Variations on Life After 50
A Field Guide to Harnessing the Power of Creativity, Purpose, and Legacy in Midlife
Will be published approx. on 4. August 2026
Book
Hardback
278 pages
978-1-4930-9842-2 (ISBN)
Description
In Variations on Life After 50, author Jill Timmons provides a new road map for those entering the middle stages of their lives, melding simultaneously the conscious experience of liminal “in-between” space with building an authentically joyous life of meaning, purpose, and legacy. By challenging the traditional notions of what it means to enter midlife, this heartfelt and heavily researched book shows that creativity is the key to fully engaging with a soulful life in a time of loss and change.
Timmons, an award-winning performance artist and midlife coach, works with clients to discover new models of opportunity later in life. Here, too, she shows that it is through creativity that we discover a way forward and answer the Soul’s call for greater authenticity. Combining compelling studies on aging and art with riveting true-life stories, her own personal journey, practical exercises, and replicable strategies, Variations on Life After 50 offers a daring model for a dynamic and soulful third act of life. Through 30 “variations” modeled on the movements of a grand symphony, readers will:
While many baby boomers have been told to work, work, work for the goal of piling up money in order to then enter some sort of retirement “golden years” geared to leisure, most of Timmons’ clients, on the other hand, report wanting a more interconnected and purposeful third act of life. Variations on Life After 50 is a map for those seeking the call of adventure both intrinsically and out in the world.
Timmons, an award-winning performance artist and midlife coach, works with clients to discover new models of opportunity later in life. Here, too, she shows that it is through creativity that we discover a way forward and answer the Soul’s call for greater authenticity. Combining compelling studies on aging and art with riveting true-life stories, her own personal journey, practical exercises, and replicable strategies, Variations on Life After 50 offers a daring model for a dynamic and soulful third act of life. Through 30 “variations” modeled on the movements of a grand symphony, readers will:
- Make peace with loss
- Move through transitory periods with newfound excitement
- Express gratitude and reclaim power
- Discover their creative calling
- Lay the groundwork of a meaningful legacy
While many baby boomers have been told to work, work, work for the goal of piling up money in order to then enter some sort of retirement “golden years” geared to leisure, most of Timmons’ clients, on the other hand, report wanting a more interconnected and purposeful third act of life. Variations on Life After 50 is a map for those seeking the call of adventure both intrinsically and out in the world.
More details
Person
Jill Timmons is an award-winning author, performance artist, and coaching consultant providing clients with services on life, career, finances, interviews and auditions, and general development for the over-forty population. She has performed under the auspices of the National Endowment for the Arts and has recorded on the Laurel, Centaur, and Capstone labels. Ken Burns chose music from her Amy Beach recording with Laura Klugherz for the soundtrack to his PBS documentary, The War. Timmons serves as the Artist/Teacher Affiliate for Classic Pianos in their eight locations throughout the United States. As founder/director of Artsmentor, LLC (www.artsmentor.com), she is also an international performing arts consultant to the Yamaha Corporation of America, and O’Malley International Associates in Pasadena, assisting individuals and nonprofits in creating sustainable and vibrant arts initiatives. As an author, Timmons was awarded a year-long Visiting Fellowship at Yale University. She is a recipient of the Wilk International Literary Prize from the University of Southern California and is the author of The Musician’s Journey: Crafting Your Career Vision and Plan, now in its second edition.
Content
Preface 4
Introduction 8
Baby Boomers and the Third Wave 8
The Theme 15
Music, Creativity, and Liminal Space 20
Structure of the Book: Thirty Variations 26
Section I: Foreground 33
Variation I: Second Half of Life- Ages, Stages, Life after 50 and the Third Wave 34
The Scope of Life After 50 36
An Earlier View of Human Development 38
Variation II: The Nature of Loss; Inevitability at Midlife 41
Section II: Middleground 47
Variation III: Liminal Space—Betwixt and Between 48
Variation IV: The Best Way Out is Always Through 54
Variation V: Creativity and Soul 58
Variation VI: The Soul’s Code Versus Ageism 69
Variation VII: Moving Through Liminal Space—What to Pack 78
Variation VIII: Somatic Wisdom 88
Variation IX: Soul Markers: The Notion of Beauty 92
Variation X: Touchstones, Guideposts, Street Signs 99
Variation XI: Gratitude 106
Variation XII: Power 113
Section III: Background 120
Variation XIII: The Dynamic Third Wave—A New Dimension 121
Variation XIV: Preparing the Ground for Your Creative Calling 125
Variation XV: Your Creative Calling, At Least for Now 135
Variation XVI: Roadblocks 143
Variation XVII: Fear 153
Variation XVIII: Your Toolbox—What You Will Need Going Forward 162
Variation XIX: Brain Neuroplasticity and the Efficacy of Creativity 171
Variation XX: Love 178
Variation XXI: The Nature of Work 187
Variation XXII: Grace and the Feminine Principle 195
Variation XXIII: Life and Death 201
Variation XXIV: Shakespeare’s The Tempest 208
Variation XXV: Spirituality—Discovering Your Own Sacred 213
Variation XXVI: Legacy 220
Variation XXVII: Healing 227
Variation XXVIII: The Spiral 233
Variation XXIX: Artist Stories—Radical Life and Surfing the Third Wave 236
Variation XXX: Quodlibet—Music and Food 249
Recapitulation: Returning to the Theme 255
Selected Bibliography 263
Introduction 8
Baby Boomers and the Third Wave 8
The Theme 15
Music, Creativity, and Liminal Space 20
Structure of the Book: Thirty Variations 26
Section I: Foreground 33
Variation I: Second Half of Life- Ages, Stages, Life after 50 and the Third Wave 34
The Scope of Life After 50 36
An Earlier View of Human Development 38
Variation II: The Nature of Loss; Inevitability at Midlife 41
Section II: Middleground 47
Variation III: Liminal Space—Betwixt and Between 48
Variation IV: The Best Way Out is Always Through 54
Variation V: Creativity and Soul 58
Variation VI: The Soul’s Code Versus Ageism 69
Variation VII: Moving Through Liminal Space—What to Pack 78
Variation VIII: Somatic Wisdom 88
Variation IX: Soul Markers: The Notion of Beauty 92
Variation X: Touchstones, Guideposts, Street Signs 99
Variation XI: Gratitude 106
Variation XII: Power 113
Section III: Background 120
Variation XIII: The Dynamic Third Wave—A New Dimension 121
Variation XIV: Preparing the Ground for Your Creative Calling 125
Variation XV: Your Creative Calling, At Least for Now 135
Variation XVI: Roadblocks 143
Variation XVII: Fear 153
Variation XVIII: Your Toolbox—What You Will Need Going Forward 162
Variation XIX: Brain Neuroplasticity and the Efficacy of Creativity 171
Variation XX: Love 178
Variation XXI: The Nature of Work 187
Variation XXII: Grace and the Feminine Principle 195
Variation XXIII: Life and Death 201
Variation XXIV: Shakespeare’s The Tempest 208
Variation XXV: Spirituality—Discovering Your Own Sacred 213
Variation XXVI: Legacy 220
Variation XXVII: Healing 227
Variation XXVIII: The Spiral 233
Variation XXIX: Artist Stories—Radical Life and Surfing the Third Wave 236
Variation XXX: Quodlibet—Music and Food 249
Recapitulation: Returning to the Theme 255
Selected Bibliography 263