Last year a friend of mine gave me the book Salt Path to read. Something in this stage of my life must have given her the idea that life could even be worse than what I was experiencing.I lost my house after the hurricane, not due to Ian. Now being homeless I was not planning to sleep on the streets. In return for tending the bar I found a bed in the attic of a local snack-bar. After I wiped away all the dust I started reading about a true story of a couple who lost everything and embarked on a transformative journey walking the South West Coast Path in England.
“Just days after Raynor Winn learns that Moth, her husband of thirty-two years, is terminally ill, their house and farm are taken away, along with their livelihood. With nothing left and little time, they make the brave and impulsive decision to walk the 630 miles of the sea-swept South West Coast Path, from Somerset to Dorset, through Devon and Cornwall.
Carrying only the essentials for survival on their backs, they live wild in the ancient, weathered landscape of cliffs, sea, and sky. Yet through every step, every encounter, and every test along the way, their walk becomes a remarkable and life-affirming journey. Powerfully written and unflinchingly honest, The Salt Path is ultimately a portrayal of home—how it can be lost, rebuilt, and rediscovered in the most unexpected ways”
Full of hope and inspiration I found my way back to America, found a part-time job in Art-teaching and gathered up some money to make a trip to Asheville. Not only did I find similar trails like the Appalachian Trail (2190 miles) and the Mountain to Sea trail (1175 miles), I also found an Artist community. Not knowing yet how this all will shape my world, I feel I am in good company.
I worked for ten years on creating a foundation of multiple sources of income to secure a better standard of living other than being homeless. Today I don’t have to be stressed out when people come and visit my gallery without any intention to buy. Stress is a dead sentence for creativity. I finally figured it out.
Here is a tour of my studio, https://vimeo.com/931512569?share=copy
Northlight studio’s, 357 Depot street, Asheville
