At the End of the Day

Merry almost Sithmas, my dears! In honor of such festive occasions, I became she Vader for a quick holiday shoot :) I'm a little bit freaked out at how fast the end of the year creeped up...I mean...I still thought it was September subconsciously...so...I'm blaming it on time being sucked into a vortex. As the year winds down, it's also crazy to think of what has happened in a years time. December of last year, I was packing my life away and moving to California, and now here I am in Seattle, and honestly, I couldn't be happier. It's a lot of mental pressure being labelled "adult", "coworker", "alumni", "role model" "designer" and all of the other random tags slapped onto a human as they stumble out the doors to venture the world alone. At 22, you have half of the world telling you that your 20's are for traveling and figuring things out, and not being completely put together yet. The other part says, you are old now, with your degree and (hopefully) job and your health benefits. Go forth and make your own doctors appointments and unclog your own sink drain. If I had to some up what I've learned in the past year, it would be to live logically, positively, and passionately. In your 20's you realize most of your friends are temporary, and just as well, it's clear that the world isn't as easy as showing up for class, or just getting things done to say they're done. As an artist, you also realize that compromise and revisions are going to be your new besties, and that your attitude is a game changer in all situations. being an adult is a tough pill to swallow, but if you are constantly picking out the positive bits in the bowl of overwhelming honey bunch clusters of potential stress inducers, life manages to be that much better. I spent a year getting rid of a lot of somewhat toxic people...slowly...but with great care in the departure. I dissected the pieces of my life and what was important, and what I was holding onto because it felt necessary and through meditation I became a more alert being, both of surroundings and people. It's like a mental cleanse that sheds positive light and energy onto the important stuff, like you job, you remaining relationships, and your passions. Finding balance of passion and what pays the bills is also a big part of slapping on the big girl pants and conquering the universe. You find that time..whether it has actually been sucked into a vortex or not...moves quick. Leave the small fragments of precious time you have left for only the things and people you love. Finally, it is important to be strong, mentally and physically. It's not cute to be a drunk mess, or tired waif, or a loose canon when there is shit that needs to be done and you are the only one to do it. Feed that bod with the right things to perform to your highest standards, and set goals mentally, to keep on a track of constant positive progression in work and in everything else. Surround yourself with people who make you laugh and support your dreams, and always be listening to good music:) At the end of the day, you get to choose to be a bad ass or a hot mess. She-Vader says go forth and be a powerful and positive bad ass. And speaking of good music...my all time favorite song from Amon Tobin...who has helped me stay sane through weeks of nonstop design and rounds of editing.