Friday Mood: Women are Amazing
A celebration of the midlife women I meet on our surf, skate and snowboard events
I ran one of our events last weekend in Sussex: a fantastic day where we hit a skatepark, had lunch together, did a sauna, went to Saltdean lido (an idealistic art deco location that feels like it should be in a David Hockney painting) & hung by the pool. Pretty dreamy all round. And the one resounding thought that hit me during this set up that hits me every time I run an event?
WOMEN ARE AMAZING.
I of course know this already, but these events bring something out in the women who come. They are at this phenomenally interesting and rich point in their lives where they have chosen, selfishly (in the best way), to invest in themselves, to put themselves first (for once), to come along and do something that will bring them joy.
Maybe it doesn’t sound like much, but for these women it is. Putting this time aside is everything. They are of course all different. Some come as a time out from busy families, frenetic work places, and a life admin list that’s coming out of their ears. Some come as a way to meet new people, having moved and trying to forge new friendships without the normal trappings of work places or school gates with which to do so. Others are living wonderfully eclectic lives as independent, solo beings, travelling with work, loving what they do, but just wanting something new and fun and frivolous.
Their reasons are endless. But they are all seeking a new sense of connection to themselves (and maybe others in the process). And once again, the thought that always comes to mind.
WOMEN ARE AMAZING.
They’re amazing because they are so ripe for reinvention, and that is so wonderfully brave, at any age. They’re amazing because they are embarking on a journey with no clear end game, but a total willingness to hand themselves over to a new experience, feeling or community in the hope of finding what that end point might be. They’re amazing because they are saying ‘f**k you’ to the normal conventions of a society that says you should hush up, take up less space, try less, be less, simply because you are getting old.
Not these women. I watched as one of them (a fantastic woman who had come all the way from Wimbledon to our event, something that always astounds me when people commit to long term travel to come to something I’ve created) hovered around the pump track we were trying. She had come back to her skateboard very recently, and was getting the feel of things again. She spent time weaving around the (incredibly randomly laid out - Peacehaven, you have to try it) skatepark, finding her feet, and her confidence.
And then she’d head back to the pump track. Somewhat deterred by the larger roll in that the start entailed, she felt her way through starting at different points. We offered hands and she refused them, knowing that she had to build up to it in her own way. Importantly, she knew (and so did we) that she would absolutely find her way, that her confidence would come. If not today, another day. The underlying confidence of that always floors me.
These women know they will do scary things. They have done scary things. This woman had travelled the world. She had been a diver. She had changed careers and retrained as an Oceanographer. She had surfed big waves. She knew she could do hard things. And this would be one of them.
WOMEN ARE AMAZING.
Another woman had left her two kids at home, and doubled down on time for herself. One at school age, the other only 18 months, she’s still in the heady physical first days where kids are dependent on you in every way possible. Where the guilt pulls at you when you dare step out the door to do your own thing, even though logic tells you they are with an equally capable parent, one who should absolutely be doing 50% of the parenting. She came into the skatepark with glee, ripping round, joyful at every turn. Loving every bit of adult conversation she could get her hands on (and we loved her in turn).
WOMEN ARE AMAZING.
One woman has been to several of our events now. The same age as me, her husband is an avid surfer, and in their younger days they were avid skaters together. As mothering took hold, her interests took the hit, and his passion has, to some degree, led their family life and their scheduling. And now it’s her turn (his words, not just hers, which is lovely). And she is taking that opportunity and running with it. She’s one of the most active in our whatsapp group, always up for hitting the skatepark (and she’s a fab skater), always up for meeting new people. You can see she’s finding like minded women, a new tribe, a new lease of life as she chases down her passion.
WOMEN ARE AMAZING.
And every time I meet these women (who I hope won’t mind me giving just a tiny glimpse into their lives) I feel so privileged that they have let me, and Board Women into their world. That we are helping them in their journey to exploring new routes in lives, new ways to find joy, as cheesy as that may sound. I listen to their stories, and they are so different, they have forged such different paths in lives, paths I may never have come across were it not for this tremendous community of women. These women who are leaping on boards. These women who are pursuing the one thing that matters. These women who are finding their joy in life.
You’re amazing too, thanks for reading. Have a fab weekend all.
Caroline x
Board Women Founder
Our next event at Saltdean Lido is on Sunday 19th July and will go live later today. Check out the Boardwomen Instagram to get your tickets, or DM us to go on the waitlist.