Hi Marcy,
I will be 61 on my next birthday in August and have done a similar reassessment after a few tough years w/ critical illness of a child and personal setbacks and family deaths that resulted in a definite slump/lack of enthusiasm.
I had the impulse to sell my machines and fabric and books. In fact had started to photograph things to put up for sale.
But I took a deep breath and some quiet time to think through the sort of chaotic space of my mind.
Here is what I have decided. There are countless ships that have sailed, so to speak, in life and will never come back again.
However,quilting/personal creation is the one thing where I can be the master of my destiny w/o the need to meet outside expectations, deadlines or pressures. So rather let the world into my sewing room, I use that space as a refuge and and refueling place. The outside world is there when I leave, but nothing satisfies and settles my mind like quilting. It is a gift that we can give ourselves-
Finding this forum is another gift and by reading these loving thought and ideas I feel connected to so many others.
A book that inspired me was : "Legacy: The Story of Talula Gilbert Bottoms and Her Quilts" by Nancilu Burdick. It tells the story of her grandmother.
Sorry for the rather long,rambling reply. Hope all of our thoughts help you today-