Dear wonderful human reading this,

 

I'm so happy you're still with me and want to learn more about my journey. So here's my letter to you!

 

The Beginning

I'm sure many events had to align just right for us to connect here, so let me give you the abbreviated version 😊. As a kid, I loved to draw, though I remember an art teacher once telling me my self-portrait basically sucked. Art teachers, please think before you speak—art isn't meant to be perfect. Anyway, I drew a lot, and if you received a drawing from me, it meant you were important to me.

 

The Early Years

Fast forward to high school and college, where I took some art classes. Then, I had kids! Art and creativity eluded me for a while. Once in a while, I would sit down and draw with the kids, rediscovering the joy of creating and letting time flow.

 

New Beginnings

Then, as life goes, I got wrapped up in adulting, working in corporate land as an analyst for over a decade. I always knew I wasn't meant to be an analyst or in accounting, yet I pushed through it because it was a lucrative career. I actually wanted to be a teacher when I was little and be on the Mickey Mouse Club.

 

Eventually, my husband and I decided to start all over! We packed our family into a giant U-Haul semi (it was big), and we caravanned our way from the southwest deserts of Farmington, New Mexico to the lush river valleys of Wenatchee, Washington, with dreams of being business owners, raising our family, and riding our bikes in the Pacific Northwest. Picture us, a family of hopeful adventurers, weaving through landscapes with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

 

Plot Twist!

Funny thing about dreams—they shift, morph, and aren't always what they seem. Shortly after moving to Washington and slowly getting our remodel business going, the pandemic hit, and at the same time, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. This is where I faced the dark night of my soul. But this isn't a sad story. I made it through treatment and navigated the choppy waters of life with a new perspective, and with more compassion and love.

 

The Transformation

One day, after saying many "no's," I finally said "yes" to something called Wild Women. Little did I know, the journey had actually begun long before this nine-month experiential art journey. All the stepping stones had led me to Michelle Baker and her Wild Women. After the nine months were over, I found myself thinking, "I wish I could teach and share what I learned." Ask, and you shall receive! Michelle announced her Paint From Your Soul Facilitator certification. I had my doubts: Could I actually do this? I don't have a degree in psychology; I'm not a coach; I'm not fill-in-the-blank. But I knew in my heart this was what I wanted to do. When I look back through my story, art has always been my refuge.

 

Here We Are!

So here we are! I've worn many hats: I've cleaned toilets, worked with addicts in a rehab center, supported others as a virtual assistant, coached mountain biking, and have an ear and heart that will listen. Now, I want to take you on a journey of trusting the process, walking with the unknown, having the courage to do something new, and empowering you to create like you've never created before.

 

I hope you choose to join me!

 

With love and a dash of courage,

Heather