Do you listen to that voice inside you?
It is never too late to follow the things that light you up
My morning walks are my meditation. I live in a beautiful neighborhood in Southern California. There are parks, hiking trails, botanical gardens - and not to forget - all my neighbors who plant beautiful gardens. It is where I do my best thinking. Where I get my best ideas. Most of these ideas, I never followed through with in the past. I would always dream on these walks. Think of creative endeavors. Ideas would inspire me and excite me. Then I would talk myself out of them before ever taking the first step.
Then in 2021, I lost my big client. All this space opened up. And I thought, how do I want to spend the rest of my life? Do I want to put all my creative energy into jobs I do for others? Sure, I enjoy designing for others and making their vision a reality. But in the end, that is their business, their dreams. What would I create if I used some of that creativity on my own ideas?
One common thread I notice among many of my female friends, is the desire to take some time and spend it on ourselves. Unapologetically. We have worn so many hats to have a family and have a career and along the way somehow we lost the ability to grant ourselves time. Time to listen to that voice that guides us. Time to explore all the things we set aside long ago.
I created “Gonna Watch You Bloom” as a bit of a love letter - to remind me to follow the breadcrumbs. I created it thinking of my childhood best friend - the seeker - who is trying to find her way back to creating things she loves. I created it for those woman in my art groups who have taken the time to explore making art - not knowing where it might take them.
It's never too late to discover what calls you. It is that little voice inside, whispering. It knows. You know. Do you listen? It never goes away, we just learn how to tune it out. But it is never too late. You are never too old. You are never too lost. This is just a reminder. It is never too late to bloom.
Over the past year I have been working on my Folk Love Collection. I think of them as love letters. Each one has a story behind it. Each one was a vision I had on one of those walks. They were an idea and some photos I snapped. I took the time to see what I just might make if I listened to that voice. My collection is now available in my Etsy store.
I take a lot of photos of flowers on my walks. One thing I began to notice when I zoomed to draw them were all the creatures that live on them. I purchased some marigolds for my porch this fall. And this guy took up residence on the top of them. He has been there for weeks. He hops from flower to flower each day. Never leaving. It is kind of amazing that you can create a little tiny world for just a single little creature. It reminds me not to forget to water my flowers because if they die, I would basically burn his house down. And well, that might just ruin the bit of joy I feel every time we look for him upon arriving home.
Each newsletter I thought I would share something that I found in my life that inspired me. Something I’ve added to my toolbox when I need to remember. It is the book I picked up at the right time. The one that gave me permission to make a different choice. It is called The Crossroads of Should and Must, Find and Follow Your Passion by Elle Luna. It is bursting with beautifully illustrated quotes and stories. It will inspire you. It will give you permission to listen to that voice of what you MUST do. Because you know. You just have to start listening.
Never stop looking for the magic,
Kim