In thinking about Mother’s day this year, I decided to make a card instead of buying one. I was instantly reminded of the countless hours I spent making cards for my family when I was younger. Sitting in the basement, surrounded by recycled crayons and leftover scrap paper, (after making the rest of our family swear they wouldn’t peek at my creations) my head swirled with design ideas and thoughtful lyrics. I fantasized about seeing their faces as they opened the card that I spent – what seemed like – hours on. I designed each letter slowly, carefully. I pencil-sketched the headline before using the unforgiving crayon or marker.
I cut. I glued. I dreamed.
I thought about all of this as I pulled these images together. This photo I took in Hawaii – on the Kalalau Trail. The illustrations I did by hand. It felt like a piece of me, just like those handmade cards by my six-year-old self. I thought about how my career as a designer literally began in that basement over twenty years ago… and about all of the decisions that I’ve made since… how then have brought me to this point today, where I am so very, very happy to be.
It made me realize that there are two very distinct reasons I found a career that I love and I would like to share them with you:
The first reason is, quite simply, that I was born a creative being. I have in me a need to create, to see things aesthetically, to find meaning in the meaningless. It is as natural to me as breathing, eating, laughing.
The second is because I was raised by parents that pushed. Supported. Believed. They crumpled fears and welcomed my challenges. They protected me only from physical harm. They let me make mistakes. They allowed me to fall so I learned to stand up again. They taught me to welcome the unknown, to brave the darkness and to shun weakness.
The career I’ve chosen is a shaky one. There are no guarantees as an artist. To my parents’ horror, my gpa wasn’t even considered when I applied to my first job. I was – and am – only as good as my portfolio. The leap of faith I’ve had to take in this career path has been immense.
And so now I see, it is what my parents have instilled in me that has gotten me this far. Somehow along the way, I was able to take my creations off of our refrigerator, out of the safe-haven of our home, and open it up to the criticism of this harsh world. This is only possible because of the courage that my parents taught me in my life.
And so, on this Mother’s Day, I’m reminded of the strength possessed by my mother and am grateful to her for sharing it with me. It has allowed me to chase my dreams and control the outcomes in my life. It has brought happiness straight to my doorstep.
I love you, Mom. I hope you have a very happy Mother’s Day.
