I’m the kind of person that’s never been especially photogenic. I don’t like smiling.
When I was born, my sisters thought I looked angry. The baby pictures are fairly damning.
I got laughed at in school for being “too serious”, and my sarcasm ostracized me.
I spent most of my time exploring books and music, being labeled the “moody artist”.
I cannot tell you how many times complete strangers have told me that “I should smile more”.
The moment I got my first copy of Weatherveins and held it in my hands, I couldn't stop smiling.
I spent hours and days and weeks and months curating my pain into poetry.
Tears, excitement, doubt, and all the espressos that had kept me going were poured into these pages.
And here it was. In my hands.
A tangible piece of the beautiful mess that I am.
My seriousness turned into poems, those poems turned into a book, and that book turned into the most genuine smile on this face right here.
It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks you should do, or be. Don’t let other people tell you what you should do, how you should do it, or when.
Which is why I wrote a book of poetry last year, and why I am now coaching others to find their creative flow. - It's my flow.
And don’t ever let anyone tell you that you should smile more.
I’m a “moody artist”, after all.
