Putting all the puzzle pieces together

I was never sure being a graphic designer was my calling. I questioned my choice throughout my career, ventured on new paths, and after nearly two decades, I finally have the answer.

The first piece of the puzzle was to detach my sense of worth from my work and what I produce. My worthiness is not related to what I do, but to who I am. Coming from that perspective gave me a level of freedom I've never had before.

So I started The Dream Map with no idea of what I could offer or what I wanted to do as an entrepreneur, but I knew I would eventually find answers.

I love creating artwork, but I always knew that wasn't the full picture. And if you follow The Dream Map on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube, you probably heard me talk time and time again about this book or that. So the bookmark was the perfect project for me to get me started on this new chapter.

Earlier this week, I was putting together an action plan, and it brought me so much joy to think of all the different things that I love to do coming together. Art, design, photography, typography, crafting, print. All the things that I love coming together in a product that I use every day: your humble bookmark.

I've run a few tests and need to run some more before I have the final bookmarks, but when I think about what's to come, I'm very excited.

This is how I found the answer to my lifelong question. I am not just a designer. I'm meant to create. To explore. To try different things, fail, pick myself up and try again. I don't have to box myself in. I can create the job I always dreamed of and work on things that bring me pure and utter joy, and I can't wait to share the pieces I create and hopefully share this joy with the world.