Starting Over at 56: Why I Created PrimeTime Eric

When I relocated to Halifax in 2022 after spending three decades in Montreal, I assumed I would continue working as a personal trainer and fitness instructor.

Instead, I decided to take a year off.

I called it a sabbatical, and my husband was completely supportive of my decision.

Then one year quietly became three.

At first, I told myself that starting over in a new city felt intimidating.

Then I realized something else was happening.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to work. I had become increasingly indecisive because I was searching for something with greater purpose.

Was it a midlife crisis?

No.

It was a desire to create something meaningful.

I knew I wanted to remain in the fitness industry, but I also wanted something more.

I wanted to be of service.

I wanted to create a sense of community.

I wanted to enjoy my work the way I always had, while putting myself out there authentically and fearlessly.

Most importantly, I wanted to create a platform for gay men of a certain age, my age and my generation, because I believe we still have a lot of living to do.

That platform became PrimeTime Eric: a place for Gen X Gay Men who want to live the prime of their lives in the healthiest way possible.

The Doubts

I’m going to be completely transparent.

There were plenty of fears.

The shadows of doubt hovered constantly, trying to crush my aspirations and the negative talk would start:

I’m not a tech person.

Who am I to build a website?

I’m competing against influencers half my age.

Will anyone even read what I write?

I’m about to enter an entirely new world.

Fear was doing what fear always does.

The difference this time was that I was tired of giving it free accommodation in my head.

After a lifetime of letting fear have too much influence, I decided it was time to evict it.

Sometimes you simply have to drop-kick fear into the next dimension (à la Buffy) and remind yourself who’s actually in charge.

Then take the risk anyway.

Becoming a Beginner Again

It turns out there’s an incredible amount involved in building a modern platform.

Writing articles.

Building a website.

Learning newsletters.

Understanding social media.

Photography.

Video.

Branding.

Search engine optimization.

The list seems endless.

At the moment, PrimeTime Eric is largely a one-man operation, but I’ve also learned something equally important:

asking for help isn't a weakness.

Friends with talents I don’t possess, many of them fellow Gen X Gay Men, have generously shared their knowledge, and this project wouldn’t be where it is today without them.

Yes, this endeavour is daunting.

Yes, I often feel like I’m building an airplane while it’s already in the air.

And yes, I haven’t been this excited about a personal project in years.

Have I been frustrated?

Absolutely, usually every day and fortunately for only a brief moment or two.

Have I wanted to quit?

Of course.

But the desire to bring this passion project to life has always been stronger than the challenges standing in my way.

Learning technology that often feels designed for people 30 years younger has become part of my daily routine.

There are still moments when I wonder whether all this effort will pay off.

Then I remind myself of something I’ve learned since turning 50.

The regret of never trying lasts far longer than the discomfort of trying and failing.

Why It Matters

For me, PrimeTime Eric isn’t really about building a platform.

It’s about creating a place where Gen X Gay Men finally feel represented in fitness and wellness.

If one man starts strength training because he feels understood...

If one man feels less intimidated walking into a gym...

If one man realizes his best years aren’t behind him...

Then this project is already succeeding.

What Turning 56 Has Taught Me

At 26, I thought life was about finding certainty.

At 36, I thought it was about building a new career.

At 46, I thought it was about maintaining the career I’d built.

At 56, I’ve discovered that my career is asking something entirely different of me.

It’s asking me to have the courage to become a beginner again.

And I’m perfectly okay with that.

Final Thoughts

I’ve entered the arena.

I’m far from having “made it.”

I’m still building.

My subscriber list isn’t huge.

My platform is still in its infancy.

There are days when I wonder whether anyone is listening.

But here’s what I do have.

Purpose.

Persistence.

Curiosity.

And the willingness to keep showing up.

I’m still willing to learn.

Still willing to create.

Still willing to evolve.

Because it’s never too late to build something that matters.