At the center of all Better Late workshops are the words and images of our participants. In response to thematic prompts, these brief photo essays powerfully describe aspects of their lives that matter -- yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Living in South America.
In 1975, when I was twenty-five I was able to take a year off and go to live in South America.
I lived in Ecuador and Colombia. I took a Spanish grammar book with me.
By having this opportunity I was able to become fluent in Spanish.
This has had a profound effect on my life.
I taught English to support myself. Lived with local families.
Being with my daughter Cherie is more than spending time with a family member; it’s also spending time with my best friend. While recent circumstances have limited family times, I’ll soon be her next-door neighbor.
Cherie and husband Ron are partners in a flooring business. The two of them also have experience in buying and renovating houses. With serious health issues, Ron will soon be forced into early retirement, and Cherie will be looking for a meaningful job. She and I have discussed the possibility of working together, and the role of creator fits both of us. Ideally, she and I could work together with home organization; she, staging houses for realtors, and I, helping people with downsizing in preparation for their move.
The lighthouse speaks to how I have found meaning and purpose in my life. The one in the painting is on Harding’s Beach in Chatham, Cape Cod, where I spent my summers with my grandmother and learned to sail, a true Blessing! It looks out over Nantucket Sound and Monomoy Island, an area that is always shifting from Mother Nature’s influences and which requires a change in focus when traversing its waters. The lighthouse is open to new information, learning and able to focus on changes but always cautiously. It watches while seeking and is curious, letting go of the old patterns while learning new ones. The lighthouse watches over all this and tries to send out information to travelers by shining its light as I have always loved to do as a teacher/mentor.
I would love to get some additional outside help from someone about my small business. I would like that person to look at what I have done and give me some possible suggestions that I could do next.
I feel that I have another 10 productive years ahead of me.
It is fun for me to give my sewing classes. This is what makes me happy.
I'd love to have a Surrey member mentor me. I'm not that good using Facebook for business.