Art, Life and a Magazine

Last week I got contacted by Voyage ATL, an online magazine. They informed me that they were posting the image below onto their Arts & Culture Weekly Review home page. (You can view it here or click image)

Super exciting. To say the least.

Let me back up though. The magazine contacted me several weeks ago and asked permission to use the photo from my Instagram feed. I agreed but didn't really expect anything to come of it.

Frankly I was skeptical. Maybe dismissive. But certainly thinking, "yeah, right".

Because I'm positive and optimistic like that.

So imagine my surprise on Saturday morning when I received the email.

I clicked the link and scrolled to find my art showcased halfway down the page.

I then headed back to the top to read more. To my dismay (and slight horror) I realized that this magazine is designed to highlight topics in the greater Atlanta area.

So in a blink all the good vibes drained out. The validation deemed null and void. The excitement watered down.

Talk about deflated.

I felt a bit tainted actually. Or like I got caught cheating. The word devious floated through my mind.

Thinking back I tried to figure out what happened. In my attempt to act indifferent I didn't fully engage. Or pay attention.

This was a lame attempt to protect myself. Avoid disappointment. And essentially to avoid vulnerability.

How did I get back here again? Pretending not to care. Embracing skepticsm.

Am I the only one at this circus?

Yes, there is risk in hoping. Yes, there is fear in expecting. And yes there is potential for discouragement.

But within that lies beauty.

The ability to care. To hope. To dream.

Not every dream will be fulfilled. Nor should it. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't dream.

Click image to view or purchase on website

Hold up the mirror to your heart's desire.

Allow yourself to imagine. Believe. Dream.

Then get to work. Show up. Begin.

Leave skepticism behind.

It's okay to care.

My story has a happy ending as the magazine doesn't mind that I live in Seattle.

What will your ending be?

“Trust the wait. Embrace the uncertainty. Enjoy the beauty of becoming. When nothing is certain, anything is possible.”

— Mandy Hale