Yesterday, September 17th, was Terry Fox Day. All across the country, people gathered to walk or run and to raise funds for cancer research. Terry Fox has become such a hero to everyone, he is beloved, almost worshipped.

Every year, as I hear about the Terry Fox runs, I feel very sad. I feel sad for Steve Fonyo. Does anyone remember who he is? He is the one who finished what Terry started. Since Terry could not finish his walk, Steve did the whole thing over again. From coast to coast, Steve walked, like Terry, with one artificial leg, and he made it through the ups and downs (literally), the weather, day after day, he kept going until he made it across. He was 18 years old and took 14 months to go from St. Johns, Newfoundland, to Victoria, British Columbia. He raised $13M for cancer research. Why doesn%92t anybody remember him and call him a hero?

Some people will say that Steve got into trouble after his walk, that he was not as ‘pure of intent%92 when he did it, that he was not as likeable. Can any of those people do what he did? I certainly couldn%92t. Steve did have some trouble for a while, but that doesn%92t take away what he did.

So my question is: What is it that makes a hero? Is it having the IDEA; is it in the DOING, the completing of the run; is it about the MONEY raised; is it about DYING while you%92re doing it; is it about having a dedicated family to continue the memory by organizing the walks each year; is it about being likeable, or inspirational? What is it?

In my book, Steve Fonyo is a hero. 18 years old. 14 months. He never gave up. Bravo, Steve. You%92re a hero to me.

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Suzette

I love this time of year. September is a time for new beginnings. Even though the start of a new year is technically January, September is really the time when new projects get under way. Kids go back to school, people return from their holidays refreshed and recharged, they sign up for classes and begin new projects. This seems to be the time when one evaluates one%92s life and decides (hopefully) to finally make those changes they%92ve been thinking about, like signing up for fitness classes, registering for workshops, taking up a new hobby, maybe something they%92ve been thinking about for a long time, like piano lessons, or dance classes. It%92s a great time of the year.

It%92s energizing, when you get caught up in it. It seems that everyone around you is caught in this frenetic activity, getting ready for everything. For parents with children, there%92s shopping for new clothes and school supplies, not mention the ‘activities%92 supplies. Everywhere you go, stores are busy, people are rushing around. You either love it or hate it, I suppose, depending on where you fit in the chain.

Personally, I find it invigorating. Of course, now that I%92m retired, I have the luxury of mostly watching from the sidelines and not getting too caught up in it. But I%92ve always liked September, even before I was retired.

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Suzette

Last time, I spoke of talent and how I think talent is mostly hard work and the willingness to learn, practice and keep going. After going on about how much hard work it is, I then asked the question ‘Why do we do it?%92.

I think for most artists, we paint because we must. We paint because it%92s unthinkable not to. We paint for the joy we feel while we do it, we paint as a means of self expression, we paint because it gives purpose to our lives, and we paint because of the wonderful sense of accomplishment we feel when we finish a work. Some do it to communicate, to send a message, to make a statement.

It%92s probably different for different artists, and I%92m sure there are many more reasons than those I have listed. Those are MY reasons to paint. For the joy and the feeling of accomplishment.

There is also another component to this. We paint because we must, and having done so, we must share the results. Showing our work, seeing a reaction from the viewers, getting feedback, it%92s part of it too. It completes the process. Artist and author Lynda Lambert said:
      “Our paintings are not whole until they are seen by the viewers; our poems are not complete until a reader speaks them aloud; our goals do not become a reality until we call them into being by our voices.”

That is certainly true for me. What about you?

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Suzette