I've been percolating my thoughts for the last couple months on what direction I want to take in 2012. That's the wonderful thing about a new year - a fresh start is possible and it's a great time to make adjustments to one's life and to focus on what is really important. 2011 was the year of investigating the life of a professional crafter. I accomplished most of the goals I had set up for myself. I was selling my crafts in stores. I participated in 3 craft fairs over the holiday season. I even had an online store set up with my wares. I met great people and stepped out of my comfort zone several times.
I found myself perched on the ledge of finally making it. I was far from being a financial success, but I was at: The. Next. Step. I have been at this place before. I've had the ideal of being a professional crafter for as long as I can remember. Each time I've found myself at the place where the next leap is required, I've always pulled back. For 2011 - I was determined to finally follow through. This was my dream, right? It was time to stop pulling back. So I gave it all the gusto I had and I found myself on the verge...and I didn't want to make that next step.
Just because you make things, doesn't mean you have to sell.
This was said by a good friend in passing to someone else. I happened to catch this sentence and it just felt right. I started to tell people that I wasn't going to sell in 2012. Hard! This was a hard decision to make and I waffled on it almost everyday. It has little to do with making money. This is a paradigm shift to my core identity. I've always identified as a crafter or creative. If I am not actively working towards the goal of professional crafter - who am I?
I am a crafter. I like to make things - and I will continue to do so. But I'm going to hang up my hat of professional crafter, at least, for 2012. While soul searching these past couple of months, I figured out a few things about myself. Well, I've always known these things, but now I'm at the point where I can embrace them. I like my day job. I work 30 hours a week and it gives me everything I need to survive (pay, health care, bus pass, etc). I like the structure of a day job. I like being able to leave work at work and not think of it again until I return. I like that taxes and such are handled for me; I like having holidays and time off. My job is one mile (3 bus stops) from my house, I'm off work at 2:30pm, and I have Fridays off. It's a dream schedule. I have finally decided to stop fighting a job that is such a good fit for me.
In my free time, I am going to use my crafty skills to make my home life better - all of the duties I had shirked while working on my craft business. I'm looking forward to embracing more domestic duties and crafting a better life for me and my husband. 2012 will be a great year!
