Patricia Heaton - Your Second Act: Inspiring Stories of Reinvention

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PATRICIA HEATON

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Simon & Schuster

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Copyright 2020 by Third Coast Productions, Inc.

In some instances, names have been changed.

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First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition May 2020

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Interior design by Lewelin Polanco

Jacket design by Kathleen Lynch

Jacket photograph by Jsquared Photography / Contour / Getty Images

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been applied for.

ISBN 978-1-9821-4160-8

ISBN 978-1-9821-4162-2 (ebook)

To the brave and adventurous souls who shared their stories with me in this book, and to the brave and adventurous souls who will read these stories and find inspiration to embrace their own second acts.

And to my beautiful family whom I love above all elsethank you for your patience and supportthrough every character change of life!

I ts 3:00 a.m. and Im wide awake in a hotel room in Oklahoma City, finishing the final details on the book you are about to read. Why am I in Oklahoma City? Im asking myself the same question. Technically, Im location scouting for an upcoming indie project Im producing. Yes, at my age. I just wrapped the first season of my show Carols Second Act the night before and Im sick as a dog. I had to skip the wrap party to go home and pack, hop on an early flight, and Ive just spent the day fruitlessly searching for a house to shoot the movie in. Were less than three weeks out from principal photography and we still dont have our lead actor. What on earth was I thinking?

Timing is everything and it just so happens that the opportunity to independently produce a film didnt come about until now in my sixties. Shouldnt I be relaxing by a pool, hanging out on a golf course, or sitting in a beachside cabana playing canasta with the gals? (I dont know what canasta is but I think ladies in their sixties play it.) Its tempting. But weve had this script for at least ten years and its now or neverIm not getting any younger. Its not time to wind down yet, its time to press on. So on top of my other commitments, here I am throwing myself into the deep end once againcare to join me? Im embarking on my second act.

All growth comes with a level of pain; Im feeling it and Im sure youve felt it at times, too. But somewhere down in the depths of my soul, I must enjoy this. Theres a certain excitement in the terror of the unknown. Its kind of what actors thrive on. And so it is with me. I dont feel like I know what Im doing at this juncture but Im certainly willing to learn. Im fortunate to have a team of very talented and dedicated young people around me who somehow just get things done. My challenge is to keep my focus in the right placenot on the result, but on each step in front of me.

The good news: I know Im not alone in this madness of second act growing pains. There are countless people in the world right now finding drive, purpose, and passionately reinventing themselves in all kinds of beautiful ways. Ive found tremendous inspiration from the people you are about to meet in this book. Their strength, commitment, and willingness to step out in faith and desperationall inspire me in ways I was not expecting when I started this project. I mean, I thought a book about second acts would be a good idea at first and I wanted to inspire others. I just had no idea how much I would be personally impacted through this process.

You see, this book is a by-product of my own personal transition in life. Youll read more about my story in the first few chapters, but as I was setting out on my own second act journey, I wondered about the stories of others and what made them decide to leap into the unchartered territory of reinvention. I thought about all the misconceptions that come with getting older and the questions I had in my own heartis it too late? Am I too old? Am I too crazy? (Dont answer that.) But beyond the questions in my heart, there were dreams. Dreams and desires I had placed on hold because of whatever pressing thing in the moment that was taking my timemotherhood and family, my career, life. I couldnt let go of those things that were sitting on the sidelines of my heart, I had to bring them to pass. And that is what a second act is all about.

Second acts can be by choice: a new career, an artistic expression, a mentoring opportunity; or they can be due to a change in circumstance: a divorce, the death of a loved one, a layoff, or the empty nest. Second acts can be about self-fulfillment and they can be about service to others. Your second act is your call. Its personal to you. Its your path and your journey.

As I talked to my friends who have already transitioned into their own second acts, and began collecting stories for this project, I realized there is so much to glean from others experiences. I have personally found new strength and determination as a result. This is my hope for you, too. As you read, dont let yourself become a passive observer. We do that all too often nowadays. Instead, look for yourself in these stories. Find common hopes, dreams, and fears to connect with. Let the strength you read about in these pages become your strength. Let the creativity and resolve connect with the creativity and resolve in your own heart.

My greatest desire for this project is to empower you on the next steps of your journey in this lifeto find meaning, purpose, hope, and fulfillment on the adventure that awaits youthe adventure that is Your Second Act.

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.

Helen Keller

B read, booze, and burrata. If anyone would have told me a few years ago that I would be giving up my three most favorite things on the planet (hubs and boys excluded, of course), I would have taken you straight to the nearest psych wardbecause thats just pure craziness.

But getting old makes you do crazy things or is it that youve finally become sane, and realized what matters most?

In any case, here I am today, over two years without my gorgeous old fashioned, my caprese salad, or my brioche loaf. Why, you might ask? Well, like with so many other things, I blame it on my kids. Im sixty-two, and my boys dont seem anywhere near having children, or even steady girlfriends, yet. It could be a good ten to fifteen years before that happensif it happens. That would put me firmly in my seventies by the time I get to be somebodys Nana. God forbid Im a drooling, wrinkled sack of bones propped up in a Rascal, receiving the reluctant but compulsory peck on the cheek from little, frightened grandkids.