The Board List: Freedom Seeking
Have you ever been tempted to simply blow it all up in the name of freedom?
There’s a big shift happening everywhere I look: mid life women are leaving their partners because being alone & happy is infinitely preferable to being in a partnership (or not as the case may be) and unhappy.
I wrote about this a couple of months ago, and there was a vehement YES in response to the concept of blowing up your life in the name of seeking freedom and happiness.
But in the past week, this post by Tamu Thomas (author of ‘Women who Work too Much: break free from toxic productivity and find your joy) went viral:
She talks about the concept that whilst women were so often raised to be independent, planning ahead, growing in many ways; the same men were being raised to expect someone else would help propel them forward, clear up their messes. And when women said they were done with not having equal support, not having someone to truly share the load with, they were seen as nagging. As Tamu says:
“We want to share the weight. Share the care. Share the growth. Share the joy. Because love shouldn’t feel like a job. And emotional intimacy shouldn’t feel like an obligation. We don’t want to be your mothers. We want to be met in the middle”
She makes it super clear that she’s not blaming men. She’s blaming a system that developed a structure where so much of women’s labour is ‘invisble and expected’.
BLOODY HELL.
It’s like Tamu was sitting on the shoulders of myself and friends in so many conversations over the past months. I have endless friends leaving their partners, questioning what their partners add, questioning the relevance of staying in any relationship, let alone the one they find themselves in.
And what are they seeking instead? FREEDOM. Freedom to plot their path. To parent how they want. To live life how they want.
And so many of these women are finding a new passion that aligns with this new found phase of freedom. Skating. Surfing. Snowboarding. These sports align with freedom seekers like no other. They have built in communities. They welcome people in. They get you out of your head.
If you’re a freedom seeker, we are here for you! This community is full of them, let’s celebrate the ones finding their path, whatever way they get there.
Don’t Be Board:
Watch This: @facingblankpages film on @surfgirlmag
I loved this film by Anas Pierquet, aka @facingblankpages on using surfing to over come PTSD from a tragedy earlier in her life.
Relate to this: The Four Seasons (Tina Fey, Steve Carrell)
I’ve been enjoying getting into this new series with Tina Fey, Steve Carrell, and Colman Domingo. The premise is a group of friends who have holidayed together for years, but one of them blows up his marriage and gets together with someone much younger, leaving the others to question the merit of their own relationships. It’s brilliantly written, acted, and if the post at the start of these piece struck a chord, many of the themes of this mini series will too.
Listen to This: The Slowdown with Sharmadean Reid
If, as women, we are programmed to take on too much, to own all of the invisible labour, this episode is the antidote to that programming. As founder of Wah Nails, and Stackworld amongst other entrepreneurial successes, you’d be forgiven for assuming that Sharmadean is incapable of slowing down, or embracing doing less. The opposite is infact true, and this one is worth a listen for any of you that feel like you’re incapable of saying no.
Find a friend to try this: The ultimate duo skate from @skatejuice
Loved this clip featuring @_skatewizard and @jenna_slams - oh to be twenty and fearless and try stuff like this with mates.
Read this: Big Success for The Big Sea with Denka Factory Shutdown
Hopefully you’ve watched the excellent ‘The Big Sea’ film, the expose of the neoprene industry and its connection with Cancer Alley in the US. Due to massive losses, the factory has halted production. A phenomenal success for the film, but make sure you keep the pressure up, as there’s much still to do to convince the big wetsuit companies to change their core material. Well done again to @imaybesurfing and team behind the film. Check out the interview here if you haven’t listened yet.
Get on Board:
The Surfers Against Sewage Paddle Out
There was a strong turnout in Brighton this weekend (although it could always be more, I know more people than this in Brighton who are sea obsessives on my own whatsapp groups) for the Surfers Against Sewage paddle out. I bring my kids to this each year, as I think it’s really important for them to see that people should stand up for change and what they believe in. If you couldn’t make it to a protest, but still want to support them, you can still send an email to your elected representative locally, there’s a link in the SAS bio here.
Skatepark Museum Plein in Amsterdam opening May 24th
Two of my favourite things are colliding next weekend: the city of Amsterdam and a new skatepark. Not one to need a reason to visit this beautiful city, now I have two.
Sunday 25th May Transkaters Picnic: Folkestone Fardens
Open to all kinds of wheels, the Trans Skaters crew are known for having brilliantly friendly events, so get yourself along to their next picnic next Sunday.
Feralux Wild Garden Retreat 25-28 July
I’ve heard such good things about staying on the Feralux Farm, with its beautiful bowl in the middle of the wilderness. There’s also surfing nearby, check it out.
Diverse Rolling Bodies Together - Dr Indigo Willing & Dr Esther Sayers June 17th
As part of the Moving Bodies Lab seminar series academics and skateboarders Dr Indigo Willing and Esther Sayers discuss their ongoing research that combines approaches from education, sociology, co-design and gender studies to highlight community change in the traditionally male world of skateboarding. It’s an in person and online event, so no excuses for missing this one!
Check out our latest Board Women episode: @Surfin.Sam
Released on Wednesday this week, we couldn’t be more excited for the latest episode with none other than @surfin.sam or you might know her as @justolderskate.sam . Sam talks about what brought her to board sports (including a somewhat unknown stint as the UK’s champion wind surfer for 8 years!) and why she fell in love with skateboarding in her 60’s. Make sure you subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss it.
The Board Crew: Lisa Baxter
Lisa was a guest on last weeks online panel, The Confidence Sessions: Finding Your Joy. She works day to day in trauma helping young people, and skateboarding has become her release and her passion, as one of the directors of the epic Board Mums Club.
When and how did you get into board sports?
I snowboarded in my twenties and thirties, although I only visited the mountains annually. I have skated since last year, however I started off rather sporadically. In the last couple of months I have upped the ante and am skating daily. I’m in love!
What do you love about them?
The freedom I feel when I skate. The connection to myself. Skating is a doorway back into life. It allows me to switch off and go inward, creating space, which enables me to re-engage with daily life / stressors more ably.
Describe how it feels when you’re on a board
It feels like I’m alive! I’m in my flow and I feel at peace. It’s like mindfulness in motion.
What would you say to anyone considering trying?
You’re only here once! Be brave, give it a go!
Thanks again for reading! We’re really trying to build the community on here so more of you can meet like minded people, both online and IRL, so make sure you subscribe to hear about upcoming events and content, and please do share! Our paid membership on here will be keeping the podcast ad free, so it really makes a difference when you subscribe, share or recommend to others.
Have a fab week all!
Caroline xxx
Board Women Founder