The Value of Saying I Can Do It and Following What You Love

Sitting in a job you know you aren't happy with? You feel overwhelmed and under-stimulated.

I think that's more common than we think. But then you think about that one thing that sparked joy, but then you doubt yourself, you say, oh no, I could never do that. I could never be an artist. I could never... I could never... I could never...

You come up with excuses for why not.

But what if you came up for excuses to lead you toward that thing that lights you up?

What if you say I can.. I can.. I can..

When I was in college, I took a costume design class, and from the beginning I was attracted to it. I thought it was fascinating. I was lucky enough to get a work study job in the costume shop, but continued with my more practical degree of English Education. That was what made sense. It was the path that I thought was safe (I was also inspired by an educator and wanted to help students too, so it wasn't all a safety thing.)

There was a point where I thought about changing my major, but I didn't. Fast forward, I'm teaching and I hear of an opporutnity to costume design for an all female theatre company. I think. I can do this. I can make that work. I can do it on the side. That one decision of thinking I can instead of I can't changed the trajectory of my life.

It led me to taking the brave step of quitting school, moving across the country, getting a grad degree in Costume Design, which is where I truly started my artist's journey. If I wouldn't have gotten my degree in Costume Design, I wouldn't have an art business now. It was my love for fabrics and storytelling that led me to create more.

So, when I come up against a challenge, instead of saying I can't. I think about that one decision all those years ago, and figure out a way to say I can.

Because you can. You can do a lot more than you realize. Even if it is a little yes. Find a way to say I can!