Come on a Sketching Adventure! An illustrated reminder to keep doing life your way. You’ll also be the first to know when a new blog lands at veggiesandvodka.com.
Be here
The bear is modeling my weekend plan — straight up chillin’ lakeside, and happy to be there.
Ok, reality is I’ll be cruising the lake on my new toy…
I FINALLY bought a paddleboard.
It’s not a surfboard, but it’s close, which makes 20-year-old me SO happy.
Way, way, way back when Outkast’s “Hey Ya” ruled the charts, I discovered a passion for the ocean while studying abroad in Sydney, Australia.
With a glorious 20-something hangover in full effect, I just barely caught the double decker bus headed out for a surf and camp retreat led by local surfers.
I spent a week camping under shooting stars and learning to surf on the spectacular northern coastline of New South Wales.
You could not drag me out of the water. I was the last one out there every day – paddling with numb arms and more salty than a cracker.
At the end of the week, the organizers ran a beginner competition. My determination to catch every mini wave (the comp was based on the tiny “inside” waves) was relentless, but also natural.
I truly wanted to be there. Catching every. damn. wave.
I won the only trophy I think I’ve ever won in my life – it’s adorable handmade structure of shells and leaves has disintegrated into pieces in a ziploc, but I still have it.
That’s the feeling I want to live by. Screw the competition and the prestige – I just really want to be here, doing what I'm doing.
That’s how I aim to run my business and life, and I'm working on making that even more so in 2022.
Is there anything you’ve been wanting since your wee wild years, Reader?
I hope you chill like a lakeside bear this weekend!
Maura
ps – Have you ever paddleboarded or surfed Reader? I’d love to hear your story!
Maura Kelpy
Come on a Sketching Adventure! An illustrated reminder to keep doing life your way. You’ll also be the first to know when a new blog lands at veggiesandvodka.com.
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