A Conversation with Wendi Knox, Professional Uplifter, Author and Artist, Who Proves You're Never Too Old to Reinvent Yourself

Are you too old to reinvent yourself? The answer is no.

Wendi Knox is a professional uplifter, author, and artist. In her past life, she was the only female Senior Vice-President/Creative Director at one of the largest advertising agencies in Los Angeles, creating multimedia ad campaigns for brands like Honda and Acura. Her award-winning commercials have been directed by the Academy Award-winning Coen Brothers, starred William Wegman's famous Weimaraners, and were profiled in The New York Times.

At 50, Wendi lost her job and found herself sobbing in her backyard, asking the Universe, “Am I too old to reinvent myself?” Her answer came in the form of hundreds of red dragonflies filling her backyard with magic (for four days)! Learning that dragonflies don’t fly until later in life sparked a new purpose for Wendi and inspired her to create a unique paradigm for transformation as we age.

Today, she’s on a mission to help women see aging not as a decline, but as an opportunity to grow new wings. Through her “Breaking Out of the Age Cage” illustrated talks and inspiring workshops, Wendi is working to rebrand aging as an opportunity for Becoming More of Who We Are, Not Less of What We Were.

Like the dragonfly, she is soaring later in life, having her first book, From Muck to Magic, published and her first solo art show at 65. It is a beautiful picture book for adults that celebrates each person's inner child. Now at 72, she has published her second book, The Way of the Dragonfly: Flight Instructions to Transform the Way We Age. The book is a soulful, witty, and deeply empowering guide for women ready to rise above our youth-obsessed culture and embrace aging on their own terms.

Inspired by her life-changing encounter with hundreds of red dragonflies, Wendi reframes the aging process. Blending personal storytelling, spiritual insight, tools, exercises and “Dragonflying Lessons,” this book invites readers to shed old ageist beliefs, reveal their true colors, and soar with purpose and joy at any age.

In this episode, we discuss Wendi's book and work, but also get into her experience with a loved one dealing with the devastating effects of marijuana and cannabis induced psychosis. She recommends that anyone whose lives are touched by this situation go to EveryBrainMatters.org.

Wendi has so much wisdom to share with us. She talks about the fetches (the word for a gathering of dragon flies) she organizes for women in the Ojai area, making "I've done" lists instead of "to do" lists, talking back to her "bitch Edna" negative voice in her head, how intuition is the voice of her heart and soul, how tears are like rainwater that help your metaphorical garden to grow, and more. One of my favorite quotes of Wendi's, a former executive in the advertising world: "Marketing a book is a pain in the algorithm!" So true!

These days, Wendi is blessed to live in magical Ojai with her husband Will (she followed her intuition and married this extraordinary man after only dating him for two months, a decision that may be one of the best she's made, given what I know about him), fur baby Blossom and a colorful assortment of dragonflies. To find out more about Wendi and her work, fly over to WendiKnox.com.

Follow Wendi:

https://wendiknox.com/ (where there are links to buy her book on her landing page)

Instagram: @wendiknoxuplifter: https://www.instagram.com/wendiknoxuplifter/?hl=en

Facebook: @WendiKnoxAuthor

https://www.facebook.com/wendiknoxauthor/

LinkedIn: Wendi Knox

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendiknox/

Featured Profile in Ageist Magazine:

https://www.ageist.com/profile/wendi-knox-71-soaring-after-midlife/

Essay in Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper:

https://mariashriver.com/time-to-break-out-age-cage/

Interview on Mariel Hemingway’s Podcast:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBT_WO7e9F4

Interview on NPR’s 51%:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7vjVk_ZQPY