We recently had the chance to connect with Preston Jordan and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Preston , it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Right now I’m being called to help people. To put my art and myself out there. Toshare some of my journey and maybe help someone along the way. That’s not something I’ve ever considered in the past. I don’t mean like help someone change a tire or give a dollar to a homeless person. I got into drugs and alcohol around 11-12 years of age and then formed and serious drugs addiction for another 20 years. Sadly that’s a story that’s so common for most young and old. Addiction can happen to anyone at anytime. At 15 I was diagnosed bipolar, major depression, anti social, and schizoaffective. I’ve had ups and downs just like everyone in this life. I never compare my story to anyone else cause I know that there’s people out here that have suffered unspeakable traumas. Alot of the choices I’ve made in my life could have been avoided if I just would have opened up. But I stand here today on the other side alive and healthy. Those stories unfortunately we don’t get to hear alot of. I just recently wrote a book as a tool in hopes to help someone out there see that your past does not have to define you. That recovery in possible and that addiction can be beat.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Preston Jordan I am a independent artist and creator just outside of Kansas City, Mo. I’m always trying new things and learning different mediums. I work with paint, resin, digital art, aerosols, foam, clay and also create rugs. Although I don’t specialize in any of these areas I constantly push my limits of what I can create. My main focus right now is just working on being a better artist and grow creatively. I am currently on my way to reopening a website or a Etsy to make my art, rugs, and prints available for purchase. I also just recently wrote a short book on living with, but also over coming mental illness and drug addiction starting at a very young age. It’s called ” I found myself when I stopped trying to be like everyone else” and you can find that on Amazon. It’s very cheap and worth reading if you’ve had trouble yourself or know anyone young or old struggling with addiction and looking for a story that ends with a win.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
That I had to be like everyone else. Has a kid growing I was outcasted by my peers had a hard time making friends and finding meaningful connections. The friends I did find were usually into drugs, rough living environments and older. I was dealing with a lot of mental and sexual abuse from my biological father. I was the fat kid and my father would tell me that I was going to die at a very young age. I was always told that I would never be this or that. That you need to go to school, get married, get a job, go to church, 401k, retirement plan, do this, do that, be this, don’t chase your dreams. Always myself, someone, or something trying to shatter my confidence. So I had developed some deep rooted self hatred that I carried for a long time. Which lead to the drug use has a kid. Now that I’m older, sober, have done the inner work, made peace with my past and moved on. I have changed my way of thinking and the way I look at myself in the mirror. Now I feel like I’m ready and prepared to overcome just about anything in my path. I’m ready to use my skills and knowledge to help others see that it is possible. I’ll admit I’m a selfish person when it comes to what I want to do with my life. But setting that aside I feel like I have a gift to help someone out there see their true potential even though things aren’t necessarily perfect in my own life.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I think we’ve all been there before. It happens to even the greatest people walking this earth. Wanting to give up when things seem unclear. Like they’re not working out the way you thought. When we see certain people on the other end of success. We tend to forget or not see the struggles, sacrifice, and the years it took for them to get where they are. I think a lot of us constantly compare ourselves to others and get frustrated when we see other people in the same field hit milestones and we spend hours, days, months on something with little recognition. It’s tough. Self doubt is something we all carry but at the end of the day little progress is better than no progress at all. Looking through out my life I would say all I did was give up. Constantly looking for fast money or a easy come up. Never staying consistent with any aspect of my life other than drug use. But really I guess I was never living up to my true authentic self. I was always trying to be someone else or do something the exact way someone else was doing something. I’ve started businesses in the past 1 worked most of them didn’t. But through different circumstances the universe was guiding me to my full potential and something would always happen. Preventing any of my ideas to come into fruition. So yeah just the last few years of trying to be a independent artist not being able to find my community or audience I’ve wanted to quit many times. Spending hours on projects for clients then not being able to have people follow through with payments even when charging a deposit. Doing events and spending money on booth rental and prints only to not sell a single item has been frustrating to say the least. But with that comes growth and improvement. So I’ve come to far to give up now and I realize that if I do I’ll be stuck working these dead end jobs struggling to make a living. So regardless I’m going to keep going and not try and force what should happen. I’ll let it unfold as it should.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
To improving myself, my work, my mind, body, and spirit. Being a better version of myself everyday, stay sober, to be a better father and to lead by example for my kids. Just trying to live a life of authenticity and truth. To stand on my word and do what I say I’m going to do. Pushing myself , being honest, and taking accountability. Something I’ve never done in my life. Learning is a life long journey.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing?
My biggest regret will be giving up on myself. Not living up to my potential. To stop creating and learning. If I stop and say this won’t happened or I’ll never make it to where I want to be is my biggest fear. To be stuck some where away from my kids and passion at some dead end 12 hour a day 6 day a week job. Missing out on life and the growth of my kids. And I know what’s it’s like to do that. I know how it feels to just work all day or night and to come home so exhausted that you don’t want to do anything cause your feet hurt. I have no idea where I’m going or where the universe is taking me. I may not be where I want to be or making the money that I feel like I’m worth. But to give up now and conform to what society tells me I should do . I just can’t. I won’t.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://drippyfats.etsy.com
- Instagram: Preston_jordan_art
- Youtube: Preston_jordan_art
