I did not understand it as a child, but I do now: creativity and curiosity helped save my sanity and my soul.

I learned at an early age to adapt and reinvent myself. But when do children truly know who they are? Almost never.

As a child, creativity was an essential part of me and the way I moved through the world; and still is. I designed original art projects and board games, made wallpaper collages, wrote poems and short stories, composed songs and guitar music, and discovered my voice through singing.

As an adult, I wanted creativity to remain the driving force in my life. That choice did not always fit neatly within society’s expectations or traditional ideas of success. It has been a long and difficult road, often without a safety net. But by remaining devoted to my passions, I eventually created the life I wanted, one shaped by my own ideas, values, time, love, and purpose.

A life lived on my own terms.

Does that make me a bit of a control freak? Perhaps.
But I prefer to think of myself as the compassionate, creative director of my own life, and I am proud of it.

You can be too. Take that first step.