my creative routine. It’s a reminder that growth often happens quietly, one small step at a time, until you look back and realize how much you’ve learned.

I am really proud that I can now edit a simple photo like this, which I imagine would have taken someone in their 20s all of 10 seconds to create!

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that it’s never too late to follow your passions. Life doesn’t come with a fixed timeline for pursuing the things that light you up inside. Whether you’re rediscovering a creative spark or trying something completely new, every small step you take toward your dreams matters.

So, here’s to the journey ahead—for me, for you, for all of us navigating this beautiful, messy, creative life. Let’s keep showing up, doing the work, and finding magic in the process.

What’s your big dream for this year? I’d love to hear about it in the comments or on Instagram. Let’s inspire each other to keep chasing what makes us feel alive.