“Good morning—welcome to earth. It’s a fresh new day—a new canvas is expecting you” —That was the sun hitting my face this morning.

I find myself deeply invested in my jewelry work and business; is it scary every day? Sure, I am scared of all the same things you are—what if I am not doing enough? What if I lose creativity? What if I do become a starving artist? I have accepted my feelings. They are valid, but they do not define me nor shall they stop me from living my life.

Finding motivation is especially difficult when the results are uncertain. Trust me, I have made pieces I was deeply disappointed by and they now only exist in my memory. But I have also made beautiful work I hope will live forever. However, both of my successful and not so successful work has taught me the skills and lessons that have pushed me to where I am today and taught me there is nothing to fear other than not trying. Like the saying goes: there is no light without darkness.

With every piece I make I think about what each design says about my work—I sit to reflect and think. How does this one piece exist within the DNA of my work?