01/23/2026
you ever notice how you can redo something a million times and then realize the original version had something special. I’m so grateful to have this space where I have permission to be my creative self, and express the different parts of me. A lot of people online feel like they have to niche down or have the perfect aesthetic. And I feel that pressure too, but but I also know that when I follow what feels aligned, my best work comes out.
There’s a place in Chicago I love so much. I used to go there every day — to see the flowers, the lake — and I hadn’t let myself do that in a while. This week I listened to a couple audio books and was being reminded of this spot as I kept hearing how nature, especially looking at water gives you perspective and hope.
So today, in the middle of the workday, I found a way to go on an adventure to my spot. I’m really grateful I’m in a position where I can honor that urge, because I know it gives me peace of mind and ultimately puts me in the creative space I need. I was listening to The Creative Act by Rick Rubin on this walk and it felt like exactly what I needed. When I actually slow down and look around, I realize how many answers are already there.
Walking and listening, I realized that even though I show up confidently here, it’s still hard sometimes to create without thinking about how it will be received. But the work I try the least to perfect, or so it feels, is almost always my best work.
When we redo things or trying to “fix them”, it’s usually just a voice in the back of our head convincing us something isn’t good enough. But when we stop letting imagined judgments lead, we get closer to our purpose and that’s why I love what I do so much. And all that my first year in Chicago has brought me. ◡̈