Alive!

This blog is called, "Adventurous Roads." On February 8, 2013, I posted my first-ever post. I wrote so our family, especially aged parents, could follow our travel adventures. On that day, I shared one of my favourite quotes:

Don’t ask what the world needs.

Ask what makes you come alive,

and go do it.

Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

 Howard Thurman

That blog was on the Wordpress platform and by June of 2o22, I had used up all of my free space there and moved over to the WIX platform. It is interesting to go back and read how our definition of adventure has changed over the years.

For the past two years, my big adventure has taken place on Wednesdays from 11 to 1. A somewhat predictable adventure, timewise. At Green Wood Coalition's "Art Hive" in Cobourg, I have had the privilege of getting to know and sketching portraits of somewhere around 75 local folks. I feel like I have come alive.

I have met sweet souls like Jim.....

..... and Glenn.

D.C. came into the hive on an extremely frigid morning in early December, having spent the night trying to sleep in the entryway of the Bank of Nova Scotia. I was struck by his beautiful eyes.

And, Justin (a walking work of art) was one of my most recent portrait subjects. While everyone in the room made art together, led by Port Hope artist Lee Higginson and were hugged, welcomed and fed by Green Wood's Aimée Johnston and supported by the folks from Canadian Mental Health Association, Justin and I chatted as I sketched him. A long sentence to give you a sense of the hustle and bustle and chaos that is the hive. It is beautiful.

Two interesting events will be happing in the next couple of months.

First, folks from our little towns will be walking on the Coldest Night of the Year, in support of all that happens both art hives; addiction recovery programming, warm meals, and other helps for and with our unhoused community. If you wish to help our neighbours who are living on the streets, click this link and either find a group to support, or start a group yourself and get a bunch of friends to walk with you! Last year, I walked for the first time. It was beautiful.

And, second, I will be entering digital copies of the above 4 portraits to Jackson's Art Prize, a worldwide competition from a London, England art supply store. Last year, there were 12,964 submissions from 129 countries. I entered two portraits of neighbours I'd met. One of those portraits got into the "extended long list", meaning it was in the top 25% of the submissions. I will post progress in the coming months for these 4 portraits. The extended long list will be announced on February 25. There will be an opportunity for you to vote for the People's Choice Award later on.

Well, what do you think? Which one is your favourite?

To end, let's take a moment with that quote again.

Don’t ask what the world needs.

Ask what makes you come alive,

and go do it.

Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. 

 Howard Thurman