Judy Milligan sees ‘the possibilities in everything’

Think of someone you love being around — someone who makes time stand still simply because you’re learning from them by listening.

These people tend to be rare, but for me, one of them is Judy Milligan. She has 90 years of life experience, and I am fascinated by all of it.

She taught art at several schools over the course of her career, including many years at Roosevelt High School, but her influence extends far beyond the classroom. She’s displayed her sculptures at the Polk County Heritage Gallery and her jewelry art at the Des Moines Art Center, where she is an honorary trustee. She’s served on the boards of Trees Forever as well as local and national garden clubs, and her own garden was once honored by the Smithsonian. Her creativity and curiosity are apparent in everything she does.

“Creativity makes aging easier,” she told me.

Several years ago, I heard her give a program about journaling, a practice she started as a student at Drake University. Her journals are filled with notes, quotes, drawings, news clippings and more, an she has about 20 so far. “These books keep my ramblings in order,” she said. “I try to revisit some of the journals in January. This is one way I process my life experience. I discover new things, find pleasure and seek design solutions.”

Creative travel

Milligan traveled worldwide with her family — her husband and son, both named George, and daughter Lisa  — and led tours with high school students for seven summers while she was teaching.

“Traveling gets you away from your norm,” she said. “You come home with a new awareness. You come back with new possibilities, ideas, designs and an appreciation of architecture. The world is wonderfully beyond what we live with daily at home, but we’re always eager to get back home.”

These days, she added, “I truly love to be home.”

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