March 2026

Another difficult month. Work continued to kick my ass as spring travel season started. I still didn’t feel fully recovered from fall travel. But that’s the thing with this particular job: it doesn’t wait for you to catch up. I felt…weary. Always. 

Then, tragically, a family member fell ill. As with most things, it happened slowly. Then all at once. Since time couldn’t and wouldn’t wait, I felt like I was trying to claw my way through everything. The weight of grief. The stress of expectations. The continuous scream into the void “Hold on! Hold ON!” I needed a breath. I needed a change. 

So that’s exactly what I did.

After months of thinking about all of the different paths, options, perspectives, I decided to take a risk. I decided to leave my very exhausting, very STABLE job, and start all over. Again. 

Do I recommend doing this? Absolutely not. Especially in times like these. Thankfully, I have a buffer. And a support system. Something I never, ever take for granted. I also have many things to fall back on: teaching, part time gigs, art markets, etc. While it’s…rough around the edges, it’s given me something I haven’t had in a long, long time: a deep breath of relief. 

I know I still have a lot to figure out, but each day I feel more like myself again. Someone who I thought was lost for good. I should have known I’d get her back. But sometimes when you are drowning in your own negative thoughts for so long, you really can’t see the big picture anymore.  

This is a strange update, I know. But to be fair, March was a strange month. 

One amazing thing I’d like to highlight, however, is the Suicide Prevention Fundraiser I participated in towards the end of the month. A really lovely community member reached out to me at the end of 2025 and asked if I’d be willing to donate some pieces for the poster design and the auction. My answer was immediately YES. I was incredibly honored. 

I was also invited to attend as a guest. That scared the shit out of me…to go to an event alone. At first I felt awkward, but the organizer graciously introduced me to a table of other artists. “The Cool Table” is what I called them. I’m pleased to say that we have all stayed connected since the event. It’s so special to meet other artists in your community….supporting each other, inspiring each other. Absolutely imperative as an active artist and something that’s been lacking for the last few years. 

I took a very intentional break for the last few years, mostly because of my day job. But also I felt that I needed to take a huge step back to improve my skills and think about art as a hobby instead of a goal. I very much enjoyed the time away. I didn’t make an absurd amount of work, but it was definitely more than I would have thought given my time-constraints and my headspace at the time. One thing I know for sure is that I truly did miss sharing art with other people and connecting with my community. This fundraiser certainly cemented that fact. I think it’s completely okay, if not necessary, to take a step away from things. To change your perspective. To remove the noise. To take away some of that pressure. And when you’re able to come back into the light? Oh. It’s such a beautiful feeling. 

I’ve said it so many times but…that push-pull of art. That’s what it’s all about. 

Thank you so much for being here! Brighter days ahead. Talk again soon.