BOLDNESS + BRAVERY Page 19 of 21

Bringing big creative dreams to life: Stephanie Guimond & Julia Dolowicz Harvey share their stories

Posted on 2012-03-19 at 9:00 am.

Bringing big creative dreams to life: Stephanie Guimond & Julia Dolowicz Harvey share their stories DWYL BLOG SHAREDSTORIES 650X250PX LR

Today’s shared stories come from Stephanie Guimond in Canada and Julia Dolowicz Harvey in England.

Stephanie Guimond

I’m an artist, a visionary and an avid left-brainer (read: I paint, dream big and I love spreadsheets). Doing what I love means:

a) creating meaningful work and revenue related to art and creative expression, learning and growth, space and community or business and productivity,

b) working with others to help them create their own meaningful work, and

c) making sure my chosen work is part of a bigger picture, supporting the life I want to create overall.

At least that’s what it means today.

After spending nearly 10 years coveting the possibility of multiple income streams and fulfilling work, in October 2011 I took the leap and left my government 9-5 job to pursue something more meaningful. (Full disclosure: when I told my boss I was leaving she generously suggested that I take a one-year leave which I did, so technically as I write this I’m on leave.)

I loved several aspects of my job and tried hard to make the 9-5 work, but the desire to do something different kept coming back every few years, each time more pronounced. I could no longer ignore it. Months leading up to last year’s decision to leave became fraught with hemming and hawing to the point where I just had to choose one way or another: branch out on my own or stay.

So here I am, smack dab in the middle of my journey in creating work as a solopreneur.

‘Blue Reflections’

I’m in the space between, working on foundational projects and products that fuel me day in and day out, but I’m not yet bringing in revenue. It’s a place of possibility and hope intermingled with fear and doubt, of satisfaction at seeing things come together and frustration at wanting them to come together faster.

It’s a place of opportunity.

Today my biggest obstacle is fear of never having a substantial income again, but I see possibility in others making a good living doing what they love and that pushes me to not give up. Through small actions I try to move through this fear as gracefully as I can, regularly calling on the Universe for healthy doses of faith, patience and confidence in my ability to make it work.

I am grateful for the opportunity to create work tailored to my soul and life goals. The journey started years ago, but I feel like it’s just beginning. Here’s to seeing where it will lead…

[Profile shot taken by Jag. Other images courtesy of Stephanie Guimond.]

Find out more about Stephanie on her website.

Julia Dolowicz Harvey

Bringing big creative dreams to life: Stephanie Guimond & Julia Dolowicz Harvey share their stories jules9

‘Doing what I love’ is about creating the life I want to live. It is related to my work but it’s also connected to my environment, my home, marriage, friendships, family, animals, community, the planet and even my spirituality. All of these are so important to me – I need to ‘do what I love’ in all of these areas. I need to be in tune with the very core of myself and honour what’s deep inside. There have been times when one area of my life is ok, the other fantastic and another abysmal; they all have a knock-on effect on each other. Happily I can now state that I am now doing ‘what I love’ because I am a Writer, Artist and Healer. This has led me to become an author, sell my art, teach workshops and offer reiki healing sessions.

In 2009 I was made redundant from my job at the University of Liverpool where I worked as a Career Development Manager – it was a good job that saw me travelling around the UK delivering workshops and presentations about how to create and develop your career, your life and your dreams.

I was gutted.

Having been at the university for 4 years, previously within the education team working with 16-19 year olds, I was always designing and delivering workshops and programmes. With a lecturing background, degree in Health, teaching certificate and counselling and NLP qualifications, it all worked beautifully.

It was only on being made redundant that I realised there was something missing. I was on auto pilot.

When I eventually finished work, synchronicity entered and family offered us a chance to move to France for a while. Two days after that phone call; an old colleague contacted me as she was moving back to Liverpool from Devon. Voila. We all house shifted.

Spending 5 months in France, we all went, me, my husband and Lucy, my adorable Jack Russell (she got her passport too). Here I immersed myself into my long-standing dream of becoming a writer and artist and I began to write my first book ‘Writing a UCAS personal statement in seven easy steps’. I started with subject matter of what I knew for sure, supported by my work history and background – writing expression statements to apply to university in the UK. I also reignited my passion for art and mixed media, buying a whole lot of art supplies from a lovely lady who was selling them to buy a motorbike. Once again, this sparked my sketching spirit, my love of colour, prisma pencils and paint. In my 5 lovely months, I practiced my French and living in the countryside. C’est moi!

Whilst in France, I began to create my cocoon art commissions for family and friends and I wrote, wrote, wrote, alongside developing my “ME mentoring” – where I support and mentor individuals who are suffering with M.E*/CFS* or Candidaisis, as well as career/lifestyle coaching. All of this I did over Skype.

*Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome

Back home to Liverpool having pitched my proposal to a publisher just as I left France, I received ‘the email’ four weeks later to say they wanted to publish it!

I then set about continuing ‘to create the life I wanted to love and live’ back in Liverpool. I began to build a portfolio of work and got a job as a careers coach at a local independent school and also worked in a health food shop – this was my bread and butter money, enabling me then to focus more on my writing and my art around it.

Currently, I work as an external marker for Liverpool John Moores University’s World of Work programme and am putting finishing touches to my second book ‘Creating your First Ever CV in 7 easy steps.’ In April, I will begin my 44 Wisdom Card Project, which will see me complete a set of 44 oracle cards, art work by me, with messages and wisdom inspired by others and written by me and I continue to create my commissions in my quirky cocoon style and have completed 12 in the last year.

There is no doubt our style of life has changed – more so relating to money and expenditure as we are no longer earning a full time salary. Both me and my husband work for ourselves. He used to work in Iraq as a close protection officer and he’s now a passionate earth warrior and keeper of the garden – he’s a gardener. However having become more money aware I feel better off – with my life, my health and my creativity.

With hindsight, I wish I would have taken the leap and gone on some creative retreats sooner. Especially when I was working full time. If I had attended workshops even when I wasn’t ‘doing what I loved’, I would have nourished my creative soul. I went to Portugal in May last year to do a ‘Flora Bowley, Bloom True’ workshop and I wish I had done it years before. It was so releasing.

I now realise that travel and removing yourself from your familiar environment really does get creative juices flowing.

Having my own mentor early on to focus my creative business would have been a good move, to help me plan things a little more. I didn’t have a marketing plan, and still need to develop this side of me.

My big dream is to have my third book published called Healing ME Healing You, all about how I healed myself from ME/CFS when I was in my 20s; have an exhibition of my 44 Wisdom Card Paintings at a wonderful venue in Liverpool; and to illustrate and publish my mum’s poetry. She’s 76 and a poet, now doing what she loves! Big dreams! But then you did ask.

[Images courtesy of Julia Dolowicz Harvey.]

To find out more about Julia visit her website]

This used to be my studio…

Posted on 2012-03-13 at 1:59 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

100 boxes and bags in storage, empty rooms, suitcases ready, and a huge to-do list still staring at me, but slowly, slowly, it is starting to feel like we are actually going on this big adventure…

It’s like I don’t have time to get emotional about moving but I am sure it will hit me when I eventually slow down in a couple of weeks’ time and stop to sip green tea under a cherry tree somewhere, gentle blossoms falling all around me… ahh can’t wait (although I actually can as I have far too much to do in the coming days…)

Please forgive me if the blog feels a little empty, like my studio, over the next couple of weeks. I promise it will be worth the wait once I have found a new temporary home somewhere in the Far East and I can get back into sharing photos and telling stories of far-away adventures!

Life as a designer-in-progress: Petra Kern’s story

Posted on 2012-03-12 at 7:48 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared story comes from Slovenian designer Petra Kern.

I would say my story is very basic and simple. It really is. But as I look back I consider myself quite lucky that things came to me in exactly this order and in this shares. I was journalist for women and lifestyle magazines since I was 19. As a friend said the other day, “Those were the dreams of that life.« But to become pattern designer suddenly became the dream of the life I am living now, and for the future”.

Yes, I always loved art I always longed to make it but I really never had the courage to actually paint and share my things. And I never really knew that a profession such as textile designer or surface designer even existed!

We all know those little nagging voices inside of us: ‘There are so many better than you. Oh, how would you do the art, you do not, repeat do not, have any art education. So we really need another artist anyway … ?’ Luckily the other »do what you love« voices were louder.

One day in 2009 I went shopping and my eyes were caught on set of cheap sparkling markers for kids. With those I created my first patterns.

These were my very first patterns and they made me drunk with joy and happiness.

It felt so good, that one glorious day when I was still on maternity leave (in 2010) I decided that I have to do this every day of my life or I am going to be very, very unfulfilled and miserable by the time I am eighty. Of course lots of fears came with my decision to do whatever it takes to live from my art and designs. I guess I can count myself lucky that every time I get down because of worries and self doubt those spirit-lifting voices suddenly appear with super strong power and scare those fears away for a while.

In two years my hand painted portfolio of patterns has grown, and I have tried every technique I’ve learned along the way.

I am still searching for my place in the world and right now I would describe myself as designer-in-progress who is ready to offer designs for licensing. I had to discover the whole new world of painting, mixed media, pattern design and computer skills in those two solid years. Now is time to find people and companies that will license my designs.

In your own business you overcome a lot of laziness and self doubt. I got through them with new computer pattern designing skills. I am totally self taught.

The greatest lesson my new business is teaching me every day is that once you have your own business nothing is too hard. You suddenly find a great amount of will inside you and a giant hunger for knowledge. Suddenly your little world become so much bigger and when you look around yourself you find that you are among your people who also do what they love. And one more thing – since I am doing what I love I am a person who loves Mondays. For me they are a beginning of a five day creative process. Totally worth it!

[All images courtesy of Petra Kern.]

Find out more about Petra and her designs on her website, Etsy shop, or Zazzle shop, or connect on Facebook.

Adventure planning

Posted on 2012-01-22 at 12:41 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

These days, in the quiet moments between the rushes of work, my mind drifts to the Orient, and to the adventures that are to come this year. Over the weekend we spent several happy hours shuffling through journalled lists of places we want to explore, things we want to do. Mostly we are just going to wait and see, but there is a delicious anticipation in the planning, and I am savouring that for now.

The Fire Within – a guest post by Christine Mason Miller

Posted on 2011-12-06 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

(Images via christinemasonmiller.com)

Way back when – in the fall of 1995 – I started a business called Swirly with no earthly idea what I was doing. The internet was just beginning to come into its own, but had yet to become the now-indispensible tool it is for creative entrepreneurs. There were no e-courses with step-by-step instructions on setting up a business, there was no Etsy, and it was not possible to instantly spread the word about my work to a global audience the way I can today with Twitter. I took one adult education course on the basics of the wholesale gift industry, and marched onward from there with no long-term plan, no start-up money, and no experience. In other words, I had to figure it out on my own, make it up as I went along, and pick myself up again and again after all of the slips, stumbles, and missteps that were impossible to avoid.

All I had was an idea I was wildly passionate about, and the belief that I could make it real.

That is all anyone who has pursued their creative passions and built a meaningful life ever started with – an idea. Whether the idea is to create a close-knit family, learn how to bake the perfect cupcake, open a ceramics studio, master the art of juggling, travel across the country, re-unite with a long-lost friend, or get back on a bicycle after a bad accident, it is the ideas that make our hearts sparkle (you know the ideas I’m talking about) that have the potential to transform our lives, and, in turn, the world. The ideas don’t have to be “big”, and they don’t have to involve international travel, Fortune 500 goals, or New York Times bestseller lists. They don’t need to go farther than one’s own backyard. If they are sincere, and made real with integrity, their light will travel beyond those boundaries without our having to do a thing. That is the funny thing about our creative passions – they are capable of traveling at the speed of light all on their own.

I think it is extraordinary how much information, guidance, encouragement, and practical support is available here in 2011. No matter what the dream or passion, it is possible to find and/or create a community for that passion, to promote and/or share it, and to learn how to integrate those ideas that make our hearts sparkle into our day-to-day lives. The availability of resources is truly endless. But beyond all the opportunities we now have to plan, prepare, educate ourselves, and organize our lives, it is important to remember that there is also value in the stumbles and gifts in the mistakes. There is something to be said for learning, researching, and prioritizing, but even more for the commitment to getting up each day and doing the work our passions require. My ability to create a passionate, meaningful life has absolutely been supported and furthered by classes I’ve taken, mentors I’ve trusted, and advisors I’ve hired, but if all I did was look outside myself for the answers I was seeking and the direction I felt like I was missing, I wouldn’t have gotten far.

Sixteen years ago, I secured a business license on the foundation of an idea, and the idea was to inspire others. Ever since then, this deep desire has taken me down dirt roads, to dead ends, across oceans, up winding staircases, and in hot air balloons. It has carried me, held me, thrown up roadblocks, and provided me with gifts that were far greater than I had ever imagined. Through it all, I have learned to trust my dreams, and to let them lead the way. And it is the day-to-day experiences of this journey, rather than any final goal, that have provided me with the ongoing inspiration to keep doing the work I am doing – the most important work of my life, my most meaningful work in the world.

***

Christine Mason Miller is a Santa Monica-based artist, writer, and explorer. Her next book – Desire to Inspire: Using Creative Passion to Transform the World – is now available at bookstores everywhere and Amazon.com.. Follow her adventures on www.christinemasonmiller.com

Do What You Love is one year old!

Posted on 2011-11-30 at 4:44 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

This month we celebrated one year of Do What You Love as a registered company (although the dreams have been in the works for much longer than that!) So much has happened, including the inaugural Do What You Love retreat a full six months ago – as I was reminded by one of the lovely participants who sent me a note recently saying,

“It’s lovely having that moment in time as a kind of benchmark for change and evolution (or even revolution!) It will always serve as a beautiful milestone in my life.”

I have to be completely honest and say that before Do What You Love I never thought for one moment I could create something that would have that kind of impact on an individual, and it is what makes everything feel so right – and makes me so grateful to everyone who has helped me make the choices that brought me right here, right now.

(Image: NavyBlur)

These past few weeks I have been doing a lot of reflecting on the Do What You Love journey in preparation for sharing it (highs, lows, finances, warts and all!) in January. I have trawled through a whole stack of journals, seeking the moments of sparkle and darkness, the whispers of intent and the hesitant recognition that it might just be working! I don’t normally read my own journals and they certainly aren’t written with the intention of showing them to anyone else, so to open them up to the class so completely makes me more than a little uncomfortable – but I am so intrigued by the story they tell that I know it is worth it in order to share them.

I will be sharing a few sneak peeks here over the coming weeks. For now I just want to acknowledge that this has been one of the best years of my life so far, and none of it would have been possible without the support of others – including YOU! So thank you. Truly, thank you so much.

***

Stay tuned for an exciting new project being unwrapped and announced here tomorrow! You are going to LOVE it!

On the right path: Jozica Rade and Christy Nimeh share their stories

Posted on 2011-11-14 at 3:00 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared stories come from art therapist Jozica Rade in Slovenia and artist Christy Nimeh in the US.

Jozica Rade

For me, ‘doing what you love’ means expressing yourself the best way you can – freely, and with an open heart… It means going with the flow, forgetting about time, hungry stomachs, or even about where you are. You just do it, without really knowing why (and from where this need comes). And guess what? You don’t really worry about the answers. Doing what you love is enough.

That’s how I feel when working with clients attending my art therapy or phototherapy sessions. I forget about myself and my needs, and I feel like I’m in a trance whenever I’m with them. They are my teachers, my inspiration, my way of learning about Life. I’m very thankful for them, for their open hearts and shared sad stories. It is not easy to tell your deepest thoughts to a stranger. I’m really thankful for their trust.

My journey to here is a long story, but there were moments in my life when I just knew I was on the right path. 17 years ago, miles and miles away from my home (in the US), I heard about art therapy for the first time. At that very first moment I knew that it was something I would like to do for life! But the circumstances at that time didn’t allow me to get into it then, and in fact ten years had to go by to make it happen – to begin my journey to become art therapist.

Studying a post-graduate program of art therapy was not easy. Not only because of all the books and texts and workshops, but rather because of the work we’ve had to do on ourselves. Lots of self-analyzing, observing our inner Selves, exploring our limits, revealing and working on our weaknesses… Sometimes it’s not easy to face all the little pieces of our-Selves, is it?

And just when I thought I was ready and happy to swim with the art therapy flow, another powerful idea hit me and I have gone through another wave of “I-know-what-I-(would)-love-to-do”! This time it is phototherapy. At one of the workshops I discovered this therapy technique and fell in love at once! How did I not know about it? A whole new world has opened to me and this river of energy pushed me in a new direction, learning all about this new therapeutic field. So I ended up choosing phototherapy for my final dissertation and research, and I even found mentors from abroad to help me out. Nothing can stop me now! I can’t even stop myself from thinking, breathing and ‘swimming’ in the river of art and phototherapy!!

Sometimes I’m sorry that I didn’t start studying art therapy in the US seventeen years ago. Maybe I didn’t try hard enough to make my dream come true – I would love to have started this journey sooner. But… who knows? Maybe I was not ready, maybe I didn’t understand the purpose of that mission, maybe I didn’t understand people the way I do now?? I believe everything happens for a reason, at the right time and in the right place. That’s why I believe that my journey is the best journey for me. I go with the flow…

The only thing that makes me sad is that I can’t work as art therapist full time. Social support and understanding of this field are lacking here in Slovenia. The projects I have proposed to the government – projects working with vulnerable people like victims of crime, women in shelters and people on very low incomes – have all been turned down. Every project needs funds, but social ones rely on the good people who are willing to help and support them. The current model of the social field doesn’t generate its own money, so it is always struggling, always begging… That’s what makes me sad as I know quite a few people who would give their hearts to make a change and help all the people in need.

That’s why I have a dream (no, I won’t give up!). I have a dream of a beautiful place, a special place for those people who need our help. A place where they are able to get themselves back on their feet again with the help of art therapy, phototherapy or other therapies. And angels in the shape of good people will support our projects and our mission. They will trust us and believe in us. I dream… I know I dream big, but you know, I can wait another seventeen years to make it happen. It’s not ‘long’ for me if I know I’d be blessed to help a person or two or three…

I’m following my calling, I’m on a journey… I hope your journey is as special, inspiring, fulfilling and yours as it is mine. Enjoy the ride and… do what you love!

[Images courtesy of Jozica Rade.]

Find out more about Jozica on her website ‘Creatissimo Lab’ here.

***

Christy Nimeh

I have always thought of myself as a sort of “secret artist.” One who only dares to show others the very best that I have to offer. I have been creating in one form or another since I was a little girl. Painting was always my passion, but with no formal training or an art degree, I didn’t think of myself as a ‘real artist’. Over the years I painted less and less because the fear of rejection grew bigger and bigger. I found myself completely shutting down. Still needing to be creative, but fully aware of that ‘secret artist’ that wouldn’t go away, I dove into other avenues such as interior design, jewelry making, styling, extravagant parties, and a little gardening. Not to mention raising a family. While learning a lot during this time, I couldn’t figure out why I felt so empty and unfulfilled creatively. I remember saying to my husband that I felt like I was clawing the walls down inch by inch in search for something bigger… my true voice.

Fast forward to about two years ago, I had an explosive breakthrough. My husband was ill and needed to have heart valve replacement surgery. The thought and fear of the unknown lit a fire inside of me that I thought was long gone! Thinking about my two children, (one of them having autism), and the future, led me to face many fears and the ever present ‘secret artist’ head on. On a whim, I enrolled in Kelly Rae Roberts’ ‘Flying Lessons’ e-course. Let me just say it changed my life. I remember shedding a lot of tears during that time, but it was in the peeling back of all those layers that I realized that it’s the process, not the destination that matters. That was a big concept change for me – the first of many changes that I have made on the road to Doing What I Love.

Now I make time for myself and my art. I am more open to anything and everything that the universe is telling me. This next lesson is a work in progress, but I am learning that it’s OK if the laundry and cleaning isn’t done from time to time, and that it doesn’t make me a bad mom or wife. I have also learned that I am forever learning, and it’s OK to not have all the answers. Mistakes will be made, but I now view them as a learning tool and a necessary part of my success. Since I believe in the journey, unfolding as it’s supposed to, I wouldn’t change anything, except maybe for listening to my amazing Grandma Eileen and my dear friend Leslie. Both encouraged me all along to never stop painting and they believed in me as an artist.

Now I listen to my dreams and give them the honor and power they deserve. While I have many dreams and goals swirling around in my head, I have currently set my sights on opening up an art store that specializes in the most current products.

[All images courtesy of Christy Nimeh.]

Find out more about Christy here.

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The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design featuring Rachael Taylor starts TODAY!

If you sign up now you can still squeeze in! Don’t miss out, register here

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone: Claire Maguire shares her story

Posted on 2011-10-03 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared story comes from Claire Maguire.

To do what you love means each day is a joy. An adventure. A discovery. Being able to see the world with fresh eyes. To be thankful that the moment is a gift to be cherished. It’s when work loses meaning. You’re in flow. Work, life is harmonious, it’s easy, effortless. You become lost in that which you do.

It sounds so romantic. And is it even achievable? For a duality of life in doing what you love means leaping with faith and that can evoke fear…yet to quote Neale Donald Walsche “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”.

For me the leap is saying yes to pursuing the pleasure I gain when I teach women about the sensuality in food, in particular raw food; to give women the ability to re-connect into their purpose; to release old pain and to say yes to innermost desires. To be able to put yourself first and lose the guilt. And I have the absolute honour of doing that through running retreats.

The realization that this is what I wanted to do, could do, even dare to dream of, hit me over 4 years ago. When I discovered that raw food can literally change your life it sparked within me the passion to share this information. I became a coach and in doing so, my life and the path I had followed made sense – what a relief! I visualised the sound of women laughing as I showed them how to make sense of their lives, dreams and desires. I knew that I loved creating experiences and events and so the seedling of an idea to run retreats was planted.

It’s been a slow process of seeing that dream become a reality. I started a coaching practice initially which finessed my craft. I run on-line coaching programmes and I have participated in courses and worked with mentors myself.

I fortunately had a supportive family who saw the value in my dream and together we renovated an old farmhouse in North Yorkshire (UK) into a luxury boutique retreat centre.

It’s been a monumental journey; I left a marriage, moved with my children, was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. I had to make a ‘comeback’ with my coaching practice. I had to re-inspire myself and my passion for food, I learnt more and more deeply about the importance of self-care on all levels – mind, body, spirit and the impact our emotions play in our well-being.

It’s been an eventful 4 years. But with the loyalty of my clients, the faith of my family and the support of my friends, the opening of The Retreat at Split Farthing Hall was a treasured event. I was living, breathing, doing what I love.

With hindsight I realise that everything takes much longer than anticipated and a plan of working 6 months ahead instead of reacting in the moment would have been beneficial. I could have held more belief and networked like crazy. Yet I do believe everything happens when you’re ready. And it’s only now that I’m ready to take the next big leap and see The Retreat at Split Farthing Hall become an in-demand; much loved boutique retreat; featured in the glossy magazines and Sunday supplements; to build a community of passionate women and to touch the lives of the women that come here to experience the magic.

[Images courtesy of Claire Maguire]

Find out more about retreats at Split Farthing Hall here. To find out more about well-being and food coach Claire visit her website here.

Everyone’s journey starts with a small step: three inspiring women share their stories

Posted on 2011-09-12 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared stories come from Jill Metz, Laura Gates and Johwey Redington.

Jill Metz

In 2007 I was happy. But not the kind of happy that fills you up. I was satisfied but still hungry. I think that was the first step for me in doing what I love, realizing I wasn’t filled up and feeling like I did deserved to be filled up. I was married to the love of my life with two healthy children, a boy and girl and I was Blessed. But after 8 years of marriage I began to feel resentful and dissatisfied. I had been filling up with my family for so long , trying to be perfect and expecting them to be my whole world. Needless to say, that was trouble waiting to happen!

Then came the question…what was missing in my life? It was at that time i began to dig deeper and look at my life and to discover the bigger picture of who I was. What I honestly discovered was that I didn’t even know myself. I didn’t know what I believed, didn’t know what I was good at, didn’t know what my passions were. I had a very challenging childhood and it was more about survival than being a kid. Therefore I lived my young adult years, ages 16-25, trying to be the kid I didn’t get to be. Usually this is the time when people start to look at themselves and ask the type of questions that lead to this discovery of self. I was a late bloomer!

So I had to go back to the beginning and I asked myself, “What did I like to do when I was a little girl?” This was not an easy place to revisit but I have to say with that blast to the past came a great deal or healing, forgiveness, and learning to love myself more. I was the little girl who was always creating something, usually out of nothing. I was the kid who would rather hang out in the craft store than the toy store. I was the little girl who would set up a tattoo stand outside her apartment building in hopes someone would actually pay me to draw a mermaid on their arm with a magic marker. Just like my mother, God had given me the gift of CREATIVITY! So I went back to that and picked up the old crusty paint brush that had been neglected for so many years and I went to work. I quickly discovered mixed media and things started to make sense, I was seeing the bigger picture.

Unlike some of the inspiring stories you hear here, I did not quit my job and within a year make a good living. I was just too fragile for that and didn’t have the courage or confidence to dive in. I did begin a small on-line business making mixed media picture frames and got accepted into some local art shows. This was good for my self esteem and I started to believe in myself. That was four years ago….

Today I am doing what I love! I have an amazing family who I truly love and appreciate more every day. I have the privilege of being here to prepare their food, wipe their noses, drive them to their cross country and basketball games, send them off on the bus and I’m here when they get home. Mostly I have the privilege to pray with them and for them. The other part of the picture is I’m a mixed media artist! I have a website, a blog, I teach mixed media art workshops, and still continue to do select juried art shows. I have been invited to display my work in art galleries and have had inquires about offering a wholesale line. I have recently been exploring the world of licensing and attended Surtex last March in NY City. I am praying about those opportunities and each new opportunity that comes my way. Last month I finally got the courage to submit my work to my favorite international magazine and I’m hopeful that they will publish my artwork.

I don’t think you can really do what you love for life until you know who you are. I was a mouse on a wheel. To everyone else I looked happy, I thought I was happy. But then I got hungry and I listened to that. I didn’t settle! Instead I began a journey. A journey of FAITH, COURAGE, HEALING, and TRUST. Everyone’s journey looks different, but they all start with a step, and then another step, and then another. I remind myself life is not a race…it is a journey. I can’t worry with how good I’m not, how slow I am, how much time I wasted. I can only take that step today in order to do what I love for life.

[All images courtesy of Jill Metz]

Find out more about Jill on her website here.

Laura Gates

As a kid I envied people who knew what they wanted to be when they grew up. I didn’t have a clue. I lamented this fact with my dad in the kitchen one afternoon 30 years ago, wondering what my college major should be.

“What if I stuck a hot poker in your foot right now and you had to tell me what you wanted to be?” asked my dad. “Um. A writer?” I said meekly. Needless to say, I chose psychology and quickly transferred into business. (Parents, don’t try this at home!)

One thing led to another and I ended up working in banking on Wall Street in the wild 80s. Although I excelled and climbed the corporate ladder, I felt creatively vacant and desperately tried to find work in other areas, to no avail.

It was ultimately falling head over heels in love with a handsome young South American that catalyzed the change. In a potentially career limiting move, I quit my job and followed him to South America, where we promptly got married and traveled for a year. After returning to New York I was hired back by the bank, still clueless as to my life calling. My sister urged me to move to California, and a friend offered me a job at a PR firm. In little over a year I was serendipitously given the chance to take over another woman’s business who was pregnant and moving. From one client at $500 a month I quickly grew my company – marketing and promoting women-owned businesses – making six figures within the year.

The early 90’s were exciting times and I was hugely successful, but in the midst of the dot.com boom my husband left me. I was devastated. I managed to keep the business going, but would curl into a fetal position at night and cry myself to sleep. Within a year he married his assistant, a several-years younger version of me. In addition to feeling horribly rejected I had become a cliché – and I was barely over 30!

It was thanks to my husband leaving that led me to my current career as a leadership trainer and coach. One day at lunch a client wanted to know how I was doing. I burst into tears crying telling her the whole story. She recommended I do a workshop that changed her life with Learning as Leadership, and that was the turning point for me. Learning about how my behaviors contributed to what wasn’t working in my life gave me the power to change. And 16 years later, I am working as an executive coach and trainer for the company that leads those very same trainings. Working with people to help them find their passion and overcome the obstacles that get in their way is my passion.

It sounds crazy, but today I’m grateful my husband walked out on me. It was a big kick in the ass and propelled me to truly find my life purpose. It also led to my spiritual quest which has me co-leading journeys around the globe to work with indigenous healers, and pursuing a Master’s in Intuition Medicine.

Now remarried, on the cusp of my 49th birthday, I am once again putting tender green shoots into the ground, exploring new territory. The high school girl who timidly said she wanted to be a writer back in the kitchen that day is finally emerging. I have found my voice through my blog, telling my stories, expressing my authentic self.

As we approach unprecedented times of change on our planet, I am listening carefully once again to the signs the universe is sending me and I wonder. What’s next? But unlike younger versions of myself, I know and trust that everything is unfolding just as it should. And there is nothing I need do but surrender to the Signs.

[All images courtesy of Laura Gates.]

Find out more about Laura on her website.

Johwey Redington

My journey started when I became an architect. My parents wanted me to be an accountant and take over the family business, but I had always been artistically-inclined and knew I wanted a creative career. I was only allowed to pursue a licensed profession, and architecture had the right mix of art and science so it seemed a good choice at the time. As an architect, I loved seeing dreams transformed into well-designed usable spaces which, in turn, promised to provide their users with memorable experiences. That was the satisfaction I got from my job – creating spaces for people to enjoy. (It wasn’t always pleasurable though. Most of the time, I was wrestling with contractors and building inspectors! Still I loved what I did.)

Being married and having children changed my priorities. At this stage in my life, I found myself juggling between the competing demands of my professional career and motherhood. I was living two lives – architect during the day and wife and mother at night. (At times, the architect would even encroach on family time!) I started to feel no fulfillment in my work anymore and desired to give my full presence to my two daughters – at least in their formative years. So after several years of professional practice, I became a full-time mom.

The transition from architect to stay-at home-mom wasn’t easy. I grew up in a society that doesn’t place much value on parenting as a valid and distinguished occupation. And for someone as career-driven as I am, I somehow felt displaced. People went from “Oh wow, you’re an architect!” to “You stay home all day?!? What do you do?” Somehow they don’t give much credit to the challenging, demanding, and stressful job of being a mother. I didn’t know how to label myself. (What do I put as my occupation? Leaving it blank makes me feel like a bum.) I was loving taking full charge of my children’s upbringing (I was even homeschooling them) – I knew what I was doing was vital and important, and that I was the only one who can do it – but I couldn’t reconcile who I was to the world.

Throughout all these, I continued to create. Art is inherent in me – I’ve always known it is essential to my soul. It’s what made me fall in love with architecture in the first place. It’s what makes me come alive – the ability to express and interpret my experiences visually and creatively. As a full-time mom, I was able to explore more freely and play more creatively. I rediscovered the joys of mixed media and book arts, developed my skills as a photographer, and got introduced to the world of fabric arts. The best thing is that art integrates well to our family lifestyle – it doesn’t compete with my role as a mother and wife, in fact, it complements it.

In this path of putting my children first, I eventually learned to deepen my awareness for each present moment. In so doing, I gained a greater sense of freedom and self-understanding. I’ve come to terms with what’s really important to me and developed a confidence in my abilities that I lacked before. This gave me the courage to share my journey and open my art to the world. And now, in this current stage of my life, I’ve decided to build my career as an artist as I continue to be a mindful parent (and person in general). Sometimes I get scared, sometimes my confidence wanes. It’s a whole new industry, a whole new community. But my inspiration never falters and I keep on moving forward.

So what does it mean to do what you love? For me, it means living every minute of each day as fully as possible, even if I have to live my life in stages. At present, I’m enjoying my moment-to-moment relationship with my family and I’m creating to my heart’s content. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

In retrospect, I wouldn’t change anything in my past (not so easy to say when experiences are fresh) because I believe that everything that happened in my life brought me to where I am today – and where I am right now will bring me to something even greater in the future. I know this because I believe and I keep on trying. And wherever my art will take me, I know with confidence that I’ve already carried out my life’s masterpieces – my two lovely daughters!

[All images courtesy of Johwey Redington]

Find out more about Johwey on her website.

Flying the nest… we’re moving to Japan!

Posted on 2011-09-09 at 10:43 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

I am a wanderer at heart, but I am also Taurean through and through – which means I like to surround myself with beautiful things, and create a secure home. This internal contradiction often pulls me in different directions, and right now has manifested itself as a very exciting decision… we are moving to Japan from next March for 8-9 months!

Image: Cover of ‘Kodansha Bilingual Encyclopedia of Japan’

Last Summer we bought our lovely house, and have been so happy here, but in the past few months my man and I have started to get itchy feet. I have long had a deep love of Japan, having lived in Kyoto for a year as a 19-year old student, and then in the snowy north, and in Tokyo for four more years in my twenties. My man spent several years of his childhood in Hong Kong, but has never been to Japan, so we decided that now is as good a time as any!

To me Japan is a magical place, a breathtakingly beautiful place, and a place where anything seems possible. It has also been home to some of my craziest, funniest adventures, and most deeply thought-provoking experiences. I have found myself dreaming of Kyoto quite often recently, and have long harboured a secret wish to spend several months just wandering – taking photos, writing, exploring, catching up with old friends, doing a class or two in indigo dyeing, papermaking or pottery perhaps… And my man wants to learn the language which has captivated me. So he is taking a sabbatical, and will study in the mornings, then spend the rest of the time exploring. And as for me – I have no plan whatsoever!

I have a feeling this is going to be a very precious time, and I want to soak in every inch of it. And I cannot wait to share it all with you!

PS. For this reason I have decided not to run a Do What You Love retreat in England next year. The next one will be in 2013 – I hope you can wait that long! (And maybe, just maybe, I’ll organise one in Japan, if anyone would be interested??)

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Did you hear the news? The Art and Business of Surface Pattern featuring Rachael Taylor launched yesterday! You will LOVE it – take a look over here!