There comes a point when we have to stop minimizing the things that matter to us.
Our work. Our time. Our energy. Our ideas. Our dreams.
For a long time, I think many of us are taught to be grateful for whatever comes our way, not to ask for too much, not to make a fuss, and certainly not to talk too openly about money or value. But there is a difference between being grateful and undervaluing yourself.
I have been thinking about that a lot lately.
My art is something I love deeply, but it is not simply a hobby. Teaching, painting, writing, creating classes, producing a book, building new projects, and sharing my work are all part of the life and business I am building. There is heart behind it, but there is also time, training, materials, experience, planning, and a great deal of work.
And I am learning that honoring the dream also means honoring its value.
Last week I wrote about loving the dream enough to make a plan. Part of that plan is building a creative life that can sustain itself — one that allows me to teach, create, travel, tell stories, and continue doing work that I hope encourages other people along the way.
That requires me to stop treating what I do as though it is somehow less legitimate simply because I do not have a traditional storefront.
So many of us happily walk into a favorite shop, discover something beautiful or interesting, and bring it home because it speaks to us. Supporting an artist or small business is really no different. Sometimes that means choosing to support their work in a tangible way, and sometimes it is as simple as sharing, recommending, encouraging them, or simply telling another person, “You should see what they’re doing.”
Those small acts matter more than people realize.
As we head into November and the season when so many of us begin thinking about gifts, gatherings, and what we choose to spend our money on, I hope we can also remember the people around us who are building something of their own.
The artist. The maker. The teacher. The writer. The local business owner. The person quietly trying to turn something they believe in into a sustainable life.
And perhaps the deeper lesson is this: before we can ask others to recognize our value, we have to recognize it ourselves.
That does not mean becoming arrogant or demanding. It simply means no longer apologizing for the work, time, experience, and heart we bring to the table.
This Week’s Reflection
Where have you been quietly discounting your own value?
What would change if you began treating your time, talents, and dreams as something genuinely worth protecting and supporting?
You are worthy of being valued.
You are enough. You do enough. You have enough.
And sometimes honoring your dream begins with deciding that it is worth building a life around.
💕💕Ann
