The Power of Now

I've been scared for months to try something like this. A daily blog.

Afraid that I couldn't keep up. 

Afraid that people wouldn't like it or care. 

Afraid to be less edited. 

But I've been listening to a LOT of Mister Rogers in the past 6 months. 
We recently figured out that we could watch all of the Mister Rogers episodes. 

And let me tell you: it's been therapeutic for me. 

Mr. Rogers is always sharing about love and kindness. About how others can love you exactly as you are. 

I think business owners tend to be perfectionists. 

And learning how to communicate with other people online has, interestingly, been a JOURNEY in loving myself for who I am. 

Learning to market our greeting cards requires me to create lots and lots of emails and videos. 

In emails, we've learned how to speak from the heart, as if we are writing letters, which, we are -- they aren't really your typical email you receive from a company.

Painting cards and writing the product descriptions requires me to create even more material

Which is awesome! -- But also, my favorite illustrations come straight from my heart. They are very vulnerable. 

And as an artist who sells my art, I've had to learn to put myself out there, my heart the line, over and over. 

I have learned to accept the possibility of rejection. 
.....

I've been meaning to start this daily blog for a long time. 

But I've been scared. Scared of being myself. Scared of rejection. Scared that I won't keep up.

....

I think Instagram was best a decade ago, and I'd like this "members only" blog to replicate that. The feeling that it was ok to not post a pretty picture. 

Somewhere, though, Instagram started to be a very noisy room. 

I felt open to judgement from thousands of people who didn't know me. That's emotionally alot for an artist to handle. 
Galleries don't have comments enabled, except for a notebook with a pencil. 
Van Gogh could spend his time painting because he didn't need to be replying to show engagement. 

I've chosen to not accept comments on here. 

I am absolutely obsessed and dedicated to Tiny and Snail. Its mission -- that heartfelt greeting cards can change outcomes -- is why I love waking up in the morning. (Tiny and Snail, coffee, and my kids' smiles.)

...

I'm going to post this before I chicken out again. 

I hope you do something brave today. 

Whether that's chatting with your neighbor, finally sending cards that you've been putting off for too long, or decluttering your desk -- as Grace and I have been doing all morning. 😅 (More on that tomorrow!)

Much love, 

Leah/Tiny