What does it all mean? why am I here? What's my purpose? Wah wah wAH! We all keep hearing these days "You need to follow your bliss". More and more people seem to be consciously looking for their purpose and something to bring meaning into their lives. That is me. That has always been me! I have always felt that I was meant for bigger things and creative work. But i've never been able to commit to just one medium. My biggest problem of all is that I have a taste for finer things in life. Don't ask me where I got it from. I was raised in a very blue collar family where nobody went to college. College was not encouraged. "just get yourself a job, dear. And stick with it!" that's my mother talking. That was her highest hope for each of us three kids. If you fell into a trade you were fortunate. Sigh.
I am 38 years old and this is the snapshot of my career life since my adult life began: Graphic arts silkscreen printer, Information Operator for the phone company, Interior House Painter, Waiter, Restaurant and Banquet Manager, Wall finish painter, Freelance Chalk pastel fine art artist, freelance painter / handyman / designer for a restuarant, Office Info center Clerk for a public park, Official salaried design floral and food design for a restaurant, Executive Director for a non-profit dedicated to preserving historic gardens in a public park. Basically in 2006 my income tripled when two jobs fell into my lap (while trying to follow my bliss) I went from starving freelance artist to Design guy and Executive Director for the non-profit. How the heck did THAT happen?! I think I partly made it happen. When you are doing things you really enjoy, the world seems to unfold at your feet. But then it stops. Maybe I cause that too. It certainly was nice not being poor anymore and i was confident in what I was doing. I think I have a dynamic quality and combination of skills that is both business and administrative savvy as well as creative. Actually i know this to be true because more than one psychic has told me so. But I'm not satisfied doing just one or the other. Well, I think I could be happy being creative each and every day, making 'stuff", as long as i still get to go out to restaurants to eat, pay all my bills without delay or worry, and go on at least 2 week-long vacations a year. Is that too much to ask? I don't want to be hungry or without medical insurance again. But isn't medical insurance only good for the very job thats causing you all the harmful illnesses?
Way off track. That's a little background about me. I am currently working that administrative job that provides me the lifestyle that I am comfortable with. It has also helped me to really dive into my long awaited passion for creating pottery...which is pricey. Making pottery gets me high and energized! While a day at the office sucks the life out of me. I have a few ideas of what I'd like to do. One vision is to have a little Artisan's Cafe that sells the work of various small town or regional artists works and a coffee shop with maybe some little sweet pastries or something. People will always stop for coffee! I don't expect to pull off some Jonathan Adler Home Design store (although it is an inspiration) and make millions just creating my own pottery in my own shop in New York. And I wouldn't want to. I love art and creative peoples and If I ever have the opprotunity to promote other artists, I do! Especially young talented people who don't have strong family support or educated backgrounds. I want to take my business savvy, restauranteur, designing spaces knowledge and experience and creative self (who really likes funky coffee shops) and open a store for artists and coffee lovers alike...preferably in a tourist town...by the sea..or in the mountains. Maybe a lake. It doesn't really matter. I'm still figuring it out. But i thought a great name for a funky artisan shop / design store / coffee shop would be...Amphibian! So begins my journey from basement potter (http://www.dwilsonart.com/) and ED of an NP to Amphibian! Please don't steal the name of my cafe but go ahead and steal the concept. We can't have enough of these places if you ask me.
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