It’s Never Too Late
(This is a short inspirational essay I wrote published in The MoJo Manual written by Jacqui Brown.)
When I was in 5th grade and they asked the question: What do you want to be when you grow up? I had two answers; the first female baseball player and a writer. Although a career in baseball was not in my future (I had to switch to softball and still play) I did succeed in accomplishing my second goal -50 years later.
Let me backtrack a bit. Throughout elementary and high school , I picked up the pen and wrote short stories and poetry. As an English Minor and Communications Major at Boston University, I wrote short television scripts, one film, and many English papers. I even submitted an article to the University’s newspaper regarding Boston University’s first female basketball team (which I played on) and they published it without giving me a by-line. Yet, I didn’t consider myself a writer.
In my mid-twenties, I wrote for a newspaper called The World Tribune which was published by the Buddhist organization, SGI. This is where I sharpened my writing chops and wrote articles on SGI members who had changed their lives around because of chanting. I covered the 200-year birthday celebration in Boston, 1976, as we celebrated it throughout the city. I wrote about the Boston Pops, and Jazz musicians who were members of SGI that gigged in Boston. Yet, I didn’t consider myself a writer.
Then I made a determination. At the age of 26, I decided I wanted to become a professional writer. I sent that desire out into the Universe and miraculous events befell me. First, I had read an article in Ebony Magazine about an incredible young lady named Terri Lyne Carrington who was already a professional jazz drummer at 12-years-old. She lived in Medford, Massachusetts which was a suburb of Boston. Immediately, I made up my mind that Terri would be the subject of my first professional article. But how was I going to contact her? Within a week’s time, that problem was solved. I went to hear the legendary Rahsaan Roland Kirk play a the Jazz Galley in Copley Square. Who then walks into the club? Terri Lyne Carrington and her father, Sonny Carrington. I stood there in disbelief. I had never approached anyone I didn’t know for an interview; plus I didn’t think I had the credentials to ask for an interview. However, I wasn’t going to walk away from this fortuitous circumstance. I walked up to Sonny Carrington and introduced myself. When I asked him if I could write an article about his young daughter, he just smiled and said, “Sure.”
The other kismet happenstance that occurred was I received a telephone call from a woman who was a SGI member and she had just moved from Los Angeles to Cambridge. Her name was Lisbeth Gant. I asked her where she was living in Cambridge …”Chauncy Street,” she replied. Hmmmm. I lived on Chauncy Street. I asked her who introduced her to Buddhism … “Herbie Hancock,” she replied. Hmmmm. Herbie Hancock had introduced me to Buddhism too. Lastly, I asked Lisbeth what do you do for a living? She replied, “I am a writer and the West Coast Editor of Essence Magazine.”
Needless to say, Lisbeth mentored me and I published my first article on Terri Lyne Carrington in Soul Teen Magazine. In 1979 I was also published by Modern Recording Magazine writing an article on jazz musician, Maynard Ferguson, and again writing a cover story in 1980 on Herbie Hancock. I had challenged myself to do something I had never done before. Modern Recording was a technical magazine that focused on technology in the music business. I had absolutely no knowledge of microphones, amplifiers, computers, and recording equipment, but the articles were required to highlight these subjects. Somehow I was able to get the engineers of both musicians to talk shop with me so I could write intelligently. Mission accomplished. Yet, I still didn’t have the confidence that I was good enough to continue my career as a professional writer.
By now, I had moved from Boston to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the movie industry. I landed a job with a film producer as the production secretary for the film Roller Boogie starring Linda Blair. My foot was in the door. However, I was extremely intimidated by the astronomical amount of talent that encompassed me. Me? Sheryl? I am a writer? No way!
I didn’t have the self-confidence or maturity for going forward. I had no one cheering me on to stick with my dream. I also realized after two years working in the entertainment industry that I didn’t enjoy the environment, the superficial interactions, and the obsession with the business. I got out. I switched gears to Psychology and went to Cal State Northridge to get my Masters in Psychology so I could become a Marriage, Family Therapist.
For 25 years my creative writing lay dormant. I had given up on my dream. In 2001, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My life went into a dark hole … I wrote these lines in my Memoir: As I turned 48, prepared to fight the disease of cancer, these footprints melted rapidly into a pool of depression. The portal to the grave opened. I walked inside completely unaware of my dissent into the Hades of my existence.
From 2001 – 2013 I lived through hell and didn’t think I would ever return to a life of happiness. (This is the story I tell in my Memoir.) It’s a miracle I am alive. It’s a miracle I have been able to write again.
God granted that little girl’s dream to be a writer in my 60th year. This time around, I have gained the confidence, the depth of spirit, the courage, and the determination to forge forward no matter what. I began writing articles again in 2014. (And guess who was again my first subject? Terri Lyne Carrington 3-time Grammy winner.) I have become a staff writer for The Hollywood 360. I have my own entertainment blog in Agenda Magazine called Arting Around and have a feature article in every issue of their hard copy magazine. My first book will be coming out very soon; plus I am half way through writing my first novel. I plan on writing until I take my last breath.
I am a writer. It’s never too late to claim oneself.
