Sunday, June 9, 2013

Goal Number 3 Completed and New and old Friends Met

Okay, so for those of you who have been reading my blog as of late, I am focusing on facing my fears and meeting new goals.  As I have said, my life has changed greatly in the last year.  I could have crumbled and let it ruin me, or I could have learned and grown from it and make life amazing!  I am working on the latter.  I must say, God works in mysterious ways and can bring beauty out of tough times.

So back to the goal.  Goal number 3 was camping completely on my own!  I decided not to let the fact that I am single with few friends in my area rule my world and keep me from doing the things that I love.  Instead, I got up off of my butt and proved to myself that it's okay to go camping alone.  In fact, it's pretty darn fun!  Not only that, but sometimes you get a few surprises - like a restoration in your faith that there are still really good and really friendly people out there.  That's what happened to me.

On Friday I drove down to Turkey Run Campground, Inc. in Parke County.  Turkey Run is my favorite place to go hiking and camping.  I just wish it weren't so far away!  Anyway, the manager of the campground came and talked to me as I was setting up my camp.  Jill was a fabulous hostess!  She was friendly and personable, and made sure that I was doing well all weekend.  It's awesome how she is working on restoring the campground!  She has done a beautiful job so far!  I enjoyed Jill's personality as well as her attention to her guests.  She is a great lady!

My campsite - isn't it cute?!
 
 
The next people I met - two guys and a girl - I met when I was having trouble making my campfire.  Now, I have never made a campfire on my own before.  Next time I will take lighter fluid along with my newspaper.  Anyway, Michael, Jay, and Kelsey were kind enough to help me build a fire.  Little did I know how much they would help to restore my faith in the kindness of others.  Later they invited me to come and hang out with them.  I accepted and we talked for quite some time.  The rest of the group came late, and I retired shortly after they got there.  In the morning I met the rest of the crew - Lacey, Tank, Anna, Whitney, and Shelby.  Saturday afternoon and evening they were wonderful enough to ask me to join them for volleyball, dinner, and all around fun!  The thing about this group though...not only did they help and invite me, but they helped and invited anyone who needed it.  All of them were so friendly and amazing.  I believe that God put them in my life to help remind me that even though I have not encountered the nicest people in the last year, good friendly people are still out there.  They still exist.  They are still amazing.  They helped make this weekend serendipitous!
 
The Bloomington Illinois Crew

 
Finally, not only did I make new friends (who I hope to see again), but I reconnected with one from college.  Kim lives near  Turkey Run.  We don't get to see one another often, but she is one of my most favorite people.  Kimmie and I share a lot of the same positive attributes.  I love her so much.  She and her daughter Addie met me for a hike.  She helped remind me that even though my family and close friends are wonderful and here for me, that positivity is the way to go!  When life gets us down, we always try to steer towards the positive sides of life.  Kim has been there for some of the toughest times in my life, and I am so grateful to have her.  The best thing is that whenever Kimmie and I do get together - no matter whether we haven't seen each other in months or years - it seems like no time has passed between us.  We are kindred spirits, and I love her!
 
Kim and I
 
Addie and I

 
The point of this post is not just to celebrate meeting my third goal - camping by myself - but to celebrate the serendipitous moments in life that truly remind us what life is all about.  I am a truly blessed person, and this weekend has restored more of my positivity.  I am grateful for the friends - new and old - that I came into contact with this weekend.  It was just what I needed . . . funny how life does that!


Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Meeting Two Goals!!!!

 

Well, so far this summer I have already met two of my personal goals!  The first was a creative goal.  For decades (geez I sound old!) I had been able to draw people fairly well.  Shading was one of my favorite things to do when it came to drawing.  The same still exists in both drawing and now painting.  For the past couple of years I had wanted to challenge myself by painting a portrait.  Fear had always gotten in the way of me actually putting this into practice.  Finally I mustered up the courage.  I posted the painting in my last blog if you would like to see it.  I am pleasantly surprised by the outcome of my efforts.  Of course I have room to grow when it comes to painting people, but I do love my first attempt!

Goal #2
Riding a bicycle has been a huge deal for me as of the last year (thanks to a friend who is a bicycle riding enthusiast and a great inspiration when it comes to riding).  Before today, 14 miles was the farthest ride I have ever completed.  I had decided a while ago that I wanted to be able to ride to the Starbucks in Dunlap, enjoy a beverage, and ride home.  Today I accomplished that goal!!!!  Ava was spending the day with her grandmother, and the weather was beautiful.  There was a bit too much wind for my taste, and I was very slow on the way there.  I did, however, shave ten minutes off of my time on the way back.  Could have been the caffeine though.  :)  My legs were also not used to some of the hills, and I did have to walk my bike part way up a couple of them.  But I was not worried about the speed, or making it completely up all of the hills.  I just wanted to get to starbucks and back.  My goal was completed today!  I was so excited!  Although I have been rather whooped the rest of the day, and my legs and butt are aching like crazy, just reaching that goal made me so happy.  One more step in proving to myself that I can do anything that I set my mind to.

Goal #3

I plan on reaching goal number three this weekend.  You will have to stay tuned to see if I complete it.  My next post will be posted on Monday evening.  Hope to see you all there!  Until then, have a fabulous time!

Sunday, June 2, 2013

It's been quite a while since I have posted a blog.  There has been a lot going on in my life, and I have had to completely start over in some ways.  In fact, I am still in the process.  So I would like to take this time to completely revamp my whole purpose for this blog.  Yes, it will still follow my creative journey as that is still ongoing (thank goodness!).  Actually, I have been doing a great amount of creating.  But I would like to create my life in a new way.  My life has taken a strange turn in the past year, and I have had to make many changes.  I am still adjusting to this new way of life.  It has been difficult in many ways, but I am getting there.  Overall, I think it will be a blessing.  Life is supposed to bring surprises and changes, and we can either go with them or fight them.  I choose to go with them and blaze my own new trail.  :)

So, I will be sharing my art - as always.  I will share my processes and my ideas.  Sometimes I will post videos as to how I do things. 

I will also be following my travels.  This is what I am calling my "Summer of Solitude."  I have never traveled alone, but it has been something that I have always wanted to try.  Granted, I do not have a lot of money, and I will not be travelling very far.  But I bought a tent, and I plan on exploring new places to inspire me.

I will also be including stream of consciousness writing on life in general - observations, thoughts, questions, experiences...

I hope you will all join me and share in my journey.  I plan on posting at least once weekly, and perhaps more than that.  Feel free to share your experiences, thoughts, ideas, etc.  All are welcome. 

To kick off my new start, here is my most recent painting.  I was afraid to paint a picture of anyone, but I knew I had to face my fears.  So here's to facing my fears!