During this sabbatical, I have been doing some heavy lifting in the quiet. I am thinking deeply about the direction I am headed as an artist and the “hidden” desires I have been carrying for some years now.

I will be honest: there is a specific path I have been afraid to take. For a long time, I wondered if I was “good enough” at the core skills required. It is all too easy to label a dream as “out of reach” simply to protect ourselves from the daunting work of learning, making mistakes and failing.

But self-doubt and procrastination are only enemies if we let them stay in the driver’s seat. I have decided to shift my internal dialogue from “I wish” to “Let’s see.” The only way to know if a dream is a calling is to start practicing.

As a mixed-media abstract artist, this evolution is vital. The beauty of mixed media is the ability to push boundaries and explore a myriad of materials and techniques. Developing new bodies of work is not just about the final piece; it is about how I choose to show up as a credible artist—with courage, practice, and an open heart.

This is when the desire becomes real.

What are the deepest desires for your life?