Julie

Traveled across the country.
Touched a piece of the Titanic.
Captured LIFE.
Saved a LIFE.
Gave LIFE.

Julie, age 42 

Cindy

Looked at Mt. Washington as my Conquest then became afraid of heights.
Began  referencing my age after 50 by using 1/2 & 3/4.
Delivered the message of kindness and generosity while raising 3 wonderful children.
Offered the world hope with the birth of each grandchild.
Opened an Art Studio.

Cindy, age 52

Seth

Reinvented my life while living alone at age 19.

Wrote a screenplay that got into a festival at age 19.

Had a short film get into a film festival.

Became the youngest media designer in town.

Lived, and am still living, life by my own rules.

Seth, age 22

Chris

Dropped out of art school.
Became a drug addict/alcoholic.
Engaged in years of inflicting pain and misery on the ones who love me.
Eventually got sober.
Found purpose in living.

Chris, age 37

Antonio

I got my college degree in Fine Arts in 2010, fulfilling a childhood dream.
I went to Paris to learn from and soak up museum culture and visit French castles, all paid by my patrons.
I have site on facebook: antonio imaginarium, in English, without knowing how to speak or write English.
They say that I am a great artist, but I am completely unknown.
I spend all day every day painting.  Painting is my life.

Antonio, age 58

(Antonio's list was translated from Portuguese with an free online translation site so I'm hoping for the best here.) 

Cynthia

I lost my Dad when I was 8 years old.
I lost the rest of my family at 17 when I told my mother her boyfriend had abused me.
I married my soul mate at 19 & had two beautiful babies.
I found Grace.
I forgave my mother.

Cynthia, age 47 

Therese

Gave birth to 4 great boys.
Broke the chain of abuse.
Disowned my parents.
Stayed in my marriage.
Learned to love myself.

Therese, age 53

Pam

I "survived" losing my only sister to murder and wonder how my parents did.
I raced cars in my 20's and 30's, and once when I was 5 months pregnant at age 34.
I asked for forgiveness for an unforgivable sin, and got it.
I went back to school at 42 and earned two degrees while working two jobs and raising two children.
I do good deeds in secret.

Pam, age 58  

Brooke

I spent summers in front of the Red Roof on Long Sands Beach.
By age 29 I had stepped foot on 6 continents.
My career spawned from my love of learning and children.
I painfully watched my mom fight ovarian cancer for 2.5 years.
I am so blessed and grateful to have an enormous loving family!

Brooke, age 31

Wanda

I raised a son as a single parent.
I learned how to downhill ski at 50.
I've hiked up 10,000 ft peaks and camped in the back country by myself.
I've seen cougars, bears (grizzly, black & cinnamon), wolves and elk in the wild.
I keep moving through life with joy -- painting and writing.

Wanda, age 60

Lisa

Escaped from a stuck high-rise elevator in another county, after being trapped alone in the dark for an hour. 
Gave a stranger $300 cash, because another stranger had once done the same for me.
Imagined the face of my twin sister's kidnapper. 
Crawled on top of a darted, anesthetized adult tiger in a stone cove, to draw blood from its jugular vein, and marveled over its beauty. 
Finally learned how to forgive. 

Lisa, age 50

Judith

I kissed a girl and liked it very much.
I wrote my first song.  Then I wrote another.  And another.
I told a friend I loved her.  She didn't say it back.  Then I did it again.
I got stuck in a crevasse.  I made it out alive.
I laughed so hard I cried.

Judith, age 24

Paige

Ran a 5K
Got up most everyday with lots of energy, light, love, and enthusiasm, so much so it annoyed many and inspired more
Studied in Ghana Africa, where I grew up
Have been the dancing queen on innumerable occasions including with my former Nigerian lover on Ghanaian dance floors
Swam a lot in oceans, lakes, ponds, pools...

Paige, age 31  

Taryn

I worked as a nude model for a painter.
I moved to China.
I moved to Argentina.
I fell in love.
I learned how to cook, more or less.

Taryn, age 23 

Soraya

I've had group-therapy for almost 7 years (since 2006) and haven't progressed at all.
I have spent 7 years on a 5 year-high school education because there was no help for kids like me at the time. There still isn't.
My father and I had a car accident which was not our fault according to the police and the victim's family, even though I asked for a detour. I still feel guilty after 4 years and no closure.
I proposed to an older guy (26) December last year, while I was still in a destructive relationship, he said yes and we're getting married over a year.
I have prevented several suicide attempts by friends, yet I am still contemplating my own.

Soraya, age 19

Jo Anne

Held my first art exhibition in the Castella de Spannochia, Italy.

Rode a gold tandem bike up along the Hudson pier, through Manhattan, and across the Brooklyn Bridge--in the rain.

Almost burned down the university's art annex. (six fire trucks later no one was hurt except the welding table)

Started a dance party on the lightrail in Milan.

Dated my best friend even when everyone told me not to. best friend of 6 years, boyfriend of exactly 1.

Jo Anne,  age 25

Suzanne

I thought I was smarter than my parents, so I married a rebel and kept his secrets.
I bore a child. I lost a child. I bore another child. These three children taught me who I really was.
I left my husband because I needed to breathe again. I’m still learning how.
I met a man who made me feel like a queen, for just one night. It broke my heart, but it was worth it.
I told the truth.

Suzanne, 46

Bonnie Jean

My father died the Christmas I was 12.

I was secretly married when I was 18 and I kept that secret for 20 years.

I started university when I was 32 and earned 2 degrees in 41/2 years, while I was a single parent.

At age 51 I drove across North America by myself with 2 Bichon Frises dogs (23,000kms) and 3 months later I got safely home. I slept several nights in my minivan.

When I was 60 I married a woman. We are still together.

Bonnie Jean, age 65

Chelsea

I learned to be more patient, and through that I learned how to breathe.
I found that letting go is necessary.
I traveled to all four corners of the world.
I tried to learn Japanese. I'm still trying.
I fell in love.

Chelsea, age 22

Carey

I made a painting of some trash in 2007. 

I made a painting of the edge of the trash painting hanging on the wall named it after a sentence from the dictionary illustrating one meaning of the word 'thing'. 

This was 2008 and a little later I made a painting of the second painting in front of a window and then I did it again. 

In 2009 I made a cake that looked like the second painting. 

And then we ate it and our tongues were eerily dyed black and purple from all the food coloring I had to use.

Carey, age 30

Angela

I took care of my father until he passed away from lung cancer.
I told my father I would see him on the other side of the moon.
I've had three miscarriages.
I fell in love with my best friend and his three children.
I got convicted of a felony that I was (set up) to do.)

Angela, age 28 

Hannah

Traveled the world with my family, having the best childhood I could have asked for.

Let good friendships fall apart, but blamed fate. In fact it was just that I didn't fight hard enough for them.

Had a total identity crisis when I moved away from home for the first time.

Let myself lose control of what I want to please a man multiple times. One of the most destructive and damaging things I have learnt, is that I do it to myself. I am not the girl with no backbone, but lust fades out the reality I like to feel so in touch with. It was like getting high on thoughts.

Fallen in love with a painting.

Hannah, age 20

Ralph

I co-founded and ran for over thirty years a consulting firm addressing the selection and application of stainless steels for critical applications.
although originally shy about public speaking, I have preached over 25 Sunday sermons at St George's Episcopal Church in York Harbor, I am good at this.
I have participated in two search committees for new rectors at St. George's and served six years on the Standing Committee of the Diocese.
I have been a Red Sox fan since 1963.
I am an excellent cook, particularly for Italian and Mexican cuisine, and do much of the cooking at our house.
I spent a week in New Orleans with the Episcopal clergy of Maine helping to deal with the damage of Katrina.  It was a wonderful experience.

Ralph, age 68   

Katherine

I spend two years running away from home.
I lost contact with my father in 2010, he lives in Peru.
I secretly wished my mother vanished, her lack of support drained me.
I constructed a list of words turned to poetry, it saved me. 
I lost my cool many times.

Katherine Garcia, age 24

Alex

I was born, afraid to die.
I wanted to be loved, I looked everywhere.
I got high, then higher, then higher, and finally hit my low.
I got clean, and scrubbed myself raw.
I learned how to love. but more love myself.

Alex, age 19

Christina

I have made many things.
I have loved openly.
I have forgiven people who didn't deserve it.
I have paid my own way through college.
I have had my first art gallery show right out of school.

Christina, age 23

Venita

I fell in love for the first time at the age of 33.

I went natural by giving my hair the big chop.

I started my art program for toddlers.

I'm a pin-up model.

I'm finally comfortable with myself.

Venita, age 35

Paulo

Create a beautiful child.

Have the world view my poetry.

Got married and divorced.

Stayed alive through my late teens to present.

Learned I have more to discover about life.

Paulo, age 38

Erin

Battled a stormy childhood
Escaped in the music of Ben Folds
Conquered my education
Discovered my purpose in life
Found myself.

Erin, age 32

Ashley

Survived never-ending adolescence, mercifully.
Cried uncontrollably reading Kundera.
Worked up the courage to drop out, finally.
Stopped lying to myself about myself.
Booked as many layovers as possible, always.

Ashley, age 26

Shannon

Sailed around Mexico when I was 18 with nothing but $20.
Lived with scorpions and hunted lobster when I was 5
Watched a stranger die.
Slept in a tree.
Paraglided over a mountain.

Shannon, age 30

Larry

Got my Certificate in Draftsmanship and Classical painting.
Won an award from Sheila Hugh Mackay Foundation in  2003.
Runeworker.
Got a B.A. in Math and Stats.
Pretty good artist.

Larry, age 49 

Amber

Turned my bath into a tidal wave.

Spent hours doing not very much

Made new years resolutions every year 

Broke those resolutions every year.

Went to art school.

Amber, age 20

Juliet

I grew up in Poland, Ohio, with 3 sisters and 4 brothers.
I quit being Catholic the minute I turned 18 and converted to Judaism at the age of 49.
I raised 4 sons who gave me joy and put me on a pedestal.
I practiced law for 20 years before deciding I’d rather be a writer.
I married the right man, thank God.

Juliet, age 52 

Samantha

Grew up listening to cows moaning in the backyard as I fell asleep.
Fell in love with all of the wrong people (drug addicts, religious fanatic, etc.)
Dropped everything and moved to Paris.
Cut everyone's (including the "right" kind lover) hair in exchange for food.
Stopped wanting to run away.

Samantha, age 20

Georgia

As a child, I could fly.

I once turned a rock into a spaceship.

I grew up and became the mother of women.

Fell in love with a sweet sick boy and never recovered.

Dreamed of being rescued by angels.

Georgia

Janelou

I spent most of my childhood living on an indian reservation.

I enlisted in the Marine Corps, even though I needed a waiver for my short stature.

I raised two beautiful children.

I spent over 20 years in a high tech design career.

At 42, after a near death experience, I went to art school in Mexico to start life over again and finally pursue my real dream as an artist.

Janelou, age 52

Vita

Intending to climb Mt. St. Helen in Washington State 10 years before it erupted, my boyfriend Jeff and I had stepped off the trail to drink juice, when the biggest rock fell down where we had just been walking. Inside activity or melting snow? It happened around noon, in any case too late for snow climbing.....
Followed my dreams about who I wanted to be, at least regarding spouse, occupations, residence. Perseverance helps....Didn't know the meaning of the words VISION and SPIRITUALITY for a long time, although having been living it all along.

Married my first high school boyfriend pro forma in my mid twenties in order to qualify for a 2 room flat without a proper bathroom - in a slum area. After the divorce it coincidentally  qualified him as well to take over his mother's flat, when she moved into a house. Where are you now, Paul?

Injured a leg just before or during visits to Denmark, Holland, Germany, Australia, and Israel. Still had fun and saw lots of things.

Learned the importance of social skills, intuition, and creativity. Get grandchildren if possible...

Vita, age 65

Peg

I told myself at age 11 that there was no reason for me to be shy anymore.

I took my dog Joe to the vet when she was 13 to be euthanized. 

I pumped gas on the south rim of the Grand Canyon when it was novel for a girl to pump gas.

I planted a fig tree in the back yard by the light of the moon.

I was grumpy on a conference call this morning.

Peg, age 51

Elena

I credit my Jewish, Shinto, and Buddhist upbringing for my present atheism.
I fell in love with my best friend who left me for someone else.
I was in denial about having clinical depression even after attempting to hang myself two years ago.

I feel like the biggest fake when my peers enthusiastically voice how they channel their despondency and frustration through writing and producing art.

I recently rolled on molly and went to a show with my closest friends from high school. I haven't felt so safe, so happy with myself, in a very long time.

Elena, age 22  

Marilyn

My first out-of-state experience was flying to Seattle, WA at 22-years-old to visit my homesick boyfriend for the weekend.
I was about five-years-old when my mother threatened to take the bottle away.  In return, I vowed never to drink whole milk for as long as I live.  I've held onto that grudge/promise for 18 years.
It took less than 24 hours to fall in love with my boyfriend.  We've been together for three years now.
I lost my 17-year-old cousin to a staph infection four years ago.  I dedicated my college graduation to him in the family invitations.
I've been having panic attacks for the past six months and I've just realized that I'm experiencing a quarter-life crisis.

Marilyn, age 23
   

Kristen

I have loved.
I have lost.
I have given birth to a beautiful baby girl.
I have been strong.
And weak.

Kristen, age 20

Carter

I had a house burn down around me while I was "lounging in my robe and slippers," as was reported in the local paper.
I've seen the sun set on Mt. Katahdin, Delicate Arch, and the Great Western Divide.
I served as a chaplain on a geriatric psychiatry ward.
I've actively considered suicide.
I've eaten wild strawberry pie.

Carter, age 55

Scott

I built a raft out of drift wood, Huck Finn style, and spent a month floating the magical wilderness of the Yukon River.

I fell in love three times and am afraid it won't happen again.

I broke into an abandoned house, fixed it up, and lived in it.

I fell in love with life and dared to live like it, despite my battle with depression and anxiety.

I laid in the Sun with my eyes closed and smiled.

Scott, age 29

Jodi

I have been in love 3.5 times
I was a teenage runaway.
I worked for an international arts organization creating sculpture parks.
I have been in a psychiatric hospital over 5 times.
I was abandoned as a child. 

Jodi, age 32

David

I had 1 love.

2 children.

I was in 2 wars.

I drank too much.

And ran for 30 years and now I can barely walk.

David, age 50

Megan

I went skydiving for my 18th birthday.

I stole a pair of pink UGG rainboots from a department store.

When I was younger I told my mother that I hated her, and now make art about my love for her.

Got back at a roommate by putting garlic powder in her powdered creamer.

Went to a baseball game at Fenway Park.

Megan, age 24

Jeanette

As a child never went to the same school for more than a few months, was always the new kid put in class after the school year already started.

My first job was at the famous "Train Station McDonalds" in Barstow, CA.

Taught myself how to snowboard and am very good at it.

I make jewelry and other crafty things.

Quit my job, sold most of my belongings and moved to Maryland.

Jeanette

Pamela

i lived in an Eskimo village without running water.

I played in the alleys of the housing projects of Detroit and loved it!

I thumb wrestled with the Duchess of York, Sara Ferguson.

I acted on stage in my underwear in Minneapolis.

I play the straw in my armpit!

Pamela

Jason

When I was a child, I threw a chair at my mother.

Now that I'm an adult, my mother and I are good friends.

I lived on rice and beans, and peanut butter sandwiches for a whole year while living on my own, looking for work and doing art.

I've drank with the homeless in the park during broad daylight.

And I've danced freely under the stars.

Jason, age 30