If I was a sculptor, but then again . . .

If I was a sculptor, but then again . . .

Who knows. I think I've become a sculptor, a sculptor of me - sculpting my own destiny.



I’ve been on a ‘losing streak’ this summer. In our Team, Over 60 with 100 - 200 pounds to lose, I lost 8.5 lbs in our summer weigh in challenge. I am thrilled.

What has been different in my life this summer? How have I lost that weight and what have I done differently?

What’s been ‘different’ in my life is (and this is a “News Flash” for my teammates) an extreme amount of personal stress, problems within my home, a lot of ‘unhappiness’ since May. So what does Babs do when she’s stressed? In the past, I turned to food. I deserve comfort; right? I do deserve comfort, but this time I was determined to find it somewhere BESIDES food.

I enrolled in an online fine arts class. You should see the smile on my face just typing those words. Oh, and I’m not wiping chocolate off my mouth, and I’m not rinsing peanuts and/or Snickers down with lots of diet sodas either. Fine arts. Who woulda thunk that would do it??

Art has been my passion since I was a child. I love it. As my teammates know, Art resides underneath my bed. He was my first, and only, attempt at sculpting. Why haven’t I don’t more sculpting? I had so much fun. I flew to Indianapolis to create Art about 9 years ago. He’s such a cutie - a little old for me, but adorable. One of these years I’ll make clothes for him.

Why not ‘sculpt’ me, my destiny, my future, my life - and without food as my main focus? Why not do something that makes ME happy rather than unhappy?

The ‘comfort’ of poor food choices is only for a moment, instant gratification. Then it becomes guilt and a burden. I have to ‘carry it’ around with me. Been there. Did that. I am now ‘sculpting’ my future, sketching what I want my life to be - now and into retirement. I couldn’t be happier. It shows in my choices of what I decide to put into my body. It shows in the fact that I am exercising - ME! Imagine that. I just can’t wipe this smile off my face.

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free” Michelangelo

I used to take weekly painting classes. They were terrific. I could draw, paint, chat with friends and eat - all at the same time! The shop where I used to take classes closed. I continued eating. I should have continued taking classes!

My ‘fine arts’ class is through Craftsy. I had never heard of them. They offer all kinds of online classes, i.e. jewelry making, cake decorating (Let’s not go there!), sewing, quilting . . . I clicked on ‘fine arts.’ I knew immediately which class it would be for me. “Perspective in Landscape Drawing” I clicked on ‘meet the instructor’ and I knew immediately - this is for me!

You see. When I grow up, I want to be an artist.

“One can have no smaller or greater mastery than mastery of oneself.” Leonardo da Vinci



Happiness. Smiles. Feeling good about me. Doing something for ME. That’s all it took. Well, not exactly ‘all it took’ but it played a major role in my weight loss - - and so the sculpting began.

I’m drawing my happiness from within. I’m sketching landscapes, as well as sculpting a way of life that I will continue into my retirement. I’m painting a bright future for myself, and I have high hopes of leaving behind wonderful memories of a smiling grandma, a grandma who is happy. Paint my world happy!

A change of attitude. Reworking my ‘diet’ - as in ‘food plan’ - and daily smiles for myself and my grandchildren.

“Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.” Henry Ward Beecher

“For me, painting is a way to forget life. It is a cry in the night, a strangled laugh.” Georges Rouault