We recently had the chance to connect with Susan Righter and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Susan, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
At this stage, I’m chasing clarity of purpose. After spending many years focusing on raising kids, it’s time to connect with my calling and figure out what really makes me tick.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an artist and designer who focuses on residential art & design, especially projects that combine the two in a creative way. For example, I’m working on a project at the moment where I am the interior designer, but I will also be doing a custom piece of artwork as part of the design. I enjoy bringing that personalized, truly unique, custom touch to my projects.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I was very athletic as a child, and my mother put in me in as many activities as she could to keep me busy. I had a lot of energy and tended to get bored easily. As the youngest of four kids by five years, I was definitely the caboose. One of the activities she put me in with my older siblings was swim team in the Summer. I started on the swim team at about 4-5 years old. I realized pretty early on that I was a very good swimmer. From the very beginning, I won a lot of ribbons both as an individual and as part of a relay team. That definitely made me feel powerful to be successful at something that young that required strength and discipline.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would say “you are enough just as you are.” I’ve spent a lot of time striving and trying to please other people instead of really settling into being myself. The world always demands more, and sometimes we just need to be reminded that we are enough without trying so hard all the time.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
Losing sight of our human nature. What I mean by that is that we are all getting swept up into the latest and greatest, particularly as it relates to technology. Technology is amazing and is a tool that we cannot live without. We are correct to embrace it, develop it and use it. But where I think smart people get is wrong is depending on it too much and not truly connecting with what makes us human by using our senses, making human connections, experiencing nature and being more present. We spend too much time engaged with technology and not enough time experiencing what it is to be a human.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m doing something outdoors and I allow my mind to wander as I take in my surroundings. For example, I feel at peace when I’m riding my bike on paved trails through the woods, when I’m walking on a sandy beach looking for shells, or when I’m snow skiing in the mountains. It’s like I can let go of my thoughts a little and that gives me some peace.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.susanrighter.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanrighterartdesign
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanrighterartdesign/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanrighterart
Image Credits
Matt Kocourek (headshot, mural and bedroom)
Amber Dawkins (kitchen, pantry, bathroom)
