This is the seventh in our series of interviews to deepen the connections between all of us who love the sea and Sea Soul Blessings. And today, we’re interviewing Wendy Blunt.
Wendy shares how her childhood inspired a love of nature – along with the joys of sailing, singing, book clubs, mindfulness – and being gifted Sea Soul Blessings by her daughters!
Tell us a little bit about you:
I am Wendy Blunt. I live in Cornwall with my husband of 52 years. We have two wonderful daughters, two great son-in-laws and have been blessed with five gorgeous grandchildren!
I worked in Education for 40 years and am lucky enough to be enjoying my fifteenth year of retirement.
What does nature and especially the sea, mean to you?
I was brought up on a farm and I have always enjoyed the feeling of being all alone in the solitude of nature.
I loved the company of our animals. I discovered the same tranquil solitude and closeness to nature when I took up sailing as a hobby with my husband. It was off the Cornish coast that I experienced amazing solitude and connection with the sea whilst alone on deck, moved along by the wind, with no other vessel in view.
“I have looked into the eye of a dolphin who travelled along beside me and I have marvelled at the phosphoresce in the wake of our boat, glinting in the moonlight on a night crossing. It all filled me with awe and wonder, leaving treasured memories that have remained with me.”
How do you feel on a good day?
I feel… Excited about what lies ahead. Positive, happy, confident and loved. Empowered to be creative, supported by my creative community. Able to express myself and share my opinions and concerns.
How do you feel on a bad day?
I feel… Full of self-doubt. Lacking in self-confidence. Confused. Undervalued and stifled. Not listened to, as if I have no voice.
Who or what is inspiring or influencing you right now?
The beauty of the natural world and all its wonders. The urgent need to take greater care of it. The younger generation making their voices heard.
Young women, like my daughters, who juggle all the roles they are expected to fulfil but still remain full of fun and joy.
My creative communities online where I learn so much and where I receive encouragement and support. Wonderful people I follow like you, Ezzie Spencer, Elizabeth Gilbert, Victoria Erickson and Barb Schmidt.
There are many other men and women whose words and stories inspire me to be myself – and to treat myself and others with love and compassion.
In addition, I realise that I am still influenced by my parents.
With their love and care of nature, their lack of materialism, the positive way they faced hardship and hurdles, their total acceptance of all people with non judgemental compassion and unconditional love – they instilled in me values I still hold dear.
What do you worry about on a typical day?
I worry about… Climate change. Pollution. Waste. The disharmony in the world at the moment. The emotional and physical well being of my loved ones. The plight of vulnerable members of our world. Losing my mobility.
Where do you find joy?
“I find joy in… Spontaneity. The closeness of relationships with a range of very different people. My writing. My creativity. Being in the heart of nature, especially near water, where it is quiet enough to hear birds, insects and the relaxing sound of the water. The wind on my face. And finding the courage to put my head under water and open my eyes for the first time in my life this year!“
What do you love to do, read, watch or listen to?
I love being neck deep in water or on it. I love long walks in beautiful places. I love sipping wine and giggling with my loved ones. I love expressing myself in words, textiles, threads and yarns. I love books and running a small book group.
I really enjoy fantasy novels such as William Horwood’s Duncton Wood Chronicles, Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials and Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. I’m also a big fan of Victoria Hislop‘s historical novels.
Other authors I enjoy are Tracy Chevalier, Khaled Hosseini, and Markus Zusak.
I love the joy of finding new authors that transport me.
I love listening to all sorts of music but most of all I like songs with beautiful lyrics such as songs written and performed by Richard Thompson, Vin Garbutt, Mike Silver and Martin Wyndham-Reed. On TV I enjoy nature and travel programmes, archive music documentaries or a good drama.
“I love being on my own so that I can play music, loudly, to dance and sing without anyone catching me!”
What makes you cross?
People or organisations using lies to persuade others to believe or to do something. In other words ‘ cons’ or ‘swindles’! It demonstrates a total lack of integrity. People who lack compassion and understanding when judging others.
How do you look after yourself?
I get close to the sea and nature as much as possible. And I sing to myself!
I follow people on social media who are uplifting and inspirational. Their posts are positive and encouraging, and from them I’ve been guided towards:
- Daily meditation again after a gap of many years.
- Increased confidence in the water.
- Indulging in my love of creativity.
- Books that have changed my life.
I also practice mindfulness and follow Barb Schmidt‘s little book called ‘The Practice ‘. I now connect to the moon phases since being given Ezzie Spencer‘s great book, ‘ Lunar Abundance ‘.
“My Sea Soul Blessings cards are a truly treasured gift from my daughter because they really support my mindfulness practice and they give me a focus each day.”
What would I most like to change about my life?
I would love to be able to go on retreats, both for well-being and creativity. I’d love to sing well. I’d love to travel more and to see more cultures first hand. I would love my husband to enjoy better health.
What have you learnt about life that you wish you’d understood earlier?
I wish I had been aware of my own strengths and hung on to belief in myself, which I had in abundance as a young girl. It’s been hard work to get back to where I once was.
“I wish I had realised how powerful the response of silence can be. I wish I had understood that I do not have to explain and justify my choices. They are valid because I made them.”
How would you describe Sea Soul Blessings in three words?
Droplets cascading care.
How do you use your Sea Soul Blessings ? What do they help you to change?
“I draw a card most days before my morning meditation. It helps me to focus and a mental image of it can remind me of my focus. I keep it out for the day on my work table so that I can see it when I create.”
I will also draw a card if I start to struggle. It shifts my view of a situation so that it is easier to let go of negativity and seek the positive.
I have also drawn cards with my family and they always stimulate conversation and sharing of emotions.
If someone was thinking about trying Sea Soul Blessings, how would you encourage them?
By speaking from my own experience,
I would tell them:
- So easy to pop into your bag.
- They will become your friends.
- They motivate, console and caress you with their words.
- The give you bite-sized pieces of wisdom to reflect upon.
- They allow you to reawaken the wonderful person hidden inside you.
- They give you a way to help friends. They are easy to introduce because the sea is a ‘neutral’ force that is almost universally loved.
- They are conversation starters.
- They encourage opening up and sharing your feelings.
- THEY ARE GREAT FUN FOR ALL AGES.
If you’d like to be featured in one of these interviews, I would love that, get in touch!
If you’d like to get yourself some Sea Soul Blessings, you can do that right here.
If you liked this, you might like the other interviews in the Sea Soul Community series:
Pippa
Pip
Lucy
Loveday
Alaya
Loran