The Joy Inherent in Creating Fills Our Souls - with Carla Coulson

Writing EncouragementWriting TipsWriting PassionWriting Inspiration
Written By Lisa Clifford - Author/Journalist

So many people love writing, yet say they’ve stopped. The calm, still, quiet moments of reflection when writing are enormously fulfilling and enjoyable. The joy inherent in creating fills our souls.

 Yet, people stop writing.

Perhaps you take your writing too seriously? Relax! As my kids would say, ‘chill!’ Consider your writing as playtime. Go back to the essence of writing and find the joy in creating.

An expert on finding joy is my wonderful friend and colleague Carla Coulson.

Over the years, Carla has worked with hundreds of people on the Art of Finding Joy.

Here, in Carla’s blog, she talks about what Florence, creativity and menopause have in common. I love Carla’s thoughts and words. I love too how she mentions the Art of Writing in respect of moving into a place of joy so that your writing flows. How post menopause, ideas and creativity flourish.

I hope you enjoy this article as much as I did! (Below is an excerpt from Carla Coulson’s Blog found at CarlaCouson.com)

Other ways to connect with Carla Coulson: Instagram | Blog | Pinterest | Vero

WHAT DO FLORENCE, CREATIVITY, AND MENOPAUSE HAVE IN COMMON?

What do Florence, creativity, and menopause have in common?

Well, many years ago when I was still in my early forties I had the joy of sharing an honest discussion in Florence over multiple cappuccinos about life after menopause with women who were on the other side of menopause. 

I was curious about this phase of life and the good things they had to say about it.

Now you may think it’s odd as many women are sold the story that life after hormones, family, and menopause aren’t that great but these women were telling me another story, one that I tucked away in my memory for my turn.

They explained that once you learn how to manage the hot flashes (reduce anything that taxes your liver) something incredible can happen, your creativity literally explodes. 

I’ve seen close at hand many women thrown off course with the physical changes of menopause so I braced myself for my turn but I have to admit I was excited about the thought of newfound creativity so it took away a little of the fear.

Well, ladies, I’ve made it to menopause and beyond and I remember that conversation. When a woman hits 50, look out folks, it feels like it’s our time. A woman in her fifties has an invisible sign on her head that says something along the lines of ‘It’s my turn, please get out of my way.’

When my hormones exited the room, many of my chains were cut and from listening to other women, theirs were cut too. Those endless years of serving others, partners, family, work, children, corporations, the right thing to do, and parents slowly come to an end. 

At 50, a fog slowly lifts, kind of like when you wipe a foggy window on a rainy day and you can see clearly. There is a healthy disconnection that I had never felt before, a chance to make decisions with more clarity and less emotional pull, and an intense desire to have time for myself.


A woman in her 50s is full of stories, experiences, knowledge, and skills, and is in the perfect position to put all of her energy into something that excites her. 

Post menopause, just as those ladies promised, in flooded ideas and creativity.

These days, I wake up and all I want to do is make. I want to make things whether it is gardens, photos, ceramics, words, cat houses, bags, or whatever attracts me on the day. I feel this intense internal desire to create and often when my daily tasks take over and I haven’t had the chance to use my hands, a little Carla monster comes to life to remind me to make time for myself. 

I know I’m not alone. I hear it from other women all the time. 

If you’re reading this and you or your friends would like to start on a creative path or making time for yourself, my beautiful friend and author Lisa Clifford will be teaching The Art of Writing this Spring and Summer in Florence, and could there be a better place for a woman to sit down with a group of other women to explore her creativity, devote some time to herself and her story?

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2023 Art of Writing Dates

Sunday, May 7th to Thursday, May 11th, 2023, Florence

Sunday, June 4th to Thursday, June 8th, 2023, Florence

Sunday, June 25th to Thursday, June 29th The Next Draft, for finished manuscripts.

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If you’d like to share any comments or thoughts, I’d be happy to hear from you. Email me directly at lisacliffordwriter@gmail.com.

Lisa Clifford - Author/Journalist

I was seventeen years old and as I watched my step on the suicidally thin strips of footpath, I never imagined that I would marry one of the Italian boys on the Vespas that shot up and down the tiny, medieval streets of Florence.

But one year after arriving in Florence to study Italian, I did fall in love. There followed eighteen years of going back and forth between Italy and Sydney, trying to decide where to live. During these early years of oscillation, I won a scholarship to the Australian Film, Television and Radio School. After graduating, I became a radio journalist and reported for 2GB, Kiss FM and corresponded for the ABC, 2UE and the American Radio News Network. Ultimately I moved into television news and while Associate Producer with Channel 10 I wrote my first book – Walking Sydney, A Guide to 25 of Sydney’s Best Walks.

During those eighteen years I always, always went back to Florence to see my gorgeous Italian boyfriend.

The move to live permanently in Italy and marry Paolo brought me two beautiful babies. Three books followed – The Promise, Death in the Mountains and Naples: A Way of Love. My current work in progress keeps me busy travelling all over Italy. I hope you’ll join me on writing tips, formulas, updates and manuscript developments on my blog.

After four decades of living in and writing about Italy, I decided it was time to share what I have learnt here in Tuscany by helping other writers achieve their dreams. My Art of Writing retreats are for beginning, emerging and established writers. We bring famous publishers and published authors to the Florence to teach and share their journeys.

I hope you can join me. I’d love to meet you and help you take your idea to novel, in what I think is the perfect environment for creativity.

— Lisa Clifford

http://www.lisacliffordwriter.com/
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