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This week, I am interviewing a woman from Michigan who broached a very difficult topic in her first book that she released in 2021. It’s about a young girl who was sexually assaulted in the 1950s by a person she trusted.
Mary Jo Thayer wrote “Close to the Soul” in hopes of building awareness of a very difficult situation for many families. She hopes granddaughters will read it and discuss the book with their mothers, aunts and grandmothers.
Her book also touches on the role good men play in the lives of women they love and respect. Mary Jo has also had men open up to her about their own unwanted sexual encounters when they were underage.
The book is a fictional story about something that potentially happened to a friend of hers in high school. As a high school teacher herself, Mary Jo heard heart-breaking tales from other students and teachers.
As a result, she started serving as a mentor to help young women to recover from their experiences and get grounded in life in general.
She is certainly not shy about approaching a topic that has had devastating consequences for millions of children over the years.
Mary Jo grew up as the youngest of eight children. It was a challenging environment for her because when she was born the other siblings ranged in age from 7 to 23. Mary Jo said she grew up with way too many parents. As a result, she developed characteristics more closely resembling a first-born child.
In addition to becoming a writer after 50, Mary Jo also became a theology teacher even though she doesn’t have a degree in theology. She has found purpose teaching Bible studies as well.
When teaching theology classes, Mary Jo would set a timer and require students to engage in speed debates. To help ensure they were able to understand both sides of an issue, she would assign students to debate an issue from a perspective with which they may not agree.
For recreation, Mary Jo tried golf, but really fell in love with pickleball. In fact, she’s still water skiing even at 65. Mary Jo believes it is critical for seasoned citizens to stay healthy, and she tries to model that lifestyle for others.
Mentoring remains one of the big driving forces in Mary Jo’s life. She makes herself available to youngsters who want her advice on issues they can’t yet discuss with their parents. But, her passion for mentoring extends to women who are new mothers and those who have lost spouses as well.
Mary Jo is writing a sequel to “Close to the Soul,” which will explore that same situation from the perspective of the victim’s older brother. She hopes to have that released yet this year.
To connect with Mary Jo, visit her author website at www.maryjothayer.com or look for her on Instagram or Facebook.
That’s all I have for this week’s show. If you’d like help in identifying a purpose for your life or to get help planning your next steps, I’m offering a complimentary brainstorming session to members of the Forward From 50 Facebook community. For details, connect with me on Facebook or visit www.forwardfrom50.com.
I’ll have another inspirational interview on the next episode of the Forward From 50 podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
If you buy Mary Jo’s book from a link above, Forward From 50 may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
After closing his business and enduring several painful years of uncertainty regarding what to do with his life, Greg founded Forward From 50 to help men and women over 50 to live more purposeful lives by pursuing things they are passionate about. A Wisconsin native, Greg currently lives in Arizona.