The artist's way for retirement (by Julia Cameron)

(Amazon UK link)

Back in 2017, I acquired (second-hand) a couple of books by the American author Julia Cameron that came highly recommended. They were supposed to encourage creativity and provide inspiration for anyone feeling a bit blocked or uncertain where their lives were heading. I spent a few months attempting to get into one of them, and failed. In the end, I gave up. 

Four years later, in the summer of 2021 we were able to travel after eighteen months of restrictions due to the pandemic. We stayed at a family-run AirBnB, and I saw a book by Julia Cameron on the shelves. I dipped into it a couple of times, and thought it looked interesting, although mostly intended for younger people. When I returned to Cyprus, I discovered that she had written ‘The Artist’s way for retirement’, and decided to download it for my Kindle. 

I was already a bit dubious about the power of ‘morning pages’ (three sides long hand recommended), daily solo walks and weekly ‘artist dates’. These three requirements felt too rigid to me when I tried to read one of the author’s books four years earlier. But I decided to give it a try, and also to write answers to all her questions - memories of childhood, teenage years and so on, and quick answers to questions about what we enjoy, what risks we might take, what makes us feel happy and much more.

I never did manage three pages of longhand, but for a couple of months I did write at least one page in a notebook, and made other notes and responses. I ensured I went out for daily walks, even though many of them were with a close friend. Artist dates are trickier; the name is a bit confusing as I think of a ‘date’ as going out with someone else, and she insists that these must be alone. 

But she gives quite a broad definition. While some people might enjoy visiting art galleries or exhibitions, an ‘artist date’ might just mean browsing a good bookshop, or a craft store; it might mean watching a movie; it might even mean spending a couple of hours reading a childhood favourite book. The point is to do something special, that doesn’t fit into the usual routine, and try to do so every week.

Then after a few month, my interest petered out. 

In the summer of 2022 I spent a week staying in a flat that had no wi-fi, so I decided to start again, this time using my laptop which is so much easier to write on.  I managed every day that week, but then went to stay with relatives. Early morning writing was no longer possible, so once again I put the book aside.

A few weeks ago, I wondered if I should start yet again, but that seemed pointless. I hadn’t gained much from the first couple of times, so instead I started where I had left off in 2021. But I didn’t answer the questions, other than in my head. I just read the final few chapters, skimming in places where it became repetitive.

And that’s really my issue with this book. It doesn’t actually have a whole lot of substance. The principles, I think, are good: write daily if possible, get some exercise, do something different once a week. Think back to childhood and figure out if there’s anything that appealed then, which could be taken up again in retirement. Many examples are given of people who, in their sixties or seventies, began painting, or writing, or baking, or many other possible activities. Some of these are quite inspiring, but they’re also very similar. ‘I was stuck, then remembered I always wanted to (whatever) …. so I took the plunge, and now I’m happily creative’. 

As I was skimming through the last chapters, I noted that I do still try to write something most days (this is recommended by many different authors and books). I aim to do something a bit different once a week. But although it’s all too easy to get caught up in trivia, I write blogs, and run a couple of websites; I knit hats for babies, and I belong to a writing group. As an Introvert I don’t want too much social activity. And I’ve already done some of the things suggested in the book, such as keeping careful track of all spending. 

I was also a bit disturbed by the author’s suggestions of trying to hear from people who had died. Indeed, much of the 'spiritual' side of the book is what we used to call 'new age'. Also, I rolled my eyes at her insistence that we should visualise places or people. I’m one of many people who doesn’t see anything when I close my eyes, so this kind of suggestion is not helpful, and can be irritating.

As far as I can tell, there’s not much in this book that’s different from the one I dipped into back in 2021, except that the focus is on retired people rather than those going out to work or dealing with young families. And I’m not sure it’s all that helpful anyway to those of us who prefer general principles to detailed expectations. I could have read the prologue or a summary of the book and that would have given me as much as reading the book in its entirety. I'm glad I finally read to the end (albeit rapidly) as I like closure, and it's not a terrible book. But it shouldn't have taken three and a half years. 

Still, for anyone feeling stuck in a rut, or as if something is missing in their lives, this might be a useful book to start working through. And if you want to take it seriously, then answer the questions and exercises, and try to follow the suggestions. But when you get bored, or feel as if it’s not going anywhere, it's probably time to stop. 

Review copyright 2024 Sue's Book Reviews