For a long time, I lived a life that didn't really belong to me. It felt normal at the time. I was shaped by what others needed and expected of me. I didn't have a relationship with Erica. I had never slowed down enough to notice that I had desires and needs that I had to supply for myself.
And then life did its thing, and I was forced to face things about myself, and how my brain works, the way my body holds emotion, the grief I had tucked into corners I never visited. Then suddenly, I wasn't living for anyone else, but I still wasn't sure how to live for myself.
In the midst of this crumbling, I found the most central part of me craving something that didn't demand an identity or a performance. I wanted to cultivate a space where my hands could work so my brain could rest.
And then jewelry re-entered my life.
My stepdad gifted my sister and me his mother's lifetime collection of beads and gems. These resources had been plopped in my hands, and I felt an undeniable pull to create with them.
From that moment on, things unfolded naturally. Everything felt strangely guided. Every decision felt authentic. My hands knew where to go before my mind even understood what I was doing. Within this, I learned to be kinder to myself. More forgiving. I learned that I didn't have to listen to thoughts of doubt and shame - but rather thank them for protecting and move on to a more productive one.
So, this was not a business plan, not a brand strategy, not even a "dream" in the traditional sense. It was simply a return to self.
Whimsy Virtue is my inner world and the place where I can create without performing, even if I have to remind myself that truth sometimes. It has allowed me to express without explanation and follow impulses that felt honest instead of logical.
It has added much to my life
I hope it can add to yours too
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