Starting off at 80

Attended a creative writing course conducted by SPH which is fully paid for using the Skills Future grant. About half of the class of 16 are retirees the oldest being a lady of 80 years. The rest are working people taking a one day break to try and rediscover their inherent love of writing.

The 80 year old lady looks more like someone in her late sixties . In appearance and behaviour she displays no traits commonly associated with the very elderly. Unlike some older senior citizens who are very forthcoming with comments (often irrelevant), or demand special attention and respect or exhibit negative attitude she carries herself sprightly in body and mind.

Never did she ever remark about being too old to try anything new except when the lecturer shared about a  3 year Master program in creative writing offered by LaSalle College of Arts. She wondered whether it is offered in modular format jesting that she may possibly expire before completing the whole program. At lunch break she told us it is more likely she will take up Chinese class instead. Being a Peranakan who does not speak Chinese she has difficulty ordering food at Food Courts where the stalls are run by Chinese Nationals and often receives sarcastic remarks about being a Chinese not knowing her own language. Clearly she is one of those people who inspires others to keep on learning and venturing into new fields irrespective of age.

Well, at the start of the class when asked to share our intention of attending, I sheepishly said I dreamed of writing a Children book. Among the many take aways from the class, setting  aside time to write strikes me as the essential first step.  It is no use telling ourselves that we don't have the talent and that we lack ideas, knowledge and writing skills. All we should be doing is just write freely about anything at all for say 15 minutes a day.

The idea really is to take the first step even if it is a baby step at 80.