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On today’s episode, I reconnect with Angie Clayton, a woman in her 60s who continues to pour purpose and wisdom into the lives of others.
Previously interviewed for her “ministry of presence,” in which she offered companionship to people navigating grief, Angie now embraces a broader mission centered on the power of storytelling.
We’ll talk about her personal challenges, including how choosing the word “Unstoppable” for 2025 led to unexpected obstacles.
We will also explore how her newest endeavor, “The Chosen Series,” is inspiring others to recognize the value of their life experiences and pass along hard-earned wisdom to the next generation.
The series is at the heart of Angie’s current calling. It is a beautiful storytelling initiative that invites people to reflect on what they’ve been “chosen” for in life.
Whether it’s nurturing others, walking with someone through grief, sharing wisdom from adversity, or even something as simple as baking bread for local first responders, Angie believes everyone has a story worth telling.
Through gentle interviews and conversations, she coaxes out deeply personal narratives that might otherwise go untold.
At first, many people respond with uncertainty. “What do you mean? I don’t think I’ve been chosen for anything,” they tell her. But with just a few prompts, Angie uncovers stories that are full of meaning, compassion, resilience and faith.
Each story is unique, and every story resonates with other people in some way. It is proof that people are not alone or insignificant, as they might believe.
Angie is compiling these stories into an anthology that will highlight how God chooses us not just for the joyful moments, but also for the hard ones.
One story Angie shared was about a woman who began baking bread twice a week for the firemen who responded to a life-threatening call involving her children. The woman didn’t think her bread-baking was ministry, but Angie saw it for what it truly was: a powerful act of gratitude and ongoing service.
“It doesn’t have to be a dramatic story,” Angie explained. “Sometimes the smallest actions have the deepest impact. Our stories teach, connect and heal.”
Angie also emphasized that storytelling is biblical. She pointed to the Samaritan woman who, after encountering Jesus, ran to tell her village about him. Her willingness to share her story led many others to meet the Messiah.
For Angie, storytelling is not about self-promotion; it’s about honoring what God has done in and through us. If we’ve been through something that helps us to comfort someone else, that’s a gift and a ministry.
If you’d like to share your story or learn more about “The Chosen Series,” you can visit Angie’s website at www.angieclayton.net or reach out directly via email at angie@angieclayton.net. She’s also active on Facebook at Angie Clayton Writes, where she regularly posts reflections and invites others to do the same.
In a time when so many people feel disconnected or uncertain about their purpose, Angie reminds us that we each have something of value to give – our stories. And those stories, when shared with love and humility, can be exactly what someone else needs to hear in their darkest hour.
That’s all for this week’s show. If you’d like to start living a more meaningful life, I encourage you to download our free guide to finding purpose, which is available at 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.
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.