
A Mother’s journey
“The sea is both calming and invigorating at the same time…”
I’m Jo, a joy-encourager, midlife adventurer and a beach cleaner.
I live in the Yorkshire dales and have always been around water as my dad was a sailor. Before children, I was able to go to many amazing places exploring. I studied in America, I spent a summer in Alaska kayaking, camping and seeing orca whales as well as undertaking research in Tanzania. I had always wanted to be an adventurer but I think a lot of women from my generation often lose themselves as they grow older and the responsibilities of being a mother and an adult become the main activities in day to day life. So that is how my life was for many years. I was a single mum and I also looked after my parents who unfortunately both have had cancer. This was all until one day I found myself crying in the supermarket.
It wasn’t the first time I had cried, but it was the time that made me want to change. I had been stuck in a rut of being unhappy and while there were many factors, such as my parents’ illnesses and unknowingly being on the cusp of menopause, I knew I had lost that sense of adventure and passion for life.
The catalyst, in a sense, was my friend giving me a rowing machine. For the first time in a long time after using the rowing machine, I was able to sleep. This changed my life. Being able to sleep gave me a new outlook on life and I was able to deal with all of the things life was throwing at me. By this time my mother had sadly lost her battle with cancer so I was navigating grief on top of all the other things in my life.
After a few weeks exercising and the rowing machine breaking, I joined a rowing club. From there, I decided to row a marathon for charity in my mother’s memory. Getting out and completing this challenge reignited my passion for adventure. I felt alive to be moving and achieving such a great distance. I have always found being on the water an escapism.

So after completing more marathons, I decided to go from the coast of Liverpool across to Goole – this time on a paddle board. While this idea was left to ruminate in me for a couple of years, I finally managed to complete it. Along the way, I picked up litter and documented each leg of the journey; we made a film, Brave Enough – A Journey Home.
“Living your life as an adventure.”
Having felt so low earlier in my life, I had reawakened my senses and began to feel creative and that I could, as a mother and older woman, do whatever I put my mind to. I have started a podcast, giving talks, making films and writing. I do this while working a very normal day job because I want my creative outputs to be message-driven rather than reliant on putting food on my table. I want to show everyone, particularly other women of my age, that the power of going outside, even if it is just for 30 minutes a day, and doing exercise can really improve your outlook and enjoyment of life.
I call it “rain or shine 30”.
So, if I could ask all those people who feel like crying in the supermarket to promise themselves to go outside for 30 minutes a day, it doesn’t have to be some grand adventure or ridiculous training exercise, it can be a small adventure just to get yourself out there.

I have always felt close to the mantra of changing the little bit around you and I believe this to be true in changing how you feel on the inside as well as how we can change our world. I advocate for climate change and while often the large changes disillusion people into thinking the fight is hopeless, I want everyone to just change the little bit around them. Pick up the litter on your beaches, help in the local community or even just use less and reuse more.

“I’ve never set out to be a hero but as long as I can help someone a little bit I will be able to sleep at night – if I have exercised too!”
This blogpost was written by Megan Morris on behalf of Tales to Inspire.