How many times have you reinvented yourself?

I work with a local art school here in Spokane.  We were recently given charge of a lifetime's worth of work.  The artist created art from the beginning of his life until his end but, there are definite style changes throughout the body of work.  We don't have his childhoods work but we have his master's thesis to his final pieces and you can see several distinct changes in his style and subject.  If you have time, you should go by The Spokane Art School and check out the work of John Noble.  I myself am drawn to different pieces in each period.  The talent was evident in every genre he created.

How many times have you changed what you were doing?  Let's consider professional athletes, recent revelations have brought to light impact damage creating lasting mental trauma.  Torn ligaments, broken bones... these are careers of young people.  Some of them move to different areas of the sports business, some move to other things completely.  Actors stop acting and start producing, move into fashion, create art.  My husband started out as a delivery driver, went into law enforcement and is now working in inventory management.  

It seems years ago; a person would have one career their entire life. They would work for one company but in truth, they would change jobs within that workplace.  As we age, we change.  Our needs change, our focus becomes different, and we continue to grow and learn.  While continuing education in this country is still expensive, we keep educating ourselves.  I myself have been taking advantage of education for seniors.  I am also taking art workshops that come my way as well.  I have seen my work evolve as well.  New techniques have adjusted what I can do and what I will try.  

Don't be afraid of change, we are supposed to do different things.  I am not the same person I was 20 years ago (thank goodness), and I make different choices now.  It seems a little scary, some of us are content in the same place for years.  That doesn't mean that you aren't changing in other ways (arthritis is one area), and we need to make concessions.  A good friend of mine recently pivoted, I am so excited for her and what she is accomplishing.  Don't worry, think about the possibilities.  If you could, what would you change?  As an artist, sometimes we get bored with what we are doing but we don't want to give up the creative process; try something new.  If you have to, you have a solid fall back.