I decided to share my thoughts in this article because every week I spend the day with Oprah and Super Soul Sunday. God I love that show! But very seldom can we take a close and personal journey with someone while searching for Oprah’s life experience. We always see the final product and maybe photos or videos of how they got there. But the public should be able to experience the ride, as it happens! The beauty of seeing her is that she is one of us … Fierce over 50 years! And make no mistake, it IS the kind of success I am looking for! My personal challenge is, I never would have thought at 58, I would have lost my home, marriage, business, not having a steady salary, and back on the dating scene!

Now, I realize that this is just another part of our life’s journey. And being the son of show business, I chose to call it ACT 2 … Now what? My ACT 1 has been a wonderful journey (well … all the way homeless, no husband, and no business) and I have been blessed on many levels. I have performed on Broadway in blockbuster shows, one of which was Smokey Joe’s Café, for which I received a Tony Award nomination. I’ve performed in CHICAGO on Broadway alongside wonderful co-stars like Rita Wilson, USHER, BeBe Neuwirth, Brian McKnight, Lisa Rinna, and Patty LaBelle. But nothing really prepares you for this kind of change in your life … 50+!

I have always wanted to be an example for women on their ACT 2 journey. There are millions of women who are going through exactly the same thing. It is nothing new, but more and more women decide to enter their ACT 2 redefining themselves. Not by “softly entering those good nights.” They just need a helping hand and a pair of FIERCE shoes … I have to have my shoes !!

So here I am entering ACT 2 in all my glory (and those days that make you say WHAT… ?!). But I feel like if I share my ups and downs, the journey for other women might be a little easier. I want our journey to be carried out with grace, humor, and fun! At least you know that anything is possible and you are not alone.

I’m sure I have questions, thoughts, fears, and new emotions (some of which change second by second) that I would love to share and receive feedback.

My question for the day is, when did you realize that your life had been transformed into ACT 2? Was it so gradual that you didn’t feel it or was it as abrupt as hearing the equivalent of “They’ve decided to get younger!”

A gradual switch to ACT 2 seems so human. Although hearing that phrase of “getting younger”, especially for an actress, is quite devastating! Especially since you knew you were still ALL OF THAT! Now don’t get me wrong, I still know that I am “all of that” but in a different way!

On a good day I can still fix myself (takes a little longer but …) hanging out with friends and having a good time! I can calmly say to myself, “The Creator has not yet sent me a loving partner because I have things to do to prepare for my” new life. “That mindset usually works, but there are days when nothing he can tell me makes me feel. Better, there are emotions that come up that I can’t explain and then go away just as quickly and the words “hot flashes” have several new meanings.

A bad day can include crying, depression, feelings of insecurity, feeling unattractive, lonely, I am ugly, I am fat and the ever popular I will never have sex again! That last one is a completely different blog unto itself. But all you can think of is “please don’t make me get up to take a shower, brush my teeth, and get dressed unless there’s nut butter or cream cookies involved.”

Anyway, I hope this journey we take together is mind-blowing or at least a nice place to land. In any case, let’s …

Stay fierce!

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