Category: Challenges

• Sunday Art is My Fuel

  Continuing to do Sunday Art feels like a luxury that is a staple.  

  A frivolous routine that I use to refuel myself, and escape the reality of Covid 19.

   

  The heaviness of doing something practical overwhelmed me immediately.

   

  Lightness and joy filled me as I decided, Sundays were still for being an artist!  Engaging with this part of me offsets the rest of the week.  My week would be way too heavy without it.  And, if that bright spot is always open for me to enter, I feel normal, safe and that life is okay.

   

  That being said, I went down to make large flowers, since all my panels which were few are gone.  

  I stumbled upon a fabric with delightful flowers.  I was so happy to quilt them!

  
  

  I never know where my art will take me, what will appear and how.

  I then, looked at this as an Art mural and sidewalk.

  
  

  Once the drawing is down, I then will select fabric that seems to want to be part of this landscape.

  It is fun to see what will appear, work and grow together.  

   

  

  And, then how what makes it come alive.

  The words and bird and hearts help!

  

  What I thought of as I sewed, was how we are all being asked to make the best out of difficult situation.  

  We are having to keep a tight small circle; and some are down to a circle of one.  

  Alone; but surrounded by nature, words, art and those who are our rocks of support.

   

  I know when my life was at its darkest, the two huge therapies for me was outdoors and art.  Often the people of my life seemed to complicate an already dark place.  Yet, they were crucial to my wellness. 

  Perhaps maybe nature and art – was the fuel I needed to survive what I thought then was the unsurvivable.  And, there were many who cheered me on; but couldn't truly understand where I was.  

  In this, many are experiencing our path.  We are not alone; even when we are alone.

  We have many who are in the same boats. 

   

  Maybe we can share with each other the things that help us through difficult times. The tools that we seem to be drawn to.  

  Even when life was 'normal' for me, Sunday Art was critical to my overall wellness. I need a place that is my own, where I can slip into a space where time and reality disappears.

  Sunday art is my fuel.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  March 29, 2020

  ---

• Breakers to Bridge

  
  

  It was a gorgeous sight that greeted us at the Houghton Breakwaters – the starting point of my latest challenge.

  The Breakers to the Bridge – Paddle Festival 2018.

  
  

  Julia's photo

  Here are the three of us at the starting line!

  We all travel over the same water and faced the same wind, but we were all in different boats or canoes, and we came with different body size, age and strength.

  The sleekest boats being paddled by hardcore paddlers, disappeared around the bend and that was the last we saw of them until the finish line.

  The sweep time to be at Hancock Beach was 3pm. That was our goal.

  
  

  Judy's photo

  And, we arrived just minutes before 1pm.  As the young guy who was helping out at this rest spot said, "You crushed it".  We did crush it.  We had paddled 7 miles into the headwinds and over rolling waters in just under 3 hours! 

  I had said, "If I can make the beach, I am going for the bridge!" 

  And, so we set out to complete our challenge.

  The winds and waves became comical. I just couldn't believe we were going into such a force, a relentless never-ending blow!

  
  

  I failed to capture the rolling lake.  It appears to be gentle waves and no wind.

  
  

  We had to struggle to keep moving forward, hard strong strokes into the waves.

  The bridge did come into view and it seemed to take a long time to actually reach the counting down clock.

  My time was 3 hours, 57 minutes and 37 seconds…I may have the seconds off.  But, I arrived under 4 hours!  

  
  

  I was near the bridge, I had made it. I was a finisher of the Breakers to Bridge!

  
  

  We then still had to paddle down the canal to the finish line where we left our vehicles.

  By then, I was done and done.  

  
  

  But the wind wasn't done and the waters continued to churn, tossing us about as we paddled on.

   

  
  

  What a welcome sight to see "Finish"! I was ready to be done.  

  When you are paddling into strong winds, you can't just stop and rest. For over four hours we had paddled strong!

  I felt the accomplishment. The goal was reached. I had done it!

  
  

  There is no feeling like completing a challenge you set for yourself!

  
  

  We made it!  It was a gorgeous day to put your muscles to the test and we did it.

  I believe we rocked our age group!

  This is a challenge I would do again.  In hopefully better winds.  It would be a gorgeous paddle, with the prevailing winds. 

  My kayak did an awesome job in the wind and waves.

  I am proud of all of us who paddled the 10 plus miles!

   

  When you set yourself up for a challenge, it creates a growing point. A place where you are going to see just what you can do. What you can endure or how hard you can push.

  In doing a challenge, you add to who you are.

  You feel stronger and more confident to have "Finisher" added to your accomplishments.

  It is also fun to do this as an 'older' lady. To be set with the younger ones and find out we can keep up.

  In fact, we were not the last ones to finish. There were others behind us! And, a few who opted out at Hancock Beach.

  It just feels good to know there are untapped limits to reach towards.

  Life becomes interesting, the more challenges you give yourself!

  Feeling like a badass finisher!

   

  September 9, 2018

  ---