I am an old soul that grew up too fast.
Not more than eight weeks out of college, I was hired as a financial analyst for the Federal Reserve Bank of Denver and I found myself eating lunch with my coworkers one day. Momentarily freed from my beige cubicle cell, they were talking about what they ‘wished’ they had done with their lives. Even at my young age I thought, “these people can’t be more than thirty and they acted as if it was over for them.” Wow. Eat your sandwich, shut up and plow on, I thought.
Suddenly, without forethought, I had the uncontrollable urge to leave. I mean quit. I literally couldn’t take another minute. I remember my coworkers staring at me as I went over to my manager and told her I needed to leave. She knew exactly what I meant. I handed over my security badge. There was nothing to go to, except to freedom, wherever that was, whatever that was, I was destined to find it, sunlight hitting my eyes as I drove away.
If you had told me 35 years ago I would be at this thing called Sweet Bird as a full time artist and jeweler today, I would have laughed in your face. Self-taught with one jewelry class under my belt my senior year in college, I had found true love.
Now, decades later, I have a better understanding of what it means to live a good life, but it all began with a choice, to silently leave the bank that day when trumpets should have blared.
Our mission in this life is simple. It is simply to become who we are.
Looking back, that old soul in my heart knew better and didn’t justify the money or the security or the fears and left. I couldn’t articulate then what I know now. And that is when we don’t follow our life’s purpose it is the absolute worst thing we can do. When we find our power and self-respect we blossom. Our minds can justify and cloud what our hearts know down to our core.
I’ve experienced failure in my business over and over, peaks and valleys and always will. I have tried to quit at times, but Sweet Bird has followed me. I realize now, the work has become a practice. It is my meditation and ultimately my savior in times of need. Sawing, soldering, stamping, one piece at a time. And ever so slowly, emerged the gifts of self-respect, coming into who I truly am, combined with a power greater than myself truly inexplicably guiding me. Nowadays, I always remember that what I do is not about a product, but relationships, some being over thirty-five years strong.
After 35 years I love what I do now more than ever. Therefore, I will never quit creating for you. There are so many myths of being an artist, but at the end of the day it comes down to good ‘ol hard work. No magic, just showing up, day after day, piece after piece. Literally, blood, sweat and tears over the years.
What is your laugh out loud dream? Your true calling? Are you doing it, or do you long to do it, whatever “it” is? Invite in your spirit and your ancestors and ask for help. Whatever you do, do this and I guarantee you not only miracles, but a full and happy life will show up and follow you, cheering you on not to give up.
And coming this spring I would love to share what I have learned over the years to help you craft your life with meaning as well. Dates and details will be coming in the next newsletter so stay tuned!
Yes, I am an old soul. I know a few things, but I’ve still got a long way to go.
Here’s to our one and only precious lives,
Xoxo, Nancy