About that rocking chair …

Don’t put Janet in a rocking chair.

A few weeks ago, my friend Mary Ann and I booked a $49 flight to Nashville and took an Uber to Franklin, Tenn., a Hallmark-like town. Franklin has been on my bucket list for a while.

While we meandered through The Factory, we found a huge rocking chair. Mary Ann insisted I climb into it for a photo. I think she knew it might inspire a column. She was right.

When I was younger, I pictured myself at 71: a grandmother quietly sitting in a rocking chair, sipping my coffee, relaxing, and enjoying retirement.

Hold my coffee, not a beer. I am doing the sitting-in-a-rocking-chair-and-drinking-coffee part, but definitely not relaxing or being quiet.

I’ve been busy, not just traveling but also researching for the fiction novel I’m writing. You know the old saying, “Truth is stranger than fiction”? Oh, dear readers, it’s so true. When you read my novel, you’ll think, “That could never have happened.” Again, hold my coffee.

You may know that Maya Angelou wrote until her last breath at 86. Did you know Laura Ingalls Wilder didn’t publish her Little House on the Prairie series until she was 65? Did you know Mark Twain published Huckleberry Finn at age 49? BTW, Grandma Moses started painting at 75. Don’t ever give up on a dream. If you have been given a gift, find a way to use it. Never let anyone put you in a rocking chair or hush your opinions.

Age does not negate your ability to make a difference. Read that again.

My last two columns have sparked conversation. I’ve been both cheered and jeered. Yes, some have told me to hush. After a social media post, one person told me I have poor communication skills. Another person questioned whether people really went out of their way to care for children and the elderly when I was growing up. Trust me, the people I knew did.

At 71, I think I’m just getting started. I’m wearing my big-girl panties. My skin is wrinkled but thick, and my backbone may have osteoporosis, yet it’s grown stronger. In my columns, you’ll read about my crazy travel adventures, hear about my faith, and see me keep fighting for those without a voice. I will pray for the strength and wisdom to choose my battles well.

I know people will criticize my opinions. That comes with writing an opinion column. The harder I type my thoughts, the more I know I will be dodging bullets of criticism.

Some of my younger readers have questioned whether my thoughts matter in today’s world. Kindness and caring will never go out of style. I hope to always wear them well.

Social media is often a place where mean people hide behind a computer screen, stir up arguments, and spread misinformation. People think that just because so-and-so says something is true, they must believe them. So-and-so may have reasons, unbeknownst to others, that will profit them in ways that are deeply hidden. Beware what you are told and what you believe.

But this is a big BUT. Some beautifully kind and wise people are on social media. They bring a breath of fresh air to a place that can wreak havoc on a weary soul. I follow them because their words encourage and inspire me.

This week, I heard a speaker say, “Never lose the voice God has given you.” I needed that reminder.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

I underlined and dated that scripture in my Bible.

I still believe that most people are good, caring, and kind. For some reason, others are prone to stir up anger and ugliness. I wonder whether something in their lives has broken their capacity for empathy, their sensitivity to the thoughts and feelings of others. They seem blind to the hurts of the less fortunate. I’ll never understand them or their thinking.

Shari Bailey says, “Lead by example and demonstrate the power of empathy and compassion.”

Jim Sabataso says, “A little politeness, respect, and empathy go a long way toward making online experiences enjoyable and fulfilling.”

These quotes have given me much to ponder.

If you need to find me, I’ll be in my rocking chair writing because this fiction book isn’t going to write itself. It’s set in 1989, but today’s events shape my thoughts on good vs. evil. I think you will love Audrey Grace, who is the main character.

And of course, while I am rocking, I’ll be putting together my thoughts for this column. Perhaps I’ll give my readers something more to talk about.

Readers, stay tuned. My fingertips are itching, and I have a new pair of big-girl panties.

Janet Hart Leonard can be contacted at janethartleonard@gmail.com or followed on Facebook or Instagram (@janethartleonard). She is the recipient of the Reporter’s Spring 2025 Ink-Stained Wretch award. Visit janethartleonard.com. You can purchase her book “When the Hart Speaks” at amazon.com/dp/B0B1C7QKF6.