SASHÉ STUDIO TURNS ONE!

1st birthday card - one of the last designs I did at my old job.

One year ago today, I left my full-time 'dream' design, corporate-cubicle-J-O-B to pursue my real dream creative life of being an artist. Today I will have a small celebration of this big step but, we're also doing the final ritual that the Mangalore family needs to do to say goodbye to Ajja. So a twinge of sadness, but a day of celebrating love, passion and pursuing a life lived to the fullest. Since I don't have many words to share this week, I'll like to highlight a *shared stories* - guest post I did a little while ago for the Do What You Love blog. It's about doing what I love - my journey towards Sashé Studio. Here's an excert that is in the heart of what I will reflect on during this week as I celebrate. (So much learning!):

I wish I could say “I’m living my happily ever after”. In a way I am, but I’m also at the beginning of a new story. Now when I read those blogs about artists and their life, I feel like I’m reading my own future diary but I still have to LIVE in the present. I’m being a full-time artist now! That isn’t to say all is sunshine and rainbows. The fear monsters still screams occasionally, my days are filled with learning to listen to both my monsters and faith. To be a beginner again means learning to be humble, being willing to fail. I realise I’ve had to change my lifestyle too, budget-wise as well as learning the difference in managing myself as a business owner vs being an employee. Learning to be kind to myself when I fail; learning to pick myself up and keep moving forward. Accepting baby steps instead of jumping to the happy ending; learning to celebrate those small steps too. Learning about all the knowledge I didn’t know I didn’t know to live an artist’s life and business, but it all began with making that choice to actively DO what I love. That has made all the difference.