One of the joys of building a creative life in my 50s is realizing I don’t have to do it alone this time. While I prefer working by myself, I work better when I meet up with and take breaks with fellow worker bees out in the wild or at the online water cooler.
After brainstorming, swapping stories, or talking shop, I feel recharged and ready to get back to work. Not everyone gets energized like I do, but I find the company helps make my hive buzz brighter and my honey taste sweeter.
Over the past few months, I’ve been meeting more colleagues and coworkers. Many right here on Substack. Only a few are in the same city or time zone, but my motley crew of creatives has slowly but surely become part of my almost-daily practice.
Whether they know it or not, they help keep me accountable and inspired.
Creators like Seth Wekheiser from Social Media Escape Club—with his fresh takes on digital boundaries—remind me that we can create without burning out.
Coaches like Kevin Martin and Ricky Vaughan bring their mix of grounded wisdom and cheerleading energy, nudging me toward clarity when I start spinning my wheels.
Artists like Mansi—the voice behind Little Token, Big Ripples—spark ripples of creativity and possibility every time we chat.
Writers like Dan Pal, Karl Dunn, and Mr. Troy Ford remind me that writing can be a conversation carried across pages, platforms, and time zones.
And that’s just the beginning. More names keep finding their way onto my roster, and each connection makes this creative journey less lonely and more joyful. Together, my fellow creatives and friends spin me right round, baby, right round, like a record, baby.
So yes, creative work is still work. But with colleagues, coworkers, and conspirators by my side, it feels less like toil and trouble and more like rhyme and rhythm.
Keep calm and buzz on!
Clint 🌈✌️
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Thanks Clint and all the creators
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Thanks for the shout out! I think we need to get the queer writers together for another Zoom. I know there are a lot of us here and it's nice to make those human connections.