Ironically, I often hear how certain individual women my age say that life is over after 40 and there is nothing left to do. Well, I have to disagree, life begins at any time, only depends on howpreparedyou are in accepting those challenges. I’ve had many changes in my life and that was after I was 29. I had enlisted into the US Army whilst I was 18years, and resided in my first barracks ‘apartment’ in Germany – my first home away from home. I had found a niche for a career and aimed high for retiring at least a staff sergeant by the age of 35.
Well, due to a medical mishap, that dream was shattered and I was honorably discharged into the civilian world. Truthfully, I had no idea what to do, the military was all I knew, meaning its structure of getting up early every morning, exercise and by 7AM be in the office. Now, I recall when I enlisted I did follow my father’s philosophy toward an occupation, “Use them as much as they use you.” Indeed that I did just that.
Computers were becoming required office equipment and selected staff was trained, I immediately enrolled in every class possible involving computers, hardware, software, and terminology. Therefore, when applying for civilian employment, I was prepared.
My career changed from data entry operator to secretary, newspaper advertisement assistant, federal administrator to multi-media video editor for the VA Hospital. However, I wasn’t satisfied with those occupations. By my mid 30s I was divorced, therefore, I got involved with acting and modeling, appeared in a few small TV and commercial roles (one principle stand-in) whilst in Portland OR, but in Orlando FL, I appeared in an international distributed short film.
By my early 40s, I was becoming bored being a state employee for Florida (Washington State and Oregon were the other two employment state positions I held), I took a great risk in leaving Corporate America and became an Independent Contractor and was known as the most reliable Brand Ambassador / Wine Specialist for over 35 virtual promotional companies. The job was easy, but demanding, but I loved the constant change of pace.
After watching both versions of "Shall We Dance", for my 43rd birthday, I finally taken the steps - literally - and started ballroom dancing. I danced for one year, entered in two dance competitions, and won first prize for showcase choreographed routine to "La Jazz Hot” from filmVictor, Victoria.
By age 45, I and my co-scriptwriter, Nicola Cuti, a distinguished comic book writer during the 70s, completed our first original film script "The Alpha", thrived from my original short story of the same title, and is registered with the Writers Guild Association. Patiently, we seek a Hollywood producer and director to create our script into a major motion movie release, until then, Mr. Cuti is filming at an Indie level.
As the economy started to falter, I prepared myself into becoming a certified TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) teacher. I taught at inLingua of Tampa FL before flying to China for my first teaching position. During my first year in China, I also returned to photography and started selling my images as stock and journalistic. My images can be found at ://kayewho.com.
One has to remember that each birthday is a celebration of life for age has no boundaries.
