It's crazy to think that 6 years have already flown by since I first moved onto the Xcel gymnastics team, let alone the fact that I've spent 15 years of my life as a gymnast. Tomorrow, August 6th, 2021, marks my last day as a gymnast on the team since I'm officially a college student. I've genuinely been dreading this day, but it's not the ending I expected...in an oddly good way. I know no one expected to spend the past year in a pandemic, and I definitely didn't think gym would shift so much in the following months, but here we are. Gymnastics has taught me more than I ever imagined it could, and my coaches (especially one of them) have become two of the people I'm closest with, words can't describe how grateful I am for everything. This 'ending' doesn't feel like an end, more so a closing to this chapter. Honestly, my love for the sport has only grown, and it feels like I'm finally figuring it all out. So, although my final practice as a team member is tomorrow, my journey is not over yet. "Goodbyes are the hardest part, and this ending has been something I’ve been dreading, although I know it’s time to let go. I’d like to say this isn’t a permanent goodbye to you or the sport, it’s more of a natural conclusion. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you’ve done for me and managed to teach me in this short amount of time, I couldn’t have asked for anyone, or anything, better. Thank you most of all for helping me achieve my dreams and for helping me get to a point in which I can say I’m proud of my journey.
All that’s left to say is I care about you, I love you, and take care."
Many beginnings.
Beginning 2.
Felix always ate bananas with a spoon.
* Starting is easy, it's the middle that is often a muddle. And I won't even mention the endings. Here are some beginnings for children stories that flitter through my head.
https://www.instagram.com/p/COiHs1EBoqf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
This started as a pen line drawing (with Skura Pigma micron pen) which I then painted with Dr PH Martin's Hydrus watercolors. They are fun and very bright. This is on Strathmore 300 11x17 Bristol paper.
According to our fun daily calendar, April 8th is "Draw a bird day". So I drew my favourite bird (the pelican), perched on a streetlight as we often see them on the bridge over a local lake. Pen and watercolour.
"My life vest is in the boat, and I'm in the water." ~ A blackout poem from a recycled page of Riding with the Hides of Hell, a young adult love story now titled Burnout.
Many beginnings.
Beginning 8.
Lola stared in astonishment as the water spout grew and grew and grew.
* Starting is easy, it's the middle that is often a muddle. And I won't even mention the endings. Here are some beginnings for children stories that flitter through my head.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CO2nszuBn2Z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Beginning.
The teapot was a great trickster.
"CHOO CHOO" - he sang. "All on board!"
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQtdb-UB9Zv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Beginning.
The bird had a pair of sunglasses she used exclusively to daydream. Today she dreamed about blueberries. It seemed strange - maybe - to daydream about them while sitting under a blueberry bush, but the bird thought it made them sweeter. Besides, they were better conversationalists in her imagination.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CP_rDGEh_80/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
