Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rebecca Bystrom. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Rebecca, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
My most meaningful project(s) would be my children. That’s a whole different discussion with 6 womb fruits from ages 20 to two; life is in full technicolor and constantly working with the unexpected things that pop up. I find myself saying out-loud: Shift / Pivot / Wiggle to survive the chaotic days — or I turn my thoughts into creating funky art projects.
Fast forward to NOW
I recently finished an art piece that has come straight from the heart. This work has helped me cope thru the big feelings that came from a nasty divorce & each record cut – each twisty tie that got tightened up tight was intentionally made – as a release of old toxic patterns – and helping me recover from PTSD.
I call this passion project ……. ART – w/HE-ART: Songs of Freedom on Angels Wings
READ MORE ABOUT “THE PROJECT
https://tellastoryphotography.com/songs-of-freedom-on-an-angels-wings/
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I – am – A -Lot of creative & like to live life with my heart on my sleeve. Open / Honest / Empathic / Intuitive & as real as you can get. I prefer deep conversations & late night walks under the moon. I want to hug everyone up with energetic love – and help others find their happy – because life is way too short.
Backstory:
I am a college student drop out. Perhaps I should rephrase: I changed majors when I was nearly finished at UMD. The intended degree was in Forensics & Science major / Psychology minor. I met a boy while going to college, This “young love” changed the trajectory of my life. I ended up moving to St. Paul MN & changed majors to something “more fun.” Graduated from Century College with AAS associates degree in Interior Design. I did work in this industry for a few years & loved every second until the family was started. I had to shift again.
Everything I learned has come from experiences that have brought me to the – NOW –
I am self driven and enjoying learning new things or creating stuff on the fly! I enjoy learning from others & soaking up perspectives. I think like McGyver and carry a purse like Mary Poppins – no joke & no shame.
WORK / LIFE – they all cross- contaminate …… I get lost in my days and take life in stride, as it flows it goes. I have found a way to make a living doing things that I love to do!! Better yet – I have not worked for anyone but myself since 2005 (ALMOST 20 years!) I’m not getting any older, only wiser ~ I hope.
There are a few old adage sayings that I have turned into life points – and reminders to keep going:
1. Never put all your eggs in one basket
2. Variety is the spice of life
3. If you love what you do – then it’s not work //YES- there is a difference & mindset is everything.
I can be found in various places around our community & beyond in the inter-web platforms & social media
I am a go – getter and host a tribe of kids on the day to day grind. With our large family plus “bonus kids” that come to our house.
Bee Haven Child Care
Licensed home day care for 18 years.
The next business adventure that gets me out of the house & around adults & large groups of people. Photography started as a hobby in 2003. I took pictures of everything. My young crew & flowers were the main targets. They taught me a lot over the years. Between online photo classes, business courses and working with others in the trenches – photography has become my primary source of income. I am beyond thankful for this gift – of sight and the ability to capture candid moments. Those little “simple” moments that disappear too quickly. Photographs in digital format & printed allow you to go back visually and re-live those big & small moments that mean the world to us.
TellaStory Photography // www.tellastoryphotography.com
Photography for life, love & everything in-between
Weddings / Seniors / Families / Babies / Events / Business Sessions / Photo Booth
We love capturing all the above – the best part of this whole process is taking you beyond the digital files & creating beautiful printed artworks for you to enjoy every day or once in a while.
NEW BUSINESS ? potential
Esoteric Essentials – website coming soon
This is a passion project that was kickstarted at Covid – I’m still trying to figure out what direction to take this adventure, but I know there is a reason for the birth of a new business. The services that may be offered in the near future: Tuning Fork adjustments (bio field tuning) / Reiki – Energetic Healing / Art Therapy (non-clinical) / Naturopathy Health Coaching / Custom Aromatherapy Blends. Things are slowly coming together, time will tell how this unfolds. SHIFT – PIVOT – WIGGLE
Lastly – my favorite pastime, music. I play an instrument everyday, mostly my cello as it’s my heartstrings & pathway to “sanity & calm” – but piano allows me to get lost in thoughts too – I play a few dozen instruments, but I will always keep coming back to my first true love, with the strings. Thus – it seem appropriate to share my love for music – and apply a little String Theory – (healing powers) with the frequency of the cello = calming & relaxing.
Rusty Cello + Yellow Chair (RC + YC) // https://rcycmusic.com
My partner & I are a traveling acoustic duo (cello + guitar), playing music from across the genre’s. From Rock n’ Roll to Rap let the music take you back to a “remember when moment” and “hey I know that tune”. We may add a dash of Q&A trivia or toss in a few mini jam break downs to spice it up and keep you guessing as we play music from 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 00’s to – present tunes.
As you can see…..
I am just me & busy is relevant to the task at hand.
I am one busy B & I love every second my heart beats, thankful that I am alive.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
As I come back to me – pulling in fragments from across lifetimes The past 10 years have been focused primarily healing myself and recovery from PTSD. I have submersed myself into energy healing & hypnosis sessions. Learning how to repair the lymphatic system & moving from fright / flight / freeze mode into full power. Life has been a rollercoaster of interesting & WTF – is this really life moments ?? What is living ? Finding some answers and accepting what is. I am able to see A LOT past present & futures — this may be crazy talk and a little fluff and twaddle. It is my story & experience that I can not deny.
At the age of 5 – I crashed into a tree while downhill skiing – Head injury & near death
I was brought back to life – by a team of doctors whom I will forever be grateful for their life saving skills.
That is just the start of this story ….. I had suppressed the entire event – for a very long time. It was violently traumatic – for a young 5 year old mind that left me with C-PTSD (complex PTSD). This was an adverse childhood event that influenced me at a young age & at the soul level. This entire experience sent me on a trajectory course beyond my wildest dreams.
When I was 5 I died & went to heaven – I sat with angels on the other side while the doctors revitalized my young body. I can recall watching the team of doctors working on my tiny body in the hospital room, While on the other side, I sat with an all loving father type whom I would say is Jesus – it was a very real experience – and I am “dying” to get back there — but I know my job is here on earth. It has become my mission to help show others the same love that I witnessed and felt at the core fiber of my very being on that night of the 1986 accident. “Sharing is caring”
I will openly admit — I have always felt like a square peg – trying to fit into a round hole.
As I come into better understanding & soaking up perspectives over the years – I no longer want to conform to what society thinks I should be – rather – I just want to be me. Odd – eccentric authentic spunky – Free Spirit supportive of my tribe & Willing to share what I know & what I see. As an energy healer I can read people like a book. It’s fascinating & intoxicating at the same time – thus I stay inside my home (preferred pocket) protecting my energy most days & working with kids & families has been my happy place.
Living with an open heart & open mind connection is not for the faint of heart. I need constant pep talks and daily energetic cleansings with moments of recharging (just like we charge our cell phones) – I need to disconnect & recharge my soul to stay balanced and positive focus. I will forever be a work in progress, but I am happy to help anyone who asks or wants to talk nerdy woo hoo fluff stuff with zero judgement from my end – only a reflection of love from the inside out. I wear a tinfoil hat (weird like that) – cut the chase & skip the weather & gas conversation & let’s go straight to the point of what’s really on your mind.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
No – It’s not easy — being creative. I really mean; yes it does come easily to me.
Yet I call my creativity a blessing & a curse for various reasons.
(it’s good to know things – it kinda sucks to know things)
Sure idea’s come easy – and a million at a time + 50x a day. I find the challenge is in not letting those big idea’s consume me – with spinning thoughts – or distract me from the present moment. Staying present is the hardest part of the day. F.O.C.U.S is hard – and sticking to one project at a time is insanely hard to do! For the non-creative people, Don’t hate me because I see things differently. (often times I feel the hate from others it may not be words but the energetic hatred output is on full blast – it’s an extremely toxic world out there) — we can do better as a population, but those changes have to start from the inside out with each of us individually & collectively.
I would love to show you how to see life in technicolor. We all have creative ability & unique gifts to share.
Even if you are “not creative” trust me, you are we just need to turn the switch on.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tellastoryphotography.com
- Instagram: tellastoryphotog
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tellastorybbc / https://www.facebook.com/RCYCmusic
- Youtube: @rebeccabystrom6364
- Other: Bee Haven Child Care Esoteric Essentials
Image Credits
TellaStory Photography (me) Rebecca Bystrom