I’ve taken a huge leap of faith. It could all go horribly wrong, but it could all go wonderfully right. All I know is that I have to take a chance on me….and believe.
I’ve handed in my notice at work, and from January 1st, 2026, I am without a job, without an income, but taking a chance on my dream to write and photograph a series of WW2 Recipe Books.
Honestly, I’m scared, but I know I have to take that chance or I will always live with regret.
This past year, I have become physically and mentally exhausted. With extra responsibilities at work and home, and my increasing age, I simply have had no energy and no time after my workday to pursue my passions. It has felt like writing a book and publishing it has become a pipedream…
And then this happened; In just 8 weeks, 500 of you have joined my waitlist for the book. That could be 1,000 by the time the book launches. While I realise that only a percentage will go on to purchase, that amazing support from you tipped the scale enough for me to believe that I could “actually do this.”
Click here for wait list >>> https://the1940sexperiment.com/ration-book-recipes-new-book/
I want to blog more, be more present in our groups, pages and communities, create more recipes, film more YouTube videos, get my passion back for the rationing lifestyle and living history.
This past year I have saved so very hard into a rainy day fund, enough to give me a few months support without a day job and enough to print 500 books. I know this sounds precarious, almost cliff edge, but I start my 60th year in January and I absolutely can’t let this pass without reaching for my dreams.
I’ve tried so hard to build those dreams outside of work but in a regular day, my only free time is one singular hour (and I don’t watch TV) and when that hour starts (8pm), I’m so, so sleepy and inevitably falling asleep by 9pm. I’ve even tried waking up at 4:30 am to move my book forward, but after a few days I’m done. It isn’t sustainable.
It’s been a really tough, emotional and tiring few weeks. First of all working for the past 5.5 years with such an amazing team at work and a promotion to “Marketing Manager” and participating in the “Rising Stars” program, for once in my life gave me some self-worth (I have huge imposter syndrome) and has been amazing. Having to give that all up as well as the first time in my life receiving a salary I was truly happy with, has been incredibly hard.
Am I going through a late mid-life crisis? I did ask myself that over and over but NO. Every cell in my body is screaming at me to be brave, to give my dreams a chance, to work hard for what I truly want.
So, January 1st I start the new year with 3 months safety net in the bank and a dream. A BIG dream. But NOT an impossible dream. I just have to give it my all to make it happen.
Thank you for being part of it.
C xxxx
PS: Video this weekend!
I have every faith in you Carolyn. Can’t wait for the book. 🙂
Oh gosh, thanks so much, this means the world to me!! C xxxx
Very best of luck to you. Here’s to dreams. X
Thank you Nicola!! C xxxx
I can hardly wait to share in your dream!
Thank you Starr, am going to share everything, whether I succeed or fail or manage somewhere in between! C xxx
It’s a huge decision, but one that I think you will live to realise was the right one, done at the right time and for the right reasons. I did the same years ago and I never looked back.
If you need any help in any way, get in touch. 🙂
I am so scared but so happy at the same time. The scariest thing is there is no back up and steep rent to pay (it wouldn’t be so bad if I owned a home and had no mortgage). Now it’s down to me, to work hard on my dreams and be resilient and try and make it happen before my savings run out. Thanks Sue, really appreciate your offer of help. C xxx
Caroline, I’m so pleased for you that you have made this decision. I don’t know all your circumstances obviously, but fullfilling your dream is a wonderful thing to do. I am on the pre order list and can assure you I will buy any book you publish as I think you are a wonderful person and truly wish you all the luck in the world. YOU GO GIRL! xx
Awwww thank you so much Gwen! Your support and encouragement means so much, thank you!!! C xxxx
Wishing you the very best for the future. So glad you’re taking this step and believing in yourself. I’ve followed you for years, and I’ve already put my preorder in for your book. Much love 😊
Thank you so much Helen, I won’t let you down. I want this book to be beautiful and a treasured keepsake (and any that follow it) so can’t wait until January 1st when I can spend every day making this happen! C xxxx
Well done x
Thank you Emma! C xxx
So glad you are doing this. Believing in yourself is the hardest part but once you take the plunge you will fly. Go for it and live the dream.
Well done.
Deanna, thank you! I did have a major blip last night as I finally told my parents and of course they are parents and love me and worried like crazy and said “you won’t get another job at your age” – Oh goodness! Haha! I love them so much but that was a little hard to navigate knowing I am making them worry! C xxxx
I wish you all the luck in the world Carolyn.
Thank you so much Debbie!!!! C xxx
Yes!!!! This is fantastic news, I’m in no doubt that you absolute can do this!
I’ve signed up, and I look forward to following this wonderful journey.
Much love C xx
Awww brilliant, thank you!!! This means a lot especially as I have been so absent this past year. Thank you, thank you, thank you xxxx C
Wishing you the best of luck! Hope everything goes as wonderfully as possible x
Thank you!!! Will need lots of luck xxx C
What exciting times ahead for you, you will be just fine. So happy for you I made the decision to leave my job quite a few years ago now and honestly it’s the best decision I made. I haven’t got your talents either and we do just fine. How do I go on your book waiting list please Carolyn I’m really interested in buying them. X
Thank you so much for offering your support!!! I so hope this will work out! It feels liberating…. Yes you can join the waitlist here https://the1940sexperiment.com/ration-book-recipes-new-book/ – I will start emailing people with updates on the books progression over the next few months and everyone on the waitlist who eventually pre-orders, gets several extra freebies too. Thanks again xxxxx C
Carolyn, I am so pleased for you. I have been following you since you started out, I think you were living in Canada at that time. You work so hard and have come so far I absolutely believe this will be a success. I wish you every success and I will be a definite for buying a book.
Gawd you have made me tear up, thank you for all those years, gosh! xxxxx C
Well done, you! It is never to late to follow your dreams! I started study at 35, and I thought I was horribly old. Now at 52 and 5 degrees later, it is all paying off. I can guarantee that in 20 or 30 years time, you will look back and appluud yourself for this, as well as laugh at the idea that you are old!
Count me in for a copy, I would love a signed one and am happy to pay more for that.
OMG 5 degrees!!!! That is amazing! You must be so proud of your commitment to knowledge and understanding! Thank you so much Vera! C xxx
Such exciting news, Carolyn! I’ve been an avid follower for so many years now, since your days in Canada, it is so exciting to see you taking steps to make your dreams come true ❤️. I’m here, cheering you on and waiting for spring to come so I can hold your book in my hands!
Marina, it amazes me you guys have stuck around for so long!!! It makes me feel quite teary but I really appreciate it so much. Thank you, C xx
I’m so excited for you! I was curious what the change would be, but never actually imagined it would be qutting your job.
It makes sense now why the blog has been empty for a while. I was hoping it wasn’t due to severe health or family matters!
It must have been hard leaving your job, but I applaud you for fighting for your dream. It seems like (since you started the blog at least) all of your dreams have been put on the backburner, in order to survive and give your children a good life. I suppose it is the time to live out a dream of your own. Very excited to see where this book goes, and when (not if!) it gets published!
Thank you Lizzie, you are right, life has been a struggle and a challenge but we got through those times eventually and am so grateful for that and really want to achieve those dreams before it’s too late. I’ve never gotten over throwing away the opportunity in Canada to get a book published by a New York literary agent (they had even set up a food stylist to work with me too) but everything devastating happened that could and that dream went out of the window but here we are again and in many ways, doing this all myself this time is more exciting! Thank you so much, C xxxxx
Good luck! I hope you are able to realise your dreams and I think it is awesome that you are doing this. I am really looking forward to your cooking book(s).
Thank you so much, my dream is to make them as beautiful as I can so they will be treasured. Thank you xxxx C
Soooo exciting for you, willing it to all work for you. Can’t wait for the cook books. Take care xxx
Thank you Sandy, C xxxx
Yes! Yes! Yes! I am so happy to hear that you are returning to your first love. If everything inside you is telling you to do this, then you must listen!
I will definitely buy your book. Good luck, my friend……but you don’t really need it…..you have yourself, and that will be enough to get this accomplished! I believe in you.
Cynthia
Thank you Cynthia, I have fought against this for a while as it is scary giving up a regular job that you rely on for somewhere to live and bills at 60!!! But I couldn’t ignore it any longer…. so here we are 🙂 Thank you XXX C
This is so exciting. I’ve pre ordered your book and am definitely buying! It’s my belief we only regret the things we didn’t do. Take care and lots of luck xx
Thank you for putting your name on the wait list! Am aiming to complete and print the book end of March so will keep you updates! C xxxx
Hi, go for it , life is too short to ignore your dreams, and then spend years thinking what if.
I for one can hardly wait.
The very best of luck.
Tish bhai
It is too short… it really is. I was turning 40 not so long ago and in January that number will be 60 – what is going on 😀 C xxxx
I cant wait for you’re book ! By the way you’re looking lovely x
Thank you, you are so kind! I’ve gotten a bit fluffy over the past year but we will work on that again in January. Thank you C xxxx
Good for you, Carolyn! How exciting. I will certainly buy your book.
That would be marvelous, thank you!!!!!! C xxxx
What wonderful news and your face in the photo shows it,you are glowing. You seem to thrive on challenges and this is a huge one and I feel that what is going to help you is that you are in control and that you will be doing what you want to do ,if it means a few periods of really frugal meals and mending holes in cardies and new elastic in knickers that’s right up your street,here’s to happy times ahead,Chrissie x
You are right Chrissie, I weirdly do, not sure why! Definitely will be back on rationing very soon, my rainy day fund will disappear fast with no income coming in but that will focus my mind to get the book done I’m sure C xxxxx
You got this, make your dream come true!
Thank you Colleen….I can do this if I work hard enough!!! C xxx
Carolyn..you will do this! How excited and scared you must be though..well I for one would like to take some of the scare away … so will you PLEASE add a Donation button so we can show our support to you right now and take the pressure off that 3 month budget!
You go girl!!!!
Am so scared and so excited simultaneously! People buying my book will be a huge support when it comes out end of March because that would be like a dream come true. I am not sure how to add a donate button but I will try at the weekend 🙂 Thanks so much Catherine!
Go Carolyn! You can do it! Don’t forget to enjoy the process. Best of British luck from a fan in Australia. Xx
Thanks so very much Gail xxx C
I believe in you Carolyn, I have for years and I am so glad that you are now able to pursue this dream. Now, get back to work!!
I love you and I’m very happy for you.
Love you too xxx Come January 1st I will be able to devote all my time every day to make the book happen! It involves cooking and photographing at least 5 recipes a week for 3 months plus writing the rest of the book and laying it out…..it’s a dream come true working on that for 3 months! C xxxx
Good luck on this fabulous leap of faith!
Thanks so much, still can’t believe I did it 😀 haha!
This is amazing news! I know you can do it! I’m all in!
you’re picture is lovely, and am sure you’re future books will be amazing. Am looking forward to them. The website and articles you post are so interesting. As a matter of fact I just purchased the book Wartime Farm which I saw in a recent post of yours. Great book! Am praying for your success and happiness. All the best to you and yours.
I’ve just found you, and I’m so excited for your book! I’m obsessed with WWII cooking (as well as other historical periods). I can’t wait to catch up on all your blogs and YouTube videos, as well.
Wow Carolyn, you brave girl! Wishing you every success and looking forward to buying your book when it’s published. Babs
Reach for the stars Carolyn, you can do it ! Mel x
Wow! You can do this, Carolyn. Funny enough, I just posted a similar blog post. It’s time to focus on the things that matter in our lives. There’s no room for mediocrity.
I agree xxx C