What It Means to Be an Artist in This Season of Life

Lately I’ve been sitting with this thought: what does it really mean to be an artist? There’s this constant pressure in the art world to sell to market yourself, to push your work like it’s a product. And yes, sometimes that’s part of it, but to me, being an artist is simply about creating. Creating because you can’t not. Because there’s something burning inside you that has to come out in the form of color, line, sound, words, whatever medium you choose.

I think about how a piece of art might live beyond me, five years from now, ten years, even a hundred. I wonder how it might make someone feel when I’m no longer here. That’s the beauty of creating: it’s not about the grind of selling; it’s about the legacy of emotion.

And in a world where so many of us want to escape the nine-to-five, maybe the answer isn’t choosing between art and work. Maybe it’s both. Maybe art is the passion you carry alongside whatever else you do, because it keeps you alive inside. And I deeply believe that if something is truly meant for you, nothing in this world can stop it.

Lately I’ve also been reflecting on the seasons. I used to lean toward spring and summer as my favorites but lately fall and winter feel like home. They carry this comfort, this sense of slowing down and looking inward. Fall, especially, feels like a season of reflection. Right now, we have a little over three months left in 2025, and for me, that means looking back at what this year has brought: the loss, the lessons, the chaos. It also means grounding myself in gratitude for the small, ordinary moments.

We spend so much time chasing the next thing: the next paycheck, the next opportunity, the next version of ourselves. But abundance isn’t only about money. It’s also the cup of coffee in the morning, the laughter that sneaks up on you, the softness of a blanket on a cold night. It’s the little things. And if I’ve learned anything this year, it’s that life feels richer when we stop, breathe, and just live in those small, present moments.

So maybe that’s where I’m at right now: creating because I have to, reflecting because the season invites it, and choosing to be grateful in ways that don’t have a price tag.

With just over three months left in 2025, what’s something you’re reflecting on or grateful for right now?