Real Job

“What did you go to college for?”

Me: “Art.”

Laughter. “Well I guess that was beneficial, wasn’t it?”

This has been a conversation I have had many times over the years as I don’t work ‘full time’ making art. It does not provide me an income (yet – I will add optimistically). It can feel like people are making fun of the fact I spent money on schooling for a career or pursuit that didn’t go anywhere. And I have felt like that in the past. That feeling of defensiveness when people make a judgment but were not part of my life at any time along the way to understand anything.

But when a conversation like this happened not too long ago, I didn’t feel worried about it. I laughed myself, as the fact was true that I didn’t attend college or university for a specific career that I am spending my time doing. But after the conversation ended, I realized, well actually, I am ‘doing’ something with my training. I am pursuing what I enjoy. I have this blog – and I enjoy writing. I draw and paint as much as I can put aside the time for. I am working on a book project. And I am thrilled to be doing this – just to be doing something creative. No, it hasn’t made me rich or ‘successful’ (yet). And I think maybe I just wasn’t creative enough in the past to decide how I might make a living doing creative projects all the time. But I also love where I ended up, so I am ok with the path I have lived thus far.

And now that I am 40, who even cares if people know I went to school for art and want to laugh at the fact that I am not getting paid buckets of money to do it? And I certainly do not feel the need to explain and point out my projects and endeavours that I am working on outside of work hours. If they find out later, they can just be surprised. I love my ‘real job’ too, so it’s no sweat off my back either way. I am happily pursuing projects that I love. And that’s all there is to it.

Sending Love,

Devon