Strong vs Tough

I’ve always likened myself to that of the East Asian water buffalo. They have a steadfast and unforgiving step forward. It never goes back and when they’re on a path forward you better get out of the way.

With running the studio and a fabrication shop, I’ve hit many hard trials that I’ve always managed to plow through. The past 2 years I’ve poured every penny back into building this studio and running it. Because of that, I don’t too often get to focus on my own creativity, however after recently quitting my full time job (yep, flying free folks!) I’ve had plenty of time in the studio to purge my brain of its squiggles and manifest them in steel.

One of the greater transformations made this year besides dropping the day job has been creating boundaries. A spring-time epiphany made me realize the difference between being strong and being tough. I’ve always been a tough human- enduring things without complaint because I thought that’s what life was. However, I was not a strong person. Just because we can endure something…doesn’t mean we have to. It takes a strong person to say “no” or “not now” or even “hey, these jokes are really not funny and if you keep being disgusting in a way that makes me feel physically uncomfortable i’m going straight to HR.”

Boundaries.

But greater still is the boundary on my personal time. Running a brick and mortar studio and having to be everything to this entity is absolutely draining at most times. However, realizing where my time is better spent is key to not burning out. Sometimes the hardest person to say no to is yourself. Then it actually becomes easier to say no to others!