Sailing Adventures
Painting encourages you to be brave!
Meet the truly phenomenal Tracy Edwards MBE to inspire your next courageous step.
I hope you're all enjoying your summer! I'm delighted to have a special guest feature in this month's edition of Heart Notes. Tracy is a British sailor who caused huge waves in 1989 for entering the first all-female crew in the 1989/90 Whitbread Round the World Race on board Maiden. Remarkably, the person who inspired and fully supported her throughout this challenging period was the beloved late King Hussein of Jordan!
It was a great honour to meet Tracy in person at a private viewing of the film Maiden by Alex Holmes. Scroll down for my interview with Tracy and be inspired to take a risk yourself through collage and acrylic paint!
With tremendous courage, determination and passion, Tracy and her team went on to win two legs of this very arduous race and against all odds, came second in class overall!
Tracy was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) for her efforts. Moreover, she was the first woman to win the Yachtsman of the Year Trophy in its 32 year history!
Tracy’s courage in the face of adversity is really inspiring. Sometimes our biggest fears are blessings in disguise if we can be brave enough to face them. What might be waiting for you on the other side? What are you really capable of?
Sara xo
Quote of the month
'I can't control the wind but I can adjust the sail.'
(Ricky Skaggs)
Guest Feature
I'm honoured to introduce you to the phenomenal Tracy Edwards MBE. Her story is an inspiration to all of us. Tracy very kindly agreed to share her thoughts with you all.
You said you were battling with anxiety and panic attacks during the race. I’m in awe of your courage in the face of those feelings and how you pushed through them and not only completed the race but won second place against all the odds. How did you deal with them?
I had great people around me and they kept me going. H.M. King Hussein and my Mum were always ready with good advice and the right words of encouragement. Staying focused on the end goal also helped me push through although it made me pretty difficult to live with!!
What was the greatest lesson you came away with after overcoming the challenges facing you?
The biggest lesson for me was the power of teamwork and the building of lifetime friendships. I also learned that women are so incredibly powerful at the same time as being empathetic. I learned that we work differently to men when in teams and how effective we can be in challenging situations.
What advice can you offer those who are struggling with inner blocks that prevent them from moving forward in their life? What can help them face their inner demons such as anxiety or fear?
Well I would say the second most important thing I learned was how to ask for help. Often we cannot see how to move forwards and even if the friend you speak to can’t work it out either, just saying things out loud to another person can often help. Making a plan for yourself and sticking to it can also help.
Painting can help you face your fears and discover what lights up your soul.
I'm passionate about helping women realise their true potential. My meeting with Tracy therefore felt like a moment of synchronicity. I've spent the last couple of years creating unique online offerings to help women discover the vast universe they carry inside their hearts and the gifts they have to share with the world if only they would look within and dare to venture boldly forwards towards realising their dreams!
Painting is one way to help you navigate your inner blocks. The painting process can certainly be very cathartic. It teaches you to trust your gut and follow your intuition. The truth is you really don’t know what will happen on your canvas. The more you get into your art making, the more in tune you become with yourself. That is because painting invites a state of inner stillness and presence. It’s only when you are fully present and aware in the moment that you can glimpse the huge resources you carry within. Truly all the answers are inside you.
Creating art exercises different parts of your brain. On one hand you need to make informed decisions about things like design, colour palette, value contrast and texture. But there comes a point when you have to let go, take a risk and trust your instinct. What are you really craving in the moment? That might mean covering up areas of your painting that you were previously attached to.
Painting teaches you to be flexible. It offers you the opportunity to flow with your paint and allow what wants to emerge to come through on your canvas. It gives expression to your inner being. Taking risks on your substrates essentially helps you to trust yourself.
I’ve spent a long time creating online mixed media art classes to help you explore your inner terrain and discover what you want to manifest in your life. Click the button below to find out more about these soulful offerings.
New Painting in Shop
Eternal - Abstract Calligraphy art on panel (30 x 30 cm)
