Autographing one of my books in 2018
Brave is easy for me. The challenge would be doing things that aren’t “brave.” I couldn’t live with myself if I was stagnant. If I played it “safe.”
I’ve always been an independent woman. Before I met my husband (later in life), I lived by myself 15 years. During that time, I supported myself fully. Yet I quit jobs without having another lined up. This is brave and it’s not something people do, especially if they aren’t married.
There was a time, not to long ago, when I wasn’t brave. Prior to the 9/11 tragedy, I worked in New York City as a writer. I wanted to start my own business and took a class on legal proofreading. I was supposed to have my first assignment, and interesting, the receptionist messed up and the woman I was to interview with thought I didn’t show, so I missed out on a long-term assignment. That was a Friday. The next Tuesday, the towers were hit. I realized it was a blessing in disguise not to get that assignment. Even though it wasn’t in the twin towers, imagine being in New York City on that day?
Moving forward, I took a job in New Jersey as an editorial assistant at a local newspaper. It was a $20K pay cut from what I was used to making, but I liked the job and ending working there from 2001 to 2008. The last few years I was there, it was rough. The editor was a diabetic and had massive mood swings. One day he yelled at me for 45 minutes straight because I failed to get an obituary in the paper. In my defensive, the funeral director knew our paper was closing and he didn’t get back to me in time.
The next day I gave a month notice. I couldn’t do it though and ended up quitting within two weeks — without another job lined up. I stayed in bed four days straight. By now I was living with my boyfriend (who became my husband). That summer I took a job at a health food store. It was fun, but I realized I wasn’t a “people person.” I needed to be my own boss, and with my 401Ks, I began my home-based business, “Pear Tree Enterprises.” I took all my talents and created a sweet life for myself — journalism, book editing, and promoting. As time went on, my business changed, of course. I realized I didn’t like promoting/marketing, but there were other things I loved. Now I can add to the list non-union actress, over 50 modeling, public speaking, and cat sitting (I became a certified feline behaviorist during the pandemic!) In 2013, at the age of 50, I wrote my first book. Now I have several books and two of them are in Barnes & Noble.
This is when I realized just how brave I really am. It takes a brave person to become self employed and write their own books. “Friends” get jealous and leave you (after they write you nasty emails about how “narcissistic” you are), there are “dry” periods when you may not get royalty checks or work, people either think you’re loaded and are often asking you for money, or they look down on you and think you sit around all day eating bon bons. OR, worse of all, they assume the only reason you can have your own business is because you have a husband to fall back on. That part is true, and people shouldn’t begrudge me for having a great man. I have a great man because I never settled for a lesser one. We adore each other and it’s a blessing!
And that’s another reason why I am brave, I don’t settle — for men, or for friends or for clients. I live my life honestly and that’s something that’s hard for a lot of people.
Truly being brave means taking a lot of chances and being true to yourself. People may feel threatened, but the ones who understand are the ones you can share a beautiful life with.
If you liked this blog, feel free to buy me a kombucha: https://ko-fi.com/maryannechristianomistretta
Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.
She is the author of the following books:
“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary
“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You
Her fiction book “Love Cats” second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/
Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.
And for positive messages, visit Be YOUnique, the Anti-Bullying You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLq6J9MSvcjd-haQ30ycLWA/videos
Visit my business page, Pear Tree Enterprises, at: https://peartreeenterprises.wordpress.com/