I love your owl, so cute! I've always wanted to learn how to draw too, and having artists in the family has always made me feel less than. There are so many things I want to learn, but at this time I'm focusing on learning to love myself, be myself, let go of things that don't serve me and forgiveness.
Thank you Felicia! It was fun and I notice I do better when I have someone instructing me rather then just looking at something and trying to draw it. Thank you for sharing what you are learning...I would say the most important work. Bravo Felicia!! And know you aren't alone in the learning...I'm still working on the "love myself" idea. Thank you for being here.
Thank you Julie. Here is something else to make you smile. I had a bet with a doctor friend (vegan & ultramarathoner and brilliant) that at my age, 76, I would be unable to run a sub 9:30 mile. I took the bet given I had a 39 minute 10k way back in the day ( age 33) and I thought it would be a walk in the park. I have been walking an hour daily for the past few years but seldom running (trying to avoid hip and knee issues). So I hired a yogi /marathoner who specializes in body alignment of runners and all my hip and knee concern’s eventually resolved themselves. Bottom line: Sunday I ran a 9:18 mile. The bet: I am being treated to a Vegan 2 star Michelin restaurant in NYC. Smiling? I am....
My seeing barred owls is much less frequent than hearing. I do see a lot of hawks now that fall migration is well under way. Predator and prey. The balance of Nature.
Northern Squish Mellow Owls are uncommon here in the woods of north Florida. Barred Owls, on the other hand, are quite common. Their outbursts of hooting and hollering have added a bit to my vertical jump height.
Perhaps in your next audio post you could add the call of your Squish Mellow buddy?
I liked your observations on your efforts around goal setting, striving, and growing. Unlike some tree species that develop exclusion zones to ward off roots from other tree species, your adventures in drawing seem more like a welcome mat for others. “Hey! Let’s draw some local animals.” Or, “how did your sleek Grey Jay turn out?”
I’m tickled you extended your interest in drawing to Gail and folks in her community that share their love of drawing, sketching, painting.
This made me laugh! I'm happy to hear you are improving your vertical jump height. :) Way to go. Do you see them as well? I heard an owl on my early morning run yesterday. I still haven't spotted him but it's always fun to hear him. I wonder what the call of a squish mellow would be. I will ponder this and consult with my children. LOL
Thank you so much Gary for being here and yes "let's draw some local animals!" That's a great idea. I wonder if I can find a video to teach/instruct me how to draw a cardinal or hawk. Birds are so cool.
I love your owl! I’m always willing to learn but I default to things I think I could do well right away rather than tackling a truly challenging learning curve. Hmmmm… What am I missing out on? 🧐
Thank you Linda! My daughter was especially impressed as she loves Squish mellows. :) Hmm, you have me thinking now...the learning curve can be a real challenge and I can already recall one thing I thought I was willing to learn that I actually have walked away from. (Maybe I will return to it) Thank you for sharing Linda and restacking! :)
Keep inspiring us with your beautiful words and compelling questions. Julia, you will never know who all you have touched and inspired to act by the loving, poetic ripples you generate. Please persist...thank you. You are a gift the world so needs to hear from...
What a beautiful thing to say. Thank you so much, Clark. I don't know what else to say. I do hope to inspire others to create, question, and stay curious. I'm so happy our paths have crossed.
Thank you, Mom! Yes it truly is. :) Now my goal is to draw a runner girl (not a stick figure runner girl that I do now) LOL Thank you for being here mom and supporting me.
Yes, we make plans and G-d laughs… an old cliche that seems true more often than not. Keeps me humble. Amby Burfoot’s book, “Run Forever” is quite well written if you have not read it….
Indeed! :) Oh Yes I have read Run Forever and First Ladies of Running by Amby. I was thrilled to finally see Amby in person at The Boston Marathon in 2021. Him and Bill Rodgers are awesome...so much wisdom.
Julie! How awesome that your conversation with Bobby sparked this awesome owl!
I was bit by the visual art creation bug when I visited The Well Within Workshop in Batavia Illinois. For weeks after the workshop I felt pulled to paint. I bought a tray of grade school
Paints an a pack of inexpensive brushes. I keep learning and growing!
I used to need more than a nudge... I needed a hearty push combined with benevolent provocation. 🤦🏻♀️
I feel like a major shift occurred when I participated in The Creative's Workshop from Akimbo. There I stretched, built resilience, and learned that the large majority of leaps only lead to... more leaps. 👏🏻 Sweet growth.
I met Mary Ellen Bratu in The Creative's Workshop. Her mark making studio (Well Within Workshop) is about 1 1/2 drive from my home. I was gifted the opportunity to sit in her magic space with a lamplit workspace and an array of art tools to play with. The experience changed me... created a hunger.
I resonate. When I joined WIC (writing in community) another Akimbo workshop I had no idea several books and poetry would be born. It was here a seed was planted, "being in a community is life changing." I was so grateful for this community when we were going through Jeff's health challenge.
Mary Ellen sounds fabulous and how amazing that she lives in driving distance to you. "Sweet growth" I love this.
Akimbo was unlike any community I had experienced before. The culture opened space for exploration without any “right/wrong” in regard to one’s craft. There was “just right for Gail” balance of respect, responsibility, and encouragement. Almost 4 years later, I continue to meet weekly with people I met in that space. 😁
I love your owl, so cute! I've always wanted to learn how to draw too, and having artists in the family has always made me feel less than. There are so many things I want to learn, but at this time I'm focusing on learning to love myself, be myself, let go of things that don't serve me and forgiveness.
Thank you Felicia! It was fun and I notice I do better when I have someone instructing me rather then just looking at something and trying to draw it. Thank you for sharing what you are learning...I would say the most important work. Bravo Felicia!! And know you aren't alone in the learning...I'm still working on the "love myself" idea. Thank you for being here.
Curiosity
Can provide infinite joy
Learn! Surprise yourself…
WOOHOO!! Yes, what a great haiku in response. Thank you Clark. :) I love reading your haikus each day. Your words make me smile.
Thank you Julie. Here is something else to make you smile. I had a bet with a doctor friend (vegan & ultramarathoner and brilliant) that at my age, 76, I would be unable to run a sub 9:30 mile. I took the bet given I had a 39 minute 10k way back in the day ( age 33) and I thought it would be a walk in the park. I have been walking an hour daily for the past few years but seldom running (trying to avoid hip and knee issues). So I hired a yogi /marathoner who specializes in body alignment of runners and all my hip and knee concern’s eventually resolved themselves. Bottom line: Sunday I ran a 9:18 mile. The bet: I am being treated to a Vegan 2 star Michelin restaurant in NYC. Smiling? I am....
Grinning wide! and YUM!
Congratulations!! 9:18 mile...amazing!! ...this is inspiration for us all.
And you must be thrilled you took the bet. :) Your doctor friend sounds like a great person to know. I'm so glad you shared this story Clark.
Thank you Julia. It took me about 90 days to get back into running shape. Now that I have once again achieved some degree of
Fitness I will continue improving. Curious how far I can go as the curtain on my 3rd act is quickly rising… 😱🙌👣🙌
I hear ya! I will keep running til my last breath (that's my plan anyways, I hope that's the plan upstairs as well. :)
Cheers to curiosity and growth.
Go!Go!Go!
My seeing barred owls is much less frequent than hearing. I do see a lot of hawks now that fall migration is well under way. Predator and prey. The balance of Nature.
We love hawks. We have seen several red-tailed hawks.
Northern Squish Mellow Owls are uncommon here in the woods of north Florida. Barred Owls, on the other hand, are quite common. Their outbursts of hooting and hollering have added a bit to my vertical jump height.
Perhaps in your next audio post you could add the call of your Squish Mellow buddy?
I liked your observations on your efforts around goal setting, striving, and growing. Unlike some tree species that develop exclusion zones to ward off roots from other tree species, your adventures in drawing seem more like a welcome mat for others. “Hey! Let’s draw some local animals.” Or, “how did your sleek Grey Jay turn out?”
I’m tickled you extended your interest in drawing to Gail and folks in her community that share their love of drawing, sketching, painting.
This made me laugh! I'm happy to hear you are improving your vertical jump height. :) Way to go. Do you see them as well? I heard an owl on my early morning run yesterday. I still haven't spotted him but it's always fun to hear him. I wonder what the call of a squish mellow would be. I will ponder this and consult with my children. LOL
Thank you so much Gary for being here and yes "let's draw some local animals!" That's a great idea. I wonder if I can find a video to teach/instruct me how to draw a cardinal or hawk. Birds are so cool.
I love your owl! I’m always willing to learn but I default to things I think I could do well right away rather than tackling a truly challenging learning curve. Hmmmm… What am I missing out on? 🧐
Thank you Linda! My daughter was especially impressed as she loves Squish mellows. :) Hmm, you have me thinking now...the learning curve can be a real challenge and I can already recall one thing I thought I was willing to learn that I actually have walked away from. (Maybe I will return to it) Thank you for sharing Linda and restacking! :)
Keep inspiring us with your beautiful words and compelling questions. Julia, you will never know who all you have touched and inspired to act by the loving, poetic ripples you generate. Please persist...thank you. You are a gift the world so needs to hear from...
What a beautiful thing to say. Thank you so much, Clark. I don't know what else to say. I do hope to inspire others to create, question, and stay curious. I'm so happy our paths have crossed.
I love owls! I even have t-shirts with owls on them and owl earrings too.
That is awesome Faith! I love this. Owl earrings are fun. Thank you for being here.
Oh, how lovely, Julie! 🦉
Thank you Rebecca. :)
No thanks necessary. Just keep being YOU.
Thank you for the encouragement to do just that!
I love this owl you drew!! Amazing what we can do by just trying!❤️
Thank you, Mom! Yes it truly is. :) Now my goal is to draw a runner girl (not a stick figure runner girl that I do now) LOL Thank you for being here mom and supporting me.
I will always support you. PT taught you how to draw cool stick figures.😆 Now on to trying a new way. 😘
ha! That is so true. Stick figures worked then but now....
Love this thinking mom. xoxo Love you
Yes, we make plans and G-d laughs… an old cliche that seems true more often than not. Keeps me humble. Amby Burfoot’s book, “Run Forever” is quite well written if you have not read it….
Indeed! :) Oh Yes I have read Run Forever and First Ladies of Running by Amby. I was thrilled to finally see Amby in person at The Boston Marathon in 2021. Him and Bill Rodgers are awesome...so much wisdom.
Julie! How awesome that your conversation with Bobby sparked this awesome owl!
I was bit by the visual art creation bug when I visited The Well Within Workshop in Batavia Illinois. For weeks after the workshop I felt pulled to paint. I bought a tray of grade school
Paints an a pack of inexpensive brushes. I keep learning and growing!
Gail, I'm thrilled Bobby chimed in when he did. :) I sometimes need a gentle nudge to give things a go. LOL
I've never heard of The Well Within Workshop. Did you take classes there? I'm so happy it bit you! :) Your creations are wonderful.
I used to need more than a nudge... I needed a hearty push combined with benevolent provocation. 🤦🏻♀️
I feel like a major shift occurred when I participated in The Creative's Workshop from Akimbo. There I stretched, built resilience, and learned that the large majority of leaps only lead to... more leaps. 👏🏻 Sweet growth.
I met Mary Ellen Bratu in The Creative's Workshop. Her mark making studio (Well Within Workshop) is about 1 1/2 drive from my home. I was gifted the opportunity to sit in her magic space with a lamplit workspace and an array of art tools to play with. The experience changed me... created a hunger.
I resonate. When I joined WIC (writing in community) another Akimbo workshop I had no idea several books and poetry would be born. It was here a seed was planted, "being in a community is life changing." I was so grateful for this community when we were going through Jeff's health challenge.
Mary Ellen sounds fabulous and how amazing that she lives in driving distance to you. "Sweet growth" I love this.
I can only speak for myself…
Akimbo was unlike any community I had experienced before. The culture opened space for exploration without any “right/wrong” in regard to one’s craft. There was “just right for Gail” balance of respect, responsibility, and encouragement. Almost 4 years later, I continue to meet weekly with people I met in that space. 😁