Friday Quote

Friday Quote: the beauty and joy of nature

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Indian Proverb (click to enlarge)

Nature is so handy, isn’t it.  A walk in beautiful countryside or along a coastal path can soothe and calm many troubles.  Spending time in urban leafy areas can have a similarly restorative effect.

And what’s more, I find that even just thinking about, reading about or even looking at pictures of nature inspires peace and reduces stress.

I had such fun producing the artwork for today’s quote.  It took me a little while to produce the border, but in doing so I had the opportunity completely to switch off and immerse myself in the process of drawing and painting the flora and fauna.  A total antidote to any worries or fears.

And, in an echo of the quote itself, I enjoyed the element of randomness in my selection of each little drawing as I progressed around the circle.

Wherever you are, and whatever you do this weekend, may you find joyful and beautiful times. 🙂

PS – mega thanks to my gorgeous, clever Hub for his help and expertise with photographing my artwork for publication.

Friday Quote(s) – Five Reasons to Love the Olympics

Image from Google Images

Image from Google Images

There is no escaping the 2016 Olympics and Para-Olympics at the moment.  It has been thrust into our lives whether we like it or not.

So how can those of us who are not sporting superstars make the best of the Games?  What have the Olympics ever really done for us? With a nod to Monty Python’s ‘Romans’ sketch, from the film Life of Brian, here are five reasons why the Olympics and Para-Olympics are so brilliant for those of us who are not elite athletes.

 

1.   A sense of belonging

You belong to the world.  Don’t be afraid to be part of it.

~ Thomm Quakenbush, Flies to Wanton Boys

Many of us regularly follow particular sports.  For me and Hub, it is mainly cricket, rugby and tennis, with a spot of golf and snooker thrown in from time to time.

Both the summer and winter Olympic and Para-Olympic games provide the opportunity for total sport immersion, often in disciplines about which we know very little.  How easy it is to become instant experts in the differences between fencing with a foil or épée; the importance of a good pike in diving; and the advantage of an ankle pick in a wrestling bout.  Yes, we suddenly find we can speak with confidence over dinner about the finer points of the modern triathlon.  So what?  Without noticing, we have expanded our minds; learned new things; seen a broader vision of the world.  We might even be spurred on to take up a new sport, having been shown what is possible.  But most of all, we get to feel like we belong, as part of an incredible global community.

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