Hello to you, new friends. I’m Linda and creativity is at the core of who I am. I grew up writing, drawing and even acting (badly). After getting degrees in English Literature and Journalism, I’ve been able to use my creativity in the business world. Over three decades, I grew my career in marketing for the financial services industry, eventually becoming a communications director leading a team across two major cities for a large national financial institution, supporting their wealth management business.

Creativity was also central to a side business I ran for many years, collecting and selling vintage fashion dolls and fashions. I’d get into the flow when arranging the fashions on protective cards, taking multiple photographs of each item and writing detailed descriptions to sell them online.

At the end of 2019, all seemed well in my personal and professional lives. Then the world stopped, the pandemic began, and my marriage ended up on life support. We began to work from home exclusively, and I was alone with just my computer and my dog. My only family was far away in another country.

At work, my team was understaffed and tasked with calming our clients about volatile markets. The demands kept coming, and expectations increasing, in my unsupportive workplace. The stress broke me down which led to illness, then a leave of absence.

Anxiety, depression and an attack of Bell’s Palsy kept pushing me down. I needed something to focus on and build myself back up. To help, my therapist suggested coloring.

After laughing, I went online and ordered a couple of adult coloring books and some markers. Somewhat surprisingly, I found it helped to create something I could touch and see in front of me. I took great pride in choosing the colors for each drawing and making it my own. As I spent hours coloring, my physical health and concentration improved, and so did my mood and thinking. Thankfully, I felt empowered and in control.

But I was still just one person and I was excited to talk with others who also liked this hobby. I found my tribe online in adult coloring communities. I shared my own work with other “colorists.” I took advice and my artwork become more complex and enjoyed the praise of my fellow hobbyists. Having that connection helped lift some of the isolation I felt and helped improve my feelings of self-worth.

Within a few months, my husband and I healed our marriage by looking at things differently and fully understanding each other’s perspective. Eventually I returned to work.

But downsizing happened and I found myself at loose ends and unemployed for the first time in decades. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I promised myself that being an employee was in my rear-view mirror and I’d do something I was passionate about.

While pondering my next move, I met up with Amy for lunch. Amy is, of course, a creative person as well, working with words and in design. We talked how we’d come to this stage of life and how we’d changed—what our priorities are, the paths we’ve taken and the challenges we’ve faced. We both found that being creative helped us be authentic and happier people, and opened our minds to new perspectives. From that conversation, The Next Take began to take shape.

Today, my life and how I live it have changed. And change, while scary, brings opportunity. Now it’s my joy to share how creativity, connection and community can enrich your life as it has mine. Welcome to The Next Take and the chance for you to create your next, best life.