We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Linda Mann. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Linda below.

Linda, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Risk taking for me, is all about exploring the curiosities outside of my comfort zone, with the intent to fill the chapters of my life with possibilities for growth. Some of those curiosities, through many decades, have been about asking myself, “what makes me feel alive”? My answer included skydiving, white water rafting, barrel racing lessons with my horse, ballroom dance lessons, rollerskaking, homeownership & decorating, a career in nursing, teaching health education, being an esthetician & business owner, furniture artist, soap maker, and canvas artist. As common as these endeavors may be, all involved risk taking, My drive to “mush it all in” comes from the realization, at the age of 15, that no day is promised. Backstory on that life lesson was the tragic loss of my dad & sister in a motor vehicle crash. So we can turn tragedy into motivation. Mine was set by that single event and the uncharted territory ahead. Many risks, many mistakes, and much resilience has brought me through it all. All this resulted in an understanding that on the other side of the challenges & struggles is where you discover your true creative soul & the connection you can share through that creativity with your community, to inspire others in the simplest of ways. The greatest rewards come in the smallest gifts ~ knowing you were a positive influence on someone along the way. My faith in God is my foundation for balance in my life. I look forward to expanding my artistic endeavors and challenging myself to take new risks in my lifelong pursuit of growth and giving.

Linda, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Here’s a little bit of my life’s journey ~ I returned to the Sunshine State 13 years ago, where I had attended Florida State University in the mid 70’s. I hail from upstate New York, growing up in the small town of Hoosick Falls, & ultimately having a career in nursing and teaching in the Albany City School District. Retirement, in a new city in Florida, brought the challenge of making new friends, starting a new business, establishing a new home and marriage, and reinventing who I was, with all the challenges that those changes presented. In many ways, this chapter has brought the greatest challenges of my life. I have grown to my most authentic self and found my voice in the midst of it all. Wisdom and grace has brought me the gift of joy! Providing my students, customers of my painted furniture, and clients of my skin care services, the highest standard of service and product, that I was able to provide, with my experience and knowledge, resulting in wonderful feedback & return customers. Friendships resulted and putting down roots in a new community make one feel connected to something purposeful. When you seek to elevate your energy and share your gifts, in spite of being unfinished and imperfect., you will find peace. I am thankful everyday that I had a sound childhood with loving family and a great community to grow up in. My Mom was a prolific creator with interests in sewing, knitting, quilting, reading, and cooking. Family was always at the center of life. My Dad was a coach, teacher, & community builder. They have so much credit due for the core essence of who I am and have finally embraced. This all led me into the world of business and being a creative. I feel that my most important work in life has been accomplished. I can now create my canvas art and soaps without the pressure of results for financial gain. At this point it is about sharing my gifts and inspiring others to shine their light! Let us all create our best life, let us all share our gifts.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My creative journey is driven by my desire and intention to maintain balance or wellness ( of mind, body, and spirit ) as I navigate through life. So, picture a balance beam, the kind that Olympic Gymnast’s master, through years of disciplined training, At one end is our birth or beginning, and at the other end of the balance beam is the ending or our death. If we are able and inspired, to “master” the beam, then I believe that curiosity for knowledge & being discipled to follow through with our “steps” and have the resilience to rebound, when life pushes us off the beam, then perhaps we can feel good about the journey and the goals we achieved along the way. Who knows what lies beyond the beam in either direction! That is the ultimate question we all seek the answer to, perhaps? The more creative I find myself being, the more I understand how little I know and the more I seek to explore. That is the beauty of life, to discover the new experiences that make us feel like we are doing cartwheels on the beam!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Having people express in words, that they feel an emotional connection, or show an interest in a painting, that somehow resonants with them, and to take the time to extend that feedback to me, is the biggest thrill for me as an artist. Also, for friends that are more experienced artists to say ” you are evolving” gives me confidence to continue with this creative journey. I am about to submit a painting to a juried show, so I’m going fearlessly into the mix!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @mossyoakpaintbrush
• Facebook: @themossyoakpaintbrush

Image Credits

linda mann