this morning i read this post that Jeremy wrote and i haven't been able to stop thinking about the topic. it's a post about his perspective as an independent musician working at his dream full time, watching friends give up and move on and the constant inner battle that people like us inevitably face.
how do i measure success? at what point will i feel satisfied in what i've achieved? what if i realize that i'm never going to have enough money to live other dreams (like having a family or expanding into new opportunities)… what then?
these questions can feel heavy year after year. working independently (or at any "dream job") requires unanticipated sacrifice and years of hard work for a goal that, for some people, never happens. if this post is a huge bummer to read, imagine living with these realities in the back of your mind at all times. everyone in my position has these thoughts. it's normal and healthy… it's as simple as being in touch with reality. it's easy to imagine that we're all ridiculously happy creating art day and night. that part of the "dream job" is the sweetest part and the reason why i'm willing to sacrifice literally everything to keep going. it's also important to know that behind every success story is a person who has very likely been completely broke for long periods of time and lived with haunting doubts and fears of failure. it's pressing through these obstacles and living a risky dream that separates talented people from talented people whose dreams come to life!
i've been incredibly lucky and a lot of my hard work and risk taking has paid off up to this point. i guess that i wanted to write this post to encourage someone out there who is in the middle of sacrificing comfort for the chance at a dream. whoever you are, just know that you aren't alone. in fact, most of the people you admire have walked in your shoes. hard times are a part of a the bigger story of success.
xo, elsie
167 Comments
Oh, Elsie. You are amazing.
Thank you so much elsie! This post was so needed today! I’ve got a while left at school and the thought has been hitting me that maybe it’s not the best think to continue because it means I’m not with my fiance all the time. I need to find a way to work it all out and not take the easy road.
<3
I needed this today.
I’m at that broke, breaking point right now in going for my dreams. I have so much I want to accomplish, to get through, to do, but that fear you talk about is very real and loud right now.
So thank you for writing this, especially today. It gives me hope that this all will pay off one day (hopefully soon!).
Very encouraging, thanks for sharing your thoughts! 🙂
This is perfect, and you are so right darling.
perfect!
xo.
http://dropsofjupiterBLOG.com
Elsie,
This rings so true for me. A few minutes before you posted this, I thought to myself,
“I’m just going to keep writing my heart out, no matter what happens or how many people read it.”
Thanks for the kindred spirit inspiration.
Amy Kolz
thank you… my boyfriend and i are both dreamers living with that reality right now and the last year has been incredibly difficult… thanks for always being an inspiration to keep going.
Thanks for this – I needed to hear it. It also brought to mind my husband who is an extremely talented musician, with a wife (me!) and 3 young kiddos. We were married so young, and I know that it can seem like his dream of playing music full-time is a long way off when there are bills to pay, lunches to be made, and potty training to do. I am so blessed that we are both able to work from our home and be together so much, but I hope and pray that his dreams are being realized a little more each day, and that they never feel “done”.
Thanks Elsie! I love reading your thoughts:)
Elise you are speaking to ME! I just took that big scary step of going on my crafty dream full time (this is week 2) after struggling with what was basically 2 full time jobs for a year. Its scary but exhilarating at the same time. Family, before we told them, couldn’t understand why I seemed so happy day to day. I love when you do posts like this as it is so encouraging to hear from someone like you who is living their dream as I am trying to live mine! THANK YOU!
Thanks so much. I’m in Portugal and I read your blog about two years now. And you are such an inspiration and this post really help me, because I’m an art student and I think here we don’t have the value that we deserve, so thank you so much again ’cause you are a trully amazing person (and I can see it through your writing.
Edna
Holy cow. Perfect timing for me to read this. A lot of doors are opening for me lately and I’m not sure which one to take to get me to where I want to be. Thank you for the inspiring blog post.
Thank you.<3
Thank you for this!!
Thank you so much for this. You are such an inspiration!
Thank you! You always know just what to say 🙂
totally speachless and deeply touched…
thank you for a dose of healthy thinking
Your an inspiration Elsie! It’s so hard to try to “make it” doing what we love when everyone around us is telling us to wise up, and get a “real” job. It is so painful to think about not following your dream anymore to just make others happy. I really needed this post today!
You are such an amazing person. I hope that I can keep a hold of my dream to never stop being creative
-Allison Kaye
http://www.craftedlove.com
encouraging words for sure! Thank you so much Elsie.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the things that will make me feel successful in life; my own business and a family. I KNOW that those things are attainable, but I also am well aware that they will come with sacrifice. Thanks for acknowledging that those sacrifices are often worth it!
Thank you for the reality-reminder AND the encouragement. When you’re struggling towards a dream it’s easy to think that you’re the only one who has ever struggled. Thank you.
You and your fiance’s posts were great today, thank you (: x
thank you.
Thank you Elsie for sharing the reality that is our lives (for some of us). Sacrifice is something I have done for many years and I must admit that I am struggling right now, trying to decide if it is worth being poor all the time to follow my dream. Thank you for sharing that I am not alone in these thoughts. You are a constant inspiration and I thank you for that. xx Janelle
¨behind every success story is a person who has very likely been completely broke for long periods of time and lived with haunting doubts and fears of failure¨
That is so true, I´m in the middle of the process (I think) sometimes it´s great sometimes it´s like…seriously? But I still think that if I keep on working and trying really hard, it will pay off 🙂
Thanks for sharing this, we sure need this kind of message
This reflects exactly how i’m feeling right now. Had an awful day feeling like my artwork just isn’t good enough and feeling like i’ll never achieve my dream. I suppose i’ve just gotta keep working hard and never give up because in the end it will be worth it.
Thank you for writing this post. It’s really encouraging to hear it from you since I definitely look up to you and your success! Thanks Elsie 🙂
wonderful post Elsie. I am new reader of your blog and absolutely love. Keep up the wonderful work and living through your soul.
Much love and light to you,
Isabel
excellent post elsie. at the moment ivan and i are very unhappy with our current jobs and want to do something that is more ‘us’. we are planning to escape for a while and then come back and hopefully do something that we can be proud of.
you and jeremy are very inspiring.
♥
Thank you! I am in the middle of writing my first business plan for my dream online shoppe. It’s funny, now that I am doing it it feels like I have always been planning this without knowing it all these years. I turned down a traditional grad school to go my own way and become an entrepreneur. I can’t wait!
oh my this post was totally for me ( not really but it feels like it)…i have tears in my eyes right now as i type this…my husband and i are starting our own bike shop where we live and it is soo incredibly scary as i am sure you know but it is something that we have dreamed about doing for some time. there is a huge risk taking this enormous leap but what i am sacrificing is so much better then what i am doing now. to feel passion for something and be able to focus on my craft is like a dream come true…but it is scary and we understand what might happen but the will to move forward is so strong. i struggle with feeling satisfied and i know that will always be a part of who i am but what i am doing now just does not satisfy my soul…it is just something that pays the bills and barely too i might add…what a great title too…if not now, then when?…so true in so many ways…thank you soo much for posting something that has been in my heart for some time and have a hard time expressing. you are forever inspiring and i thank you for that!
much love,
cb
What a lovely post, articulating just what’s been on my mind recently. I’m glad your dreams are taking shape just now; best of luck for the future. x
omg…i literally just gave myself a goal of opening my shop for 1/1/11. I told people about it…I blogged about it…put out there. Then I read this, and got chills and a lump in my throat. I’m a big believer of signs, and this post couldn’t be anything less than that.
Thank you.
feeling inspired. <3
say it sister! amen to that 🙂
big chances… big rewards!
gotta take a leap of faith and trust in your destination!
yay for this post!
life is too short to live in fear!
exactly what i most needed to find…whilst sitting in my cubicle <3
I was tempted to read this, walk away and continue on inspired. Instead, I need to add my voice to those that have come before you and tell you how poignant these thoughts are. Thank you.
thank you.
After a harsh day at my “pay-the-rent” job,my upcoming 30th birthday, and recently moving in with my partner-in-crime/beau-Reading this has me ready to make that jump.
would love to thank both you and your Beau for sharing your stories.
best,
Adalhi
thanks elsie, i needed to hear this today! nothing worth achieving is ever easy… and it feels good to know that i am not the only person struggling. thank you for sharing so many wise words- your work is crazy inspiring!
<3 Sarah
Great post! Thanks for the encouragement. We are currently living our dream with my husband pursuing music full time with his band. He is constantly on the road and as any artist knows, they are often the last people to see the money that is being made from them. We have three young children and often people look at us like we are irresponsible. But I love that my girls can see their dad achieving a dream that so many said couldn’t happen. To see them watch their daddy play and dance and sing to his songs brings joy to my heart. They are as proud of him as I am. Making a dream a reality isn’t easy but I am glad that when I am old and gray I can look back and say fail or succeed we did our best and least we tried. No regrets 🙂
thanks for posting this 🙂
Thank you Elsie. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was speaking to my partner about this just last night. I this whole processing of making dreams come true the easiest thing to do is become discouraged. But I find when I’m in that low place I can’t imagine that others go through it too. I think I’m the failure, everyone else is the success and that must mean that I’m innately bad, untalented, unworthy. Just knowing that the people I admire have faced and overcome these low days means a lot to me. Thank you for the inspiration!
♥♥♥ You inspire me! ♥♥♥
I agree with everyone who wrote comments before me, such an encouraging post and you and Jeremy are indeed the most inspirational people I’ve never met! I recently launched my handmade business and my goal is to leave my job and run my business full-time. Sometimes that excites me and sometimes it terrifies me. Weirdly, I often wake up worrying who’s going to take care of me when I’m in my eighties if I haven’t managed to save a good enough pension. That’s more than half my life away, why am I letting that worry get in my way now!
Thank for the virtual hug and arm squeeze. x
One of my business partners pulled out today, you have no idea how much I needed this.
<3 Lynne x
awesome post. sometimes i feel like im the only one scared. haha so silly!
Great post Elsie. I think these thoughts all the time and I’ve hardly gotten started compared to a lot of people! But in the end I remember how miserable I was working a “real job” I would much rather have less/no money and live the creative life than wish away 8 hours of each day. At least until I figure out how to have both 😉 Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
It’s difficult to add anything to what has already been said but I need to echo the overall sentiment. Life is difficult to figure out and realizing that I went to college for something that I loved then but don’t love now has been weighing on me. I haven’t decided what to do, since the idea of starting over is oh so terrifying, but it helps to be reassured that the world is full of those who have to make sacrifices in order to achieve their dreams and live happily. To think I thought I was the only one 😉 Thanks for sharing your thoughts/creativity/inspiration.
C
Just another thanks…
I have always struggled at math and I did horribly and I need it now for what I am so passionate about. So I have to do it all over again, every day I struggle to not give up.
This has meant more then you can know to me.
you’re such a sweet woman elsie. thanks for being an inspiration!
You’re awesome, Elsie… I needed this today 🙂
Beautifully put.
To all the very talented people living their dreams:
I’m sitting at my desk, up in the clouds of a generic office building, staring out at the wonderful city I live in. Each day I come work, toil away and wonder when I’ll have the courage to ditch this full time work malarkey and do something I love. Most days I log onto inspiring blogs and say “right, that’s it, today, today I’m out of here”. But then I panic, remind myself I’ve got a secure, safe, responsible job. This job means I can afford to do what I love.
But I don’t. I don’t because I come to work and inspiration leaves me, I work work work and when I get home I’m so mentally drained I look at things and think I’m just too tired to work on that right now. So I go to bed, sleep (sometimes) and get up the next day and do it all again. And again and again.
And you know what I thought whilst reading this post? Yes you have made sacrifices living your dreams, being broke, not having a responsible job, but, and I say this as someone with that responsible job, someone that isn’t following their dreams because they are just a little (massively) scared, this is also a major sacrifice. NOT living your dream, not doing what you love is the flip side of having a responsible job. Be very careful whenever you think about giving it all up and doing the so called responsible things. You can quite easily become someone you never wanted to be.
I’m thinking today I might just be out of here, or maybe tomorrow, or maybe in a few months….. but as someone very inspiring said, if not now, then when?
Thanks Elsie for sticking to your dreams.
just beautiful.
i too am tempted to leave the corporate world to find something that i truly love doing – but i’m scared i’ll never be able to make enough to live on in san francisco.
sigh. but thank you.
oh, don’t really know what more i can say that hasn’t already been said above..
but i still want to say a big big thank you, your post made my day/ love k
I like how you and Jeremy wrote complementary but separate entries on the issue.
I think it’s nice to know that, even when things are hard, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re *failing*, you know? I think a lot of people, especially those embarking on some kind of completely new endeavor because they see people doing cool stuff online and it looks fun and easy, might be under the impression that, if they have to work hard and sacrifice to get it to their desired level of success, they’re not doing it right. But that’s generally just a necessary step in the process–not good, not bad. Just frustrating.
Thank you. 🙂
You are an inspiration Elsie.
I have read along with you for quite a few years now and watched you take step after step. You say your going to do something and you do it but 100 times better. That’s admirable.
That’s why people come here. You show them that you can achieve your dreams but that you have to work to get them.
Imagine a world without artists.
What a sad place it would be.
xx
Thank you – reading this and then being able to read so many comments that affirm all of these feelings is everything I needed to see today. You are a daily inspiration.
You read my mind xo.
I totally get it. My husband and I are both artists living in Los Angeles. It’s such an expensive city. And nothing is easy here. Even something seemingly simple like parking is such a struggle. Parking tickets, towing, paying to park at the library, restaurants, shopping. It’s ridiculous.
I’m an actress, and I’ve been nose to the grind stone for years. I remember when I was in college one of my acting teachers told us to look to the left, then look to the right. He said, “Less than half of those people will be pursuing acting within four years.” I thought, “Not us. We love what we do, and we are focused and committed.” But, six years later, most of the people in my graduating class are no longer pursuing acting.
Because being an artist is hard. It means sacrifices of time and comfort. It means very little recognition. It means day jobs. It means having barely enough money to get by. It means that my paycheck is often imaginary. It means never EVER retreating. Even when it would be so much easier to have a 401k, 9-5 job.
We are artists because it’s a visceral need within us. A desire that cannot be hushed or denied. I get it. I get it so much I could cry. But I take comfort in the small benchmarks that keep me sustained as I go. Because I would be miserable pretending to do anything else but actively pursuing what I live, and love to do.
Ashley
thank you so much for sharing this. even though it was really hard for you it’s nice to hear that the hard times end at some point sometimes. i wish you the best of luck in the future! your beautiful, your shop is beautiful, so i don’t think you’ll have much trouble.
here’s hoping for my chance… i guess i gotta make it happen though huh?
Thanks again.
Great accomplishment takes great sacrifice. It is heartening to hear that even people like you who are successful have doubts.
Thankyou, so very very much. You will have no comprehension how much I needed to read this, and read it today. You have helped me to bring clarity to a goal I keep telling myself is out of reach……….. and you know what? Today is the day for change.
Thank you, Elsie. I’m definitely living with sacrifices in order to achieve my dreams right now!!! But I have faith 🙂
so well put. thanks elsie! xo
Just like many others on here, this is definitely something I needed to read today. Thank you so much for being so dang awesome.
I definitely applaud you (and Jeremy) for following your dreams the way you are! I’m at a point in life right now where I’m planning on working toward pursuing some of my passions, though only part time, and you’re very much an inspiration!
It’s kind of ironic that you posted this today, out of all days, because I’m getting to the point of mass confusion in life. My quarter life crisis, if you will. I’m currently plugging away at graduate school, for nutrition, wondering what the hell I’m doing with my life when I know I don’t want to do nutrition forever…it’s been messing with my mind a whole lot. Your post was very much needed today. Thanks elsie. <3
p.s. I’m printing this blog post and placing it on the cover of my inspiration/idea sketchbook. <3
Just a thought…my husband and i got pregnant before we even kind of felt confident in having children. Like way before. It was unplanned and being pregnant there is a constant battle of trying to figure out “how to make it”. My husband even lost his job (which is not his dream job, but it paid bills). Our goal now is happiness, and we could not be more thrilled to have a baby to add to the happiest time of our lives! It takes a little leap I guess. (Willing or unwilling:)
Another heartfelt thanks to you, elsie & this amazing blog. You read into our souls today. My business partner & I have started our own vintage shop/indie boutique about 6 months ago. We followed our dream & have worked so hard (and continue to work so hard) to bring a little beauty into our local community. Sometimes the challenges pile up & we shed many tears, wondering if we are reaching people or if we are indeed on the right path. Sometimes, just like you & countless others, we are filled with doubts & worries. We especially had a tough day today, so it was so inspiring to come to this blog (which we absolutely adore) and for a moment be lifted up & truly know that we are not alone. We are so happy that we followed our dream & we have never worked harder, but at the end of the day it means so much. And today, your words meant so much to us! Thank you!
Thanks for being such an inspiration!
I actually JUST finally gave in to my inner voice and am going back to school next month! I am going to finally get a degree into something that I have been wanting to do for so long!
Very good post.
If there was a “like” button for blogs, I would “like” this. I’m applying to music schools and thinking about what happens after college is scarey! But this is given me more encouragement to go for it. Thanks.
wow,
just when i felt like a big fat failure, bam, this post comes out of nowhere to help.
I left my job as a social worker last may to see if i could become a full time visual artist…it has been successful but also incredibly frightening and sometimes I feel so selfish for doing it.
thank you for writing this. I am having a hard time communicating to you how much it helps to get a nudge when you are feeling quite alone.
Elsie – let Jeremy know that he will not regret this period in his life. I’ve been married to a musician for over 20 years now. He never got the chance to pursue his career because he chose to marry me and help me raise my two children. He gave up all his dreams and aspirations of being a professional musician. Though he has never said it, I can see it on his face when he sits in the living room playing his guitar. Now at the age of 47, he is just starting to write music again and collaborate with friends. In 4 years, when our youngest goes off to college (we had 2 more kids), we are taking a year off to travel through Europe so that he can begin to live his dream. Jeremy is living his dream now. It may seem like a nightmare at times, but he will have no regrets.
thank you for this post… I have been wanting to jump into opening my own cake/coffee/artist hang out type business… It is great to see that we all have the same thoughts and worries 🙂
Wow Elise,
You hit it on the nose. I just recently left my job to follow my dreams and it is scary. You inspire me to keep going and not look back. It is important to encourage each other and celebrate the little victories. Life is hard and you have to take it one day at a time. I have my low moments and start feeling anxious. Thank goodness I have supportive family and friends who want to see me succeed. I am truely blessed. Seeing this post was no accident, thanks Elise.
God used you in my life today. Thank you for your encouraging words.
Thanks. 🙂
Thank you for your encouraging post…I am the mother of a very talented singer, songwriter/musician son who is trying desperately to live out his dream…he eats, drinks, and sleeps lyrics and music…but as his mother, and also a musician, I know how hard it is to live out your dream but also, as his mother, I see the struggles and want more than anything to see him not having to struggle financially…I admire those in your position as well as my sons…good luck to both you and your fiance… and say a little prayer for my son that his cd’s take off…:o)
thank you so much Elsie….i needed to hear these words!
Doing anything short of “what I love” will always feel like failing to me. I know if I’m “clipping coupons” but living my dream I will always feel like a sucess and on the flip side if I’m making millions working someone else’s dream I will never feel whole.
It’s a good feeling to really KNOW this! Thanks for sharing – you inspire us all. xo-Simone
hi.
wow. thanks for all the very sweet comments and shared stories. i feel really connected to you and glad we could share this today.
XO. elsie
I wanted to point out that these worried don’t only apply to people trying to create a creative life. I work a regular 9 to 5 and I have the same worries you discussed above. It’s sad, I just feel lucky to have a job at all with unemployment so high.
WOW awesome Elsie! i myself have left the cushy world of bi-weekly paychecks to pursue a more satisfying creative road in my design career. i’ve worked in the corporate side of fashion design companies & now i’m taking the risk of working for an amazing brand that is just not as big but we are dreaming big and the line is like no other! with the eventual aspiration to evolve in starting my own line..YES you are right so scary as a single mom, but i crave that “being an entrepreneur” down to my bones. to have that time for my daughter all the while working my dream job!
i can’t believe how much i needed this and didn’t even know it. and it’s so amazing how things come together. i’m a college student and we had a guest speaker in one of my classes today talking about this new place downtown called Awesome, Inc. for people with all sorts of dreams that just need someone to talk to and to help them get started on pursuing their dreams, no matter what that dream is. and then i read this post and i’m just really thinking, ‘if not now, then when’ and i’m wondering if where i’m at right now is where i should be. i’ve had a dream of opening my own indie shop for a while now and been living it out through etsy on the side of getting a degree (which is a degree in nothing that i’m interested in, but too late to change now) and i just feel like i live each day waiting for the chance to start my dream. but this post kind of makes me think, shouldn’t i be able to decide when that chance is? can’t that chance be today, or tomorrow, or next month? i just wish i had a sense of direction. and i wish like the only person i felt like i had to please was myself.
When I read this I got the Day dream Believer song come to my mind? Does it go in context? maybe? yes or no.
As everyone else who has shared their stories..(merci!)
I fit the boots too, and what makes me keep going is seeing Im not the only one out there. To support other dreamers.
I come from a French Canadian! WOrK, make LOTS of money!!!
My Hubby and I, well we are Dreamers, all day and all the time. We Dream. Dreams on our mirrors dreams all the time. I wish he could dream more, being the caretaker, wich I cannot thank him enough for, I get to stay home with my two monkeys and I get to go for my dream everyday. Sometimes I wish he could more.
I wish I made more sense…But Elsie you are fantastic, I know I keep sayin the same but its true.
MERCI! and Keep on DREAMIN!!! Because without Dreams, the world would be a pretty dull place to be.
Thank you 🙂
Don’t worry about having enough money to have a family. There are people all over the country with less money than you who have children. Never let money be the reason why you do or don’t have a baby.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for this! ♥ You are always such an inspiration to all of us and especially me. Things look that turned out really great and so easy for you but it’s so good that you always remind us that nothing of these has happened without hard work. I’m sure you have walked in my shoes before, so I hope someday I’ll be able to walk in your shoes, or a similar pair 😉 Thank you so much for keeping me motivated! ♥♥♥
Love this post of yours Elsie.
In fact you just came into my mind out of the blue the day before yesterday on exactly this topic. I have been following your blog for some time now and enjoy the read a lot. I have really enjoyed being able to follow you in starting up your new shop. And exactly on that topic I started thinking…”how does she do it?” and couldn’t stop wondering where all the money could have come from etc.
And these thoughts only came out of admiration for what you do and the fact that you’re able to do what you want to do.
I crashed into a completely dead end day time job right after finishing school 2 years ago and it’s eating away at me. My heart lies in different places and I would die to have my own art studio and be able to live of my crafts. I’ve been thinking about it so much but it just seems that I won´t ever be able to do it and am getting so discouraged. Especially because my husband has his own business which has had a REALLY low period for about 1,5 years now….So I’ve stayed in my dead end job to support him/us.
Anyways, a truly inspiring post!
And might just help me to face that facts that I can either go for it and be scared but happy or stay where I am and not be.
***
Thanks for this post Elsie. It has really helped me to keep a few things straight in my head. I’m currently working 4 days a week to support my indie business. Which means I spend all hours trying to keep on top of everything. It’s so hard on those that I love and on myself. Next year I’m hoping to reduce my work hours. But sometimes it just seems all too hard. I struggle on. Some days I can see my dream – that little shop in town. Some days I can’t see past tomorrow. It feels better to read that others understand how I feel. And that it can be worth it.
what a great post to wake up to this cold November morning.
I might not be there yet, but I am on the road to working and living my dreams. thank you x
My husband is in the middle of trying to start his own business and it has been hard. We have fought a lot and my fears of his failure have sometimes stopped him from going forward. I know now that I can’t be afraid for him, I have to have faith that he is doing what he needs to do failure or not. Thank you for posting this!
thank you.
A very lovely post. It really makes my tummy feel funny<3 My husband and I have been living this life for 10 years and he launched his first independent video game(Super Meat Boy) last month. We are gonna be good financially but we wont stop creating, we'll just hopefully be creating from a house and not this shitactular apartment 🙂 The one thing he reiterates in interviews is if you want to be an independent artist you have to be ok with being poor and if you dont enjoy the struggle you surely wont enjoy the spoils.
Much love,
Danielle
Hi Elsie,
i’m following your blog for over a year now (from Germany) and its really inspiring. Many many times i wanted to write you but i was afraid because of my bad english writing skills. But this post made me do it.
I’m not very happy with my job for a long time. And since a few weeks i thought about quitting it even if i have nothing new. Now i wanna find out which job is right for me. Something i’m happy with, even if i don’t earn much money. I know it will be hard but if not now then when right??
Thank you so much for your posts (Jeremys too!!)
Oh and everybody who wrote a comment here, its so great to read all your thoughts.
Thank you! I’m in a position of luxury where I have to choose between two dreams, that is, I will need to pick one to focus most of my money and energy on and let the other dream take a backseat for several years to come. But I have lived one of them for a couple of years now and feel like I’m ready to take steps towards the other (older) one now that I have finally found a way to make it possible. Having supportive people around me and reading things like this helps!
i think we are all thinking along these same lines nearly everyday as we plod along our journeys
good post!
Everyday I struggle with accomplishing this impossible list I give myself, but if I finish it up I always add more. I’m pushing myself to get to that feeling of unattainable accomplishment, that probably doesn’t even exist. Hope I don’t miss out on feeling like I have arrived, but like most things its probably the journey that is the real accomplishment. You know the one we are too busy struggling through to stop and say “Hey, I’m doing this! Sweet!”
Well, these are just the words I needed today. Thanks for sharing. I know you are right and i can think like that a lot but sometimes it’s just al wrong and i don’t know what to think or do anymore so thanks for the support.
Thanks a bunch.
fantastic, well put, and much needed post. 🙂
That was truly inspirational.
Elsie this is so encouraging! I have had a dream for so long now to be able to stay home with my daughter and make jewelry full time. I have had some success selling my jewelry but not enough to bring in significant income. Creating is my passion and to be able to see that dream fulfilled would make me so happy! My husband is a network engineer and does not understand this at all. He wants me to work as a nurse (Which I feel at times I was never meant to be). My heart and mind are creative and this is where I am happy…I hope someday this dream will take wings and fly!
Good luck to you and your family! And may all your dreams come true!
Aimie
Bloom Artisan Jewelry
http://www.etsy.com/shop/citrine317
http://bloomjewels.blogspot.com/
You were speaking to me in this post at a time when I really need it. Thank you.
Thank you, Elsie.
This is such a lovely post. I wish you ever so much luck with your endeavors. & your store looks amazing!!!
Your job is my dream job 🙂
Thank you for posting this. As someone who is self-employed and knows all too well about the hard times as well as the high times, I think it’s important to keep in perspective that those of us who diligently chase our dreams didn’t start living them to get rich; we do it because of passion. I sometimes forget this when I want to go on an extravagant vacation or buy expensive shoes, but none of that will ever replace the pride I have for creating something that’s all my own!
thank you for this. simply put, THANK. YOU. :o)
Great and inspiring post, Elsie!!
One of my favorite quotes is: “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” -Thomas Edison
So glad you shared this post Elsie. I know from talking with you in the past that you always try to keep an upbeat mood to your posts and that you try to keep some things in your life private and separate from your blogging life. But I think it’s important to share your true self once in a while. It makes people realize that you really have worked hard and sacrificed everything to get where you are today. It wasn’t all just luck. You do a great job of keeping things fun for us to read… and your upbeat attitude is what makes your blog so addictive. But presenting a bit of reality once in a while also adds sincerity and makes you even more lovable.
oh yes.
totally in the broke and frustrated stage. nearing 30 and looking at other friends who are engineers, vets, etc, it’s not easy.
but i can’t even think of anything else i’d want to do. photography is just it.
thank you, elsie, i needed to hear that today.
🙂
julie
it’s true, you are an inspiration. x
I needed to read this.
You rock!
Sophie
i am in school to become a french teacher. i just found out about a really cool (but a little scary) opportunity in france and i am trying to get up the nerve to go for it when i finish school. thank you for the heartfelt words of encouragement. if i have just half the drive and passion for my future career as you do, i will be happy!
A lot of people probably think you’re really lucky, but I believe you when you say you worked hard and made a lot of sacrifices.
Great post! My husband and I are both artists – with all the sacrifices that come with that life. But we decided a few years back that life is too short not to do what we love! This will be great for those days when the grocery bill strains our wallets. 🙂
Awesome post. Passing it on to other dream-chasers. 🙂
A BIG thank you for writing this post.
There are many days where I wonder if doing what I love for low pay and lack of comfort in life is worth it. But then I think about having a non creative job and working for a great salary only to conclude that it would completely kill my soul. You’ve helped reassure me that I am on the right path and, with much persistence, someday I hope to be exactly where I want to be.
p.s. I work as a baker and cake decorator (my passion!)…I admire Emma for jumping into the baking business…you go girl!
oooh my… this is actually what i feel. i’m working for my heart, make it so indenpendenly… and thanks for my husband who never push me to do some ‘real work’ for getting more money… and thanks god i’m really gratefull that all i’m doing here with my craft things is what my ‘heart’ said…
thanks for sharing elsie… 🙂
xo
dita
well-said. BRAVO.
Thank you so much for this post. I’m graduating from college in six months and the question of what I want to do with my life has been in my mind a lot lately. My dream job is to work with vintage clothing and do some designing of my own, ideally in a small studio-style boutique – a business like yours sounds amazing. Sometimes it seems like I should just give up on this idea and work on getting a practical career, but then I read posts like this and read the comments and feel like my crazy desire to do such a thing isn’t so crazy after all.
Great post Elsie!!
Please note and forgive me if my thoughts are a little jumbled below. I just got off work and am very tired.
After several years I found that I outgrew my “dream”, but I(luckily) found something different to do with my life that I am much happier with. People go through transitions and often career changes will result within their lifetime. I read some statistics, somewhere, that most adults experiences a few career transitions, re-training, or complete change in direction in their lifetime. So even if a person’s dream never fully actualizes or doesn’t reach its full potential… there’s comfort knowing that there’s always other career paths/options that you will be passionate about and enjoy.
I was an artist and art history professor for several years before tiring of it. It took me 1.5years to figure out something else to do. Nowadays I am a critical care nurse, RN and I LOVE it! It’s actually more creative than my previous vocation.
Changes, these things happens to everybody. 🙂
I hope everyone develops a desire to see the dream come to fruition. However, if that doesn’t happen I hope you are all able to find another path that makes you equally happy!
We are glad to see that we are not the only artist shop owners that feel like this. We really appreciate this post here at love fox vintage. Just keep swimming.
I’m in the middle of a big change and reading this gave me hope. Thank you!
Exactly what I needed to hear today…
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, I’ve got creative dreams that I’ve been working on for years….but I’ve noticed that I’ve spent more time focusing on those dreams and the future than actually enjoying life. People, don’t forget to enjoy the process.
I read this blog almost every day. I love when you update. I wish I could come visit your amazing new store. Thank you for posting this, I feel like it was a sign because I myself am struggling with this type of thing. So thank you again for these encouraging words.
It’s nice to hear someone say exactly what’s in my head… but you know what? I mostly have a hard time convincing other people that what I want to do is a legitimate choice and worthy of devoting my life to… it’s tough to look at the people you love and explain how it’s a great idea to take a huge pay cut and MAYBE succeed at something that’s not highly valued among the general population… it’s tought to get them to even consider it… and sort of discouraging.
What if you’re 36 years old and you still don’t know what you want to be when you grow up? It’s in the back of my mind every day.
Pursuing your dream through thick and thin is a contant gamble, so the metaphors were all well placed 🙂 How will you know if you are going to succeed unless you are willing to jump off the cliff and see it through to the end? For me, to not do so would always make me question: what if? What if I didn’t take that chance when it presented itself and I turned back ‘because’? You will never know…
thanks for this. i’ve been really struggling financially as a single mother, trying to make the dream of stay at home momming a reality. it’s tight. i’m working through a lot of fear and the more socially acceptable approach to solo parenting. but i’m here. and i’m still going.
anyways, you were a voice of encouragement today.
Great post and perfect timing. I felt like you were speaking right to me. Sending love, support and best wishes in your dreams! 🙂
awesome post.thanks)
Great post! Thank you for your touching words…truly appreciated.
this post made me a little teary-eyed. it’s been my lifelong dream (seriously, ever since i was a little kid) to be a published writer. while i did get paid to do a ghostwriting job for a while, i got tired of compromising my morals and thoughts to write web content for companies i didn’t like or honestly know much about. and it’s a little bit painful to visit a website and go, “hey! i’ve written almost *all* of this website!”
it became stressful, and my husband convinced me to quit and really make the effort to become a published author. it’s so amazing to have the support of our loved ones behind us when we venture out to do things that may not make us rich (or even allow for a steady paycheck), but to do what we love and are good at…what we believe in.
so this year, i’m participating in nanowrimo and getting the bones down for my very first (complete…haha) novel. i certainly don’t have stars in my eyes. i know it’s going to be a lot of hard work to edit and get it to a point where i can actually approach publishers, but you’re absolutely right:
you have to work hard to make your dreams come true!
Thank you!! You are an inspiration 😀
Definitely something worth thinking about. Especially for those of us not inclined toward risk-taking.
the universe directed me to this exact post. wow e, thank you so much. Its all good to know you have someone with you 🙂
I know you wrote this post awhile ago, but I simply adore your blog and posts, so I’ve been going back and reading some of the older ones. This post is just what I needed to hear… I’m currently in the process of closing down one shop on Etsy, opening another one, all while transferring schools half way through the year, starting a new crafty blog, and working as a new photographer for my newspaper and living up to their standards. Its hard, and many times I want to just give up. Thanks for helping me remember that everyone goes through this, and you have to work hard at things to get what you want 🙂
xoxo, ali
Fabulous post. I have been following Le Wedding Party since it begun and link it on my blog, but just found this blog. Its awesome, and this message is just what I needed!
Julia xxx
wow. it is unbelievable. I love it so much . Thanks for your sharing. cool .great. I sure I’ll come back soon.
I needed this so badly right now! Your blog is a gem and your words of encouragement will help me plug along on my own path of dreams…
This is so true.
I have a “dream job” but so many people don’t understand that often times achieving one dream means giving up another. It’s rare that one’s dream also yields a big pile of money; it’s usually more of a daily struggle, albeit one that invigorates us and fulfills us.
I own a bakery and wear funky outfits and crazy wigs to work and have creative control over my business and get to eat a staggering amount of raw cookie dough. But unless I want to compromise in the dream (franchise the bakery or start producing “mixes” to go on nearby grocery shelves) I’m also not going to be driving a fancy car or going on many trips or having kids with college funds.
And that’s okay; I signed up for it.
Living the dream… in reality. 🙂
What a beautiful post – love all the photos!
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This touched my heart…
“it’s also important to know that behind every success story is a person who has very likely been completely broke for long periods of time and lived with haunting doubts and fears of failure. it’s pressing through these obstacles and living a risky dream that separates talented people from talented people whose dreams come to life!”
You are so incredibly encouraging, Elsie, and a role model for many of us. Thank you.
Elsie,you are so inspiring, I am so happy finding your blog! 🙂
Elsie!!! This is powerful!!! I have tears in my eyes!! You just described the fears I face everyday. Thank you for the encouragement!!
merci , tu est une inspirations
completely and totally and
raw
and TRUE.
i was thinking about blogging this
very subject today.
it’s OK to be this honest…
right?
thank you again,Elsie! this really touched
my heart. so many are discouraged right now, and it helps to know we are not alone!
Elsie this post is the story of my life right now! I recently quit a job where I made decent money, had a company phone, my health insurance, tuition, tolls and gas, lunch, etc paid for, and more. I quit because I wasn’t happy with what I was doing. I always dreamed of doing something much bigger and better with my life, but felt that it was too late to try and go for my dreams and pursue my passions. Although I am currently broke, I am much happier now. It’s only been two months so I know that I will get back on my feet eventually. This situation has made me realize that it is NEVER too late to change direction and go for your dreams. I am only 27 years old, and although it would have been an easier path if I started 10 years ago, stories like yours give me hope. I know there will be ups and downs, but I know that if I work hard for what I want that I just might get it.
Just found this post and I wanted to thank you for it. I’m in a tough spot in my own life right now, stuck in a job that pays but isn’t doing me any good (mentally, emotionally, personally), wondering if all the things I’ve worked for towards my dream job are for nothing, wondering if I need to severely overhaul my goals… and my measurements for success. Thanks for telling me it’s okay. I needed to hear that. <3
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Thank you so much Elsie for posting this little gem. It means so much to be able to relate to someone, even a stranger, on these fears. I know my boyfriend can relate to Jeremy, and you are living my dream in art and creativity. You have truly inspired me to never give up. You’ve helped me see that the dreams I have are not unrealistic or silly and that I can be truly happy doing what I love 🙂
my first visit to your blog… and this is just what I needed to read!!! Starting my own thing finally, and with much trepidation… but this just totally inspired me!
thank you so much…. I’ve been struggling with this for a while as a junior in college… It seems like a lot of people scrutinize the things I want to do, and I see that the logic behind these cautions are sound enough.. it’s just that I’m plundering through my college years with a crippling fear of failure even before I start doing things. I don’t know at which point I’ve exchanged my dreams for the want of comfort.. but this post (even though I knew it in the back of my mind) sort of brings things back in to perspective. Thanks for the motivation 🙂 I really like your blog for SO MANY REASONS <3
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thank you. a trillion times.
I stumbled on your blog through Pinterest. I just loved it. I mean I never comment on blogs usually, but your blog is just so creative and the energy – moved me!!
All the best.Keep going and achieve your dreams!
I needed this today. Thank you.
Thank you..
thank you. a trillion times.