This past week felt like a I was caught in a whirlwind. The week started really strong then I ended up catching some weird 24-hour flu bug, but it all ended on a high-note when I installed my new show at Union Bear for their grand opening. If you live in Dallas you should check out the art space downstairs.

Here are a few things that I learned through all the craziness this past week:

1. Learning to separate my work feelings and personal feelings is hard work

2. Making people a priority in my life is the key to living a healthy life

3. Give a damn about the work you do

The latter of these three lessons is one I find a continual challenge. Maybe you can relate, but whenever I have worked for someone else I found myself wanting to do the bear minimum just to get by. It was always a struggle to dig down deep and find some passion for what I was working on. But now that I’m out on my own it’s like I have nothing but passion to wake me up and put food on my table.

Something I want to continue to reflect on is this: Is the work I’m doing today going to make a difference tomorrow? Or is the work I’m doing now just that… work. Ultimately God can take any situation, however mundane, and sanctify it. That’s the beauty of grace. So it frees me to just live and work and love throughout my life without the added stress of if I’m where I think I should be.

So whether you’re where you think you should be today, don’t worry, this life is meant to be a journey. Stop looking over your shoulder and stop comparing yourself to others. Focus on the road ahead and don’t be too prideful to stop and ask for help every once in a while. We’re more alike than we are different. Hope you have a great week.

Here are some thing I learned this past week:

1. I’m a simple dude – I enjoy the simple things in life

2. I’m getting older – I can’t be out all night

3. Time with my family is greater than all else

I was in a bit of a holding pattern with client work this past week. So I took the initiative to spend time with Amanda. She helped me get some photos of our sick new Folly shirts. Also, I took a short trip to Austin for the Dribbble meetup down there. Good times seeing Phil, Dave, Trent, Raygun, Sean, Gerren and meeting so many other awesome folks. I like being able to connect names with faces, but I’m still horrible with remembering names. So I apologize in advance if I forget next time we meet.

Up early this morning to focus on the day ahead of me. Coffee, check. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long week. Along with getting back to a normal routine with client work I also have to arrange and hang my upcoming show at Union Bear for their grand opening. The Circle Meetups is on Friday. Then I have to finish hanging my instagram prints at the coffee shop this morning.

All in all things are going better than expected. Why didn’t I do this sooner, I keep telling myself. But I’m reminded that each new day is a walk of faith. I can’t see what tomorrow will bring. So I’m gonna give it my all while I still can. And it’s from this place that I hope to create some sort of lasting change. Hope you have a great week. Stay creative!

The winter is wearing on me now. That cycle of wishing it were hot again when it’s cold, and it’s only February.

Contentment. That’s the name of the game.

Entering month two of my freelance journey and I feel great. I feel like I keep telling people I’m so busy, which is true, but I’m enjoying every minute of it. Balancing work time and family time is probably the biggest challenge. But I keep going back to a conversation I had with my friend and mentor, Ben Pasley, about visualizing your tasks and then marking them off when you finish them. Sounds easy enough right? But the art of ruling your time is a tricky one.

It takes time to make time.

Moving on. As I continue work with my clients I also have a few personal goals I’d like to complete by month’s end.

1. Finish and release Steedicons Volume 2

2. Get the Folly shop up and running with our new shirts

3. Get my new instagram photo show hung up at our local coffee shop

A few final thoughts about time management. Making a schedule doesn’t have to be a straight jacket on your life. I like to think of it more like my favorite t-shirt. But you can imagine whatever you want. All I’m trying to say is don’t let your schedule rule your life. Take time to sit, pray, meditate (every day) on what’s most important. Then go do that. The words of Solomon come to mind, “Where there is no vision, the people perish”. Thanks for reading. Have a great week.

This past week was pretty normal. Head down. Getting work done. Managed to get some work done around the house as well. There is something satisfying deep down in my soul when I do something manly around the house. I can make things on my computer all day long, but when it comes to using my hands to fix/install something that’s when I feel really proud of my labor.

On a side note, I am starting to sense the nerves rising up as I prepare for filing my taxes this year. This will be the first time filing as a full-time freelancer. I guess I’m trying to prepare for the worst. But honestly it’s easy for me to get totally overwhelmed by all of it.

So here’s to a new week filled with new opportunities to create. I remain thankful for the chance to do what I love for a living. I don’t want to take this lightly. I feel a greater sense of purpose now that I am cutting my own path in life. Not just for the right now, but for the future, however uncertain it may be.