Good Morning, Everyone:

By way of introduction, I'm new to the forum. This is my very first post. I've written a couple, but I just didn't have the nerve to put them up. It's taken me awhile to find enough nerve to actually stop lurking and post this one.

Admittedly, I'm a bit shy. Which, frankly, is a little weird because I author a blog about women's midlife issues. Go figure that one out. But writing your own blog is much different from posting on someone else's.

However, I decided to finally come out from behind the curtain and introduce myself--and hopefully start making some meaningful contributions.

The boomerwomenspeak forum is one of the best I've ever run across. This community is so very supportive and interesting--and I'm honored to be here.

Never in a million years did I ever think I'd have midlife "issues." Or write about them on my own blog and comment about them on someone else's blog. Little did I know.

But it's thanks to communities like this one that I now know I don't have "issues," but that I am simply "booming."

(I might as well come completely clean. Another confession I have is that up until a year ago, I had no idea of what a blog was. Now I write two. Again, go figure.)

If you want to know a little bit more about "the new girl," you can check out my blogs--but don't feel that you have to.

With the SofTouch blog SofTouch I am sponsored--just to be honest with you. However, I'm not censored. They let me speak what's in my heart and on my mind. Some days I hold my breath that I won't get fired! But if I do, so be it. You have to be true to yourself and have the courage of your own convictions.

The other blog is my own personal missive for my perfume passion. As part of my midlife overhaul, I did a 180 and am taking my career in an entirely new direction with a brand new business. That blog is BaileyMcMillanPerfumes .

In any event, it's really nice to be here and it's nice to be a part of the community. I don't feel so alone knowing that there are so many brilliant, booming women "out there."

Thank you for allowing me to become a part of the forum.

Wow. I have survived making my very first post. And it wasn't too painful. I've finally come out from behind the curtain:)

Have a wonderful Monday, everyone.

Warmest,
Melanie

Wecome Melanie. I will check out your sponsered blog later today. A passion for perfume! Imagine that.

It is nice to have another new face aboard. Post often and post with passion. Enjoy your times here.

Thank you for the warm welcome, Anno, as well as the encouragement. I will take your words to heart and post often when I have something meaningful to contribute.

Warmest,
Melanie

Hi, Melanie and welcome. Interesting site. Tell us how you got a sponsor?

What a great introduction for oneself. I specifically got a kick out of "But it's thanks to communities like this one that I now know I don't have "issues," but that I am simply "booming."

WELCOME!!!

I would be very happy to share with you how I became sponsored to author a blog. Thank you for asking! I wish I could tell you that there's a formula for getting that kind of work, but it was simply by sheer good fortune and blessings that the opportunity came my way. And, admittedly, knowing the right person.

In another "life" I worked as a public relations executive for many years. One man and I kept crossing paths in the business. Eventually, we worked on a couple of accounts together, so he knew that I could write (on my good days, at least)--and he knew that I was entering midlife.

Long story short, he is now the VP of PR for a PR firm--and he has a client who sells wellness products. The client's advertising budget was limited, but they wanted a unique way to tell people, especially women in peri-menopause and menopause, about their products.

So my former business colleague came up with the idea of communicating via a blog--which he knew that HE was certainly not qualified to write, so he called in a real-life midlife woman and writer.

I looked at the products, talked to the client--and felt that it was something I could put my name to and still sleep at nights.

So there was no formula or anything like that involved. But I think, if there's a lesson in all of this, it's that by networking and keeping in touch with the people in our lives, it can lead to some interesting and amazing opportunities. That's why forums like this one are so great. You just never know where things can lead.

Hope that helps!

Warmest,
Melanie

Thank you so much for the nice welcome.

Warmest,
Melanie

Melanie,

Welcome! I'm fairly new here, myself, and am so glad to have found this site!

I was lurking for a long time, only because for some reason I couldn't get my introduction to post. I'd write, but my words would get lost somewhere in cyberspace. I'm so glad I didn't give up!

Welcome, again. I'm going to check out your blogs - perfumes, first.

Emily in Maryland

Melanie, thanks for having the guts to join us. I'm looking forward to learning more about you.

You are so right about networking. You never know what will transpire when we reach out and do good for the sake of others. Great sponsorship story.

Hi Emily,

I'm glad you didn't give up and were able to get your introduction post "up and running."

At least you were making the effort.

I don't know why it has taken me so long to feel comfortable introducing myself publicly--especially since I've been writing blogs. But there's something that has made me cautious about posting to them. And honestly, I'm still trying to catch on to the whole cyberspace thing.

Maybe what it is, is that I just needed to "lurk" for awhile to learn more about the community in order to feel comfortable "talking" out loud. And I think it's more difficult for those of us who didn't grow up with computers. Today's youngsters seem to come out of the womb with a keyboard and mouse attached to their hands. I came out with a stone tablet. Oh well.

Thank you for the welcome. And thank you for checking out my blogs. As for the perfume one...if you ever get to Connecticut, please stop by my studio and I'll type your personality by scent. It's so much fun, and there's actually some concrete science behind it.

Warmest,
Melanie