New Beginnings

It has been a whirlwind ever since my brother moved away a month ago -has it really only been a month?!! I have been sensing ever since April that something significant was going to happen at the beginning of July. I wasn't too happy when I found out it involved my little bro and Anna moving away :( But I knew there had to be something good coming. And there was, so many opportunities! I have been doing so many different things that are all right up my ally.
The after day he left I got a job painting houses, which of course I love. I have definitely had the chance to do some painting of my own in the past and always enjoyed it, now getting paid for it is even better. I love not working in a box (a store). I love having a project that you have visible results and an end date.  And of course I love being in houses. Even if I'm not picking the paint color or adding decorations, just the process of being involved in a transformation is fabulous. (And I got a few weeks off while my boss is away ;)
I also am teaching a couple times a week, which is fun and rewarding. I teach drawing to a group of kids between 7-12 and I  paint with Clint, who uses art to overcome his disabilities. (http://clintdoyle.com/) It is great to be able to pass on some of my love of art and see their faces when they make something they couldn't before.

I have been able to spend plenty of time on the computer as well as I worked on the T shirts for our church's Focus conference. I am on the creative arts team for it so there has been lots of brainstorming and I am just getting started on the stage design! As of today we should have a venue so it'll be exciting to see what we can do in a short time.

And last but not least, my favorite project of all- my first (paid) design job!!! Through a local business networking group I met a lady that needed some help on her condo. I did a consultation, picked colors and gave her a new furniture arrangement that she loves. (Photos to come when the paint dries :))

It has been a busy but fun time for me! All these things that I love to do are all happening at the same time and it is so wonderful to move into a new season in my life where I get to use my gifts and explore my passions and continue learning about myself. I am about to register my business as a visual artist and plan on working towards my dream of a non-profit in the next few months. I kinda feel like a baby just getting their feet under them, every little step feels like a big one but it is really rewarding. :)

Resume vs. photo album

I had a bit of an epiphany as I was driving along a couple days ago. I realized that I have been viewing the course of my life as if it were a resume. I have been listing my accomplishments and always coming up short. I have never had what I would consider a career job and have only had one job (at the furniture store) that I even liked very much. Therefore I wasn't feeling "accomplished." I really like to accomplish things. I love projects, and I love for everyday to look like I have done something. That means in the mundane, meaningless times, I have to work really hard to stay positive.
I think that if the opportunities had opened up that I thought I wanted, I would ended up working in a job that might sound like what I want but not really be it. I thought I wanted to be the buyer for the furniture store and I know there are things that I could really enjoy about it, but there are a lot of things that just aren't me. It took me a long time to realize that. (much longer than my husband) I think one reason is I felt the need to go with the more defined route of a "real" job and because I didn't know what it felt like to be in an environment that suited me.
My epiphany came because the buyer position sort of opened up and I sort of missed it and I realized that I didn't miss it at all and that wasn't really what I wanted anyway. And I'm not saying that to make myself feel better. Now that I have had a taste of things I love-art school, teaching art, freelance work, painting houses...I am finally getting to live in the environment I always wanted.
I realize that I have to stop looking at my life like a resume. I am not out to find the perfect job. I am an artist, I will create as I go and the more tools I have in my belt, the better the end result.
I decided in that moment that I want to look at my life like a photo album. I want to remember all those really cool things that make up my life whether it be related to a job or not. I want to remember my experiences and my projects. I want to see my life in pictures, not titles.

"Successful people are able to see the threads of the past & threads of the future and and untangle them into something manageable" Seth Goden, Linchpin