We were lucky to catch up with Maria Greenhalgh recently and have shared our conversation below.
Maria, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
It was the Summer of 2020, I was recently retired and accustomed to a day filled with activities I loved, and people I enjoyed speaking to on a daily basis. Suddenly, like the quick turn of a book page, none of that existed anymore. I had transitioned into a new chapter of my life. I had two choices, give in to the feeling that nothing could ever be as wonderful as it was before, or rejoice in the fact that I could now enjoy things, such as art and writing which filled me with joy when I was young. I chose the latter. I had to find a way to get back to the land of creative wonder, after decades of living a corporate world type of life. I was convinced that finding creativity again, and keeping it alive, would make me happy and be the next chapter in my life. I was right, but what I discovered was that creativity is a life journey, not a destination. I found my renewed creative inspiration in nature. The ocean has always fascinated me. One of my first projects was inspired by the release of Olive Ridley baby sea turtles. These baby turtles hatched in a wildlife rescue center and were released on the beach when they were strong enough to do so. From that wonderful experience I was inspired to write a children’s book about conservation titled, “A Turtle’s Hero.” which has gotten great reviews. To keep the creativity alive, I keep going back to nature. There is wonder and magic and creativity all around us. You just have to pause the busyness of life to see it and embrace it.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a bi-lingual author, a lifelong learner, wife, and mother of two. My husband and I call the mountains of Payson our home, but love spending time on the beach. My writing journey began when I left the corporate world to pursue my dream of becoming a published author and write children’s books in English and in Spanish. Literacy and love of nature, in particular anything ocean related, changed my life as a child. Writing for children and promoting education is my way of paying it forward. I learned English at the age of ten, when my family immigrated to the United States, and fell in love with learning. Education was the key to helping me find a career that I loved, leading teams in the financial services sector. Now my focus is on inspiring children to love learning, as well as appreciate and take care of the world we live in. My books also encourage adults to value and love the uniqueness of each child. With my newest book, A Turtle’s Hero, I hope to inspire the youngest of readers to be advocates for marine life and for conservation.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Love of learning, resilience, and curiosity are the top three qualities that have helped me to not only become a writer but were instrumental in any success I have had in life. An affinity to learning new things fosters creativity and has provided me with ideas for stories. Being resilient in learning what it takes to become a writer and not giving up when processes get confusing or complicated in publishing is necessary. Being curious keeps the process of writing enjoyable. To develop or improve the three qualities, I recommend making it a goal to learn something new every day and challenging yourself to boldly create without fearing failure. To remain curious, gather inspiration from what you love, for example, nature or music. Lastly, bravely follow your curiosity to wherever it may lead you.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
As a fairly new published independent author, focused on learning the process on my own, there were times of great doubt and uncertainty. I loved the process but felt that perhaps it was not what I was meant to do after all. I have always simply relied on the foundation of everything I do, which is my faith. I believe we are all meant to do accomplish something helpful for others, but we must allow a greater source than ourselves to lead us in the process. Frequently, when I find myself doubting what I am working on, I will receive a message or a book review from someone telling me how much my story positively impacted them, and then I know I am on the right path.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.mariajgreenhalgh.com
- Instagram: @maria_greenhalgh_author
- Facebook: @maria_greenhalgh_author
- Linkedin: Judi Greenhalgh, CPCU, MBA, Author
