Welcome to The Work & The Wonder
The last six years have passed in a blur, leaving me wondering where time has gone. I imagine many of us feel the same, especially after Covid. For me, that time was coupled with grief and recovery from a personal tragedy just a few months before lockdowns.
Since that time, I’ve embarked on a journey to find myself again. Grief has a way of stripping you down to bare bones, forcing you to reevaluate your life. I had to relearn what truly mattered and confront what wasn’t working—so I could rediscover the wonder of living.
You know when you’re a kid, and everything is exciting and new, even if it’s scary at first? You do things for the pure joy found in the doing. Then, somewhere along the way, you learn that checking off to-do lists, and taking on endless responsibilities based on others’ expectations is how you become and adult. Well, that was me too. I was always an art kid at heart, I loved drawing an painting, being outside, playing music. I was never concerned with how good it was or if I could make money someday with my hobbies.
When I went to college, I switched from fine art to graphic design, believing it was the only path to a ‘real’ job. I put my passions on the backburner, and worked my way up the corporate ladder. During this time, I was moving, falling in love, getting married, buying and fixing up our first home. I was checking off all the boxes on my perfect life list.
Then, life took the wheel. Tragedy struck, my health took a turn, and grief entered the picture. This was quickly followed by the pandemic lockdowns and I was suddenly working from home and unsure of my future.
Looking back now, I can see that this shift was necessary. I was on auto-pilot, doing all the “right” things, people-pleasing…producing. I never stopped to think if this was what I really wanted to be doing.
I started small, first healing my body with rest, nourishment, and daily walks. Then healing my mind with therapy, and the love of my friends and family. And finally, healing my soul, by returning to the things that brought me joy as a child; walking in nature, painting, playing guitar, reading, journaling, and taking photos. Little by little I came back to life. I found the wonder again.
The Work & The Wonder is my way of sharing this journey—blending art, nature, and healing into something meaningful. If you’re navigating your own difficult season, know that you’re not alone. I hope this space helps you find a little more wonder, too.
