The Hardest Canvas to Paint.

I’ve always believed in the power of art. It's something that can be pretty and powerful to look at... but it's also a tool. It's something that can help people feel seen, express what words cannot, or even understand themselves a little better. That belief is what guides everything I do, whether I’m creating a new piece, designing a journal, or consulting with other creatives on ways to make their work more inclusive, honest, or healing.

But here’s something I don’t always say out loud. Psssst, come closer.... Doing that for others is so much easier than doing it for myself.

I talk a lot about reflection, growth, and emotional expression. I build tools and experiences that encourage people to slow down and pay attention to their inner voice. And yet, I still struggle with some of the same doubts I try to help others overcome. Insecurities about whether I’m doing enough, whether my voice matters, whether people will understand what I’m trying to say, or whether I’m even saying it clearly.

I’ve been actively working on this in therapy. It has been an up-and-down journey. Some days, I am proud of how far I have come. Other days, I feel like I have not moved at all. I am an introvert. I’ve always hidden. Literally hidden in oversized baggy clothes, behind big hair or hair that covered my face, behind facial piercings, because it felt easier to be seen for the distraction.

Here’s what I’m learning. Transparency doesn’t mean having it all figured out. It means being willing to show up as you are, even when you’re unsure. 

Art has always been that for me. It is the place where I can be loud and quiet at the same time. Where I can celebrate culture and community, or sit with sadness without rushing to solve it. It is how I process, how I ask questions, and how I remind myself that I deserve to take up space even when it is uncomfortable.

I'd like to extend a little challenge to you (courtesy of my therapist), and to myself. Write one compliment to yourself every day for 7 days.

Don't write anything performative. Make it something real. Maybe it is small, like "I kept going today when I didn’t want to." Maybe it is huge, like "I am someone who brings light." Whatever it is, let it be yours.

We deserve to speak kindly to ourselves and treat them with kindness. To make space for both our power and our pain/challenges. Sometimes, the most radical thing we can do is say something good about who we are out loud.

So here’s mine. I create space for others to be seen, and I am learning that I deserve the same space for myself, too.

What’s yours?