Blog #57. Glue Sticks and Revolution

Somewhere between the grabbing craft supplies and life’s metaphoric check-out lane, I recently found myself clutching some glue sticks and a roll of duct tape, thinking: Well, doesn’t this just sum up navigating my third chapter!?

The third chapter—the part of life where the glitter and ribbons of youthful approval have worn off, and the next pages are still unwritten. You start piecing things together differently. You don’t just decorate your life anymore; you construct it—deliberately and defiantly—from fragments of what’s true, what’s joyful, and what refuses to be quieted.

This is revolution. It’s the kind of righteousness that isn’t about being right, but about being real. Being whole. Being aligned. It’s fierce, creative clarity, held together by purpose, strong coffee, and the adhesive of choice.

Because we’re not just patching ourselves together after life’s wear and tear—we’re reclaiming what matters. Not just for ourselves, but for the world we still very much belong to. For today, and for the future.

We’re reclaiming decency. Justice. Equality. Not the performative kind that lives in hashtags, but the deep, rooted kind that starts in our bones and ripples outward. The kind that says: Everyone deserves dignity. Everyone deserves to be seen.

And it must radiate outward. As wise elders, we are going to grab our glue sticks and poster board and demand that justice starts with one and reaches all. More than 5 million of us did just that last weekend.

All too often, we live in a society that plays the politics of division—slicing and dicing us into little demographic pieces so that we’re more easily picked off, sidelined, and discredited. Well, I say: grab that glue gun and duct tape, and let’s start collaging more inclusion, more solidarity, and way more action!

Ashley Rickards reminds us that “the power you have is to be the best version of yourself you can be, so you can create a better world.”

And we’re letting go—finally, blessedly—of the junk that’s weighed us down: zero-sum thinking, the endless game of Us vs. Them, and the fear that’s been marketed to us since forever. Fear of aging. Fear of being “too much.” Fear of getting it wrong. No more. We’ve walked through fire and come out wise—we don’t fear the flames anymore.

So no, this third chapter isn’t about fading away. It’s about piecing together something truer. Bolder. A little patched, maybe—but patched with purpose.

It’s the dignity of duct tape and the audacity of a glue stick—messy, yes, but mighty.

If you’re holding your own metaphorical glue stick, piecing together purpose, justice, and joy—come with us. We’re crafting lives that are bold, wise, and wildly real. No glitter required (but it’s always welcome).

Come join the journey. Reclaim your third chapter—your way. Find us at wondercrone.com or in the membership community on Mighty Networks, Where Wisdom Meets Wonder.