We connected with some of the most resilient folks in the community and one of the most insightful questions we had an opportunity to ask centered around whether there was ever a time they almost gave up. Highlighting some of the responses below.
Te-Jay Brewer
On this journey, I’m honest when I say I can’t remember how many times the thought has gone through my head that I should give this up and do something else. I could give you a list of reasons—the biggest one being a lack of confidence in my abilities. Read more>>
Ashley Laren
Many times. A big part of being an artist is coping with your own imposter syndrome. Anytime I participate in an art show, craft fair, or even with teaching art classes, and it doesn’t live up to my expectations, I wonder what I am doing wrong. Read more>>
Alastair Heim
It took me nearly nine years, from the time I started trying to writing children’s picture books in 2008, to when my first book called LOVE YOU TOO was published in December of 2016. In the spring of 2011, I had every intention of giving up. Read more>>
Abby Gasper
During the winter of 2023, I hit my absolute lowest point. I was struggling with health issues, at a dead-end with my job, facing an unexpected house issue that resulted in a complete out-of-pocket remodel, and navigating the challenges of toddlerhood and marriage stress. Read more>>
Laila
I mean, I did give up! I had to give up personal styling so that I could actually find myself in work that was more about completion, but of communal fulfillment, creative distribution, and critical thinking. Read more>>
Jennifer Starr
Definitely. There was a point where I was juggling a full-time 9-to-5 career, raising young kids, and trying to keep up with everything in between—and it was a lot. I was exhausted, constantly stretched thin, and felt like I was always falling short somewhere. It would’ve been easy to walk away from my creative work just to make life feel a little simpler. Read more>>
Christa Ellis
Absolutely. Last August, I lost my full-time job, the one that had been providing steady income while I built Lumen Events on nights and weekends. It was one of those moments that feels like a free fall: sudden, disorienting, and deeply personal. At the same time, I was caring for my teenage son, Kaden, and helping support my elderly parents. There wasn’t a safety net. Read more>>
