I attended a book study this morning and we talked about living our lives with intentionality. The importance of kindness. Why we grow when we step outside of our comfort zones. The great discussion got me thinking about how my life has changed since I opened my Bags of Blessing company and began seeing myself as an artist.
The answer is I've changed a whole lot! I have met and become friends with a fabulous group of people whom I never would have known if I had stayed in my little SAHM world.
Many of those people are also great artists on Etsy. There is one particular group called the Promotional Frenzy that is especially great. The whole goal of this group is to promote OTHER people's works. How crazy is that? Spend all that time trying to help someone else get sales when your own shop is struggling? But that is exactly what this group does. And it works. Kindness begets kindness. Everything that goes around, comes around. And all those other cliches. They are really present in this group. You can see what I'm talking about by visiting the thread tonight at 9pm EST for a 30 minute promotional frenzy.
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6656811&page=58
Many of the people I have met are right here in Indianapolis. They are in the fashion and design world locally and they have all given me encouragement when I needed it most. I am constantly amazed at the kindness of others. I have found myself at places where no one could have convinced me that I belong. But there I was, and people were appreciating my work! I have items for sale in local boutiques. I have had other designers call me with custom orders. All this, and many days I still don't have the confidence in my work that other people do.
As the holidays grow closer, my business picks up. My ego gets a boost, and I am working like crazy. This is fabulous. This is my life now. I live it intentionally, and I try to practice kindness. I am an artist and I will be the best artist that I can be.