We were lucky to catch up with Renee Steward recently and have shared our conversation below.

Renee, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

About 6 years ago, I was working a corporate job managing retail stores for a big company. It was fun! I got to talk to people every day. I was learning so much all the time. My path forward in life was laid out for me. While their were a few directions I could take, the corporate structure is pretty straight forward and you always know that there’s another step you can take.

I had started as a part-time sales person when I was in college because the job promised way more money than I was making and I desperately wanted to move out of my parent’s house. I wanted freedom and independence and by some stroke of luck, I got the job with no experience! And 10 years later, I was still there.

The point came where I could either try to figure out how to get promoted again or to figure out how to make something meaningful to me.

I decided to jump! I quit my job without a plan, without any idea as to what I was going to do, without anything really. Just a lot of confidence that I could figure it out.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a creative person – I write, do photography, design, paint, draw. And I love running and competing in things. And I love business. It’s kind of a hodge podge of things that I don’t always know what to do with.

But what I’ve learned through my process of trial and error and just winging it, is that there is ALWAYS opportunity and the things you care about dictate the opportunity that you see.

I started writing and making art as a way to express myself. Sometimes I bottle things up or don’t know how to organize my thoughts to share with other people, so art helps me do that. And it’s always true to me and what I’m experiencing at the time. I think that’s why it resonates with others.

When I take photos, it’s always of things I love. I love taking pictures of skateboarders because I loved my first boyfriend who was a skater. I love taking picutres of runners because I love running. Maybe it’s something about sports and about the dedication and commitment it takes. I just love it.

I started designing because the artists around me needed help. They didn’t know how to put their work online or make a logo or a business card or orgainze their creative ideas. I’m somehow lucky that my creative brain and organization brain work together. So I started helping them through design so they could be successful too!

Right now, I’m in a bit of a transition phase. Doing so much creative work for other people started to take a toll on my own creative projects, so I’m creating a community and courses to help more people without so much one-on-one work. And I’m writing again! I’m very excited for my current project – the Good Bus. It’s a combination of all of the things I love in one and I’m excited to see where it goes!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Resilience is a word that means a lot to me and is a common theme throughout my life. I’ve always found a way to live through running and art. They are always there for me.

Most recently, as I’m sure is true for a lot of people, I’ve struggle deeply with depression. I was working so hard on so many things all of the time, I just tapped myself out. I stopped having thoughts for awhile and would wake up and really not know why I was here. For the first time in my life, I thought about killing myself.

It’s a hard thing to face when you don’t even have the will to live any more. It’s literally you up against yourself. I just had to ride a lot of that wave out. And things are finally starting to clear up for me. And creating helps. And watching movies helps. And talking to people helps. And continuing to remind myself that this isn’t me helps. It’s like the more I create, the more my mind starts coming alive again.

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I think there are a few goals and missions I’m constantly clinging to. The first one is freedom. I am always desperately trying to create freedom. Not in a lack of responsibility way. I believe having freedom is the greatest responsibility you could have. But in a way where I can understand things and be who I am and offer that to others to help them. I use my experiences in life and business and art and fitness and try to draw wisdom that I can share.

I also truly believe that you have the ability to create a life that is perfect for you, that truly brings you joy and that you love. That doesn’t mean it’s without hardship, but it’s challenging in a way that keeps you growing and finding newer, bigger versions of you and what you could be.

And I’m always trying to find myself. That may sound a little weird or esoteric or whatever, but I’m always looking for the most authentic expression of me at any moment. When I’m writing, I can hear my voice as I’m typing and if I’m not being myself or I’m trying to control my thought or the direction, it doesn’t work. I get stuck. I have to stop and ask myself “What is it I’m trying to say right now?” and that always opens up my actual intention. Photography is similar. Sometimes I have to walk around the city and take pictures of garbage to let myself feel angry or sad or whatever. It’s not ideal, but it’s the only way I know how to let myself feel things.

Contact Info:

• Website: getonthegoodbus.substack.com
• Instagram: @hey_this_is_renee

Image Credits
Profile Image by Malik Blaylark (malikbphotography.com)