Do you ever wonder what life would have been like had you chosen a more standard path? Does everyone have these doubts sometimes? We wanted to find out and so we asked as many talented artists and creatives as we could and have shared highlights below.

Sean Lambert

Being an artist/ creative has so many benefits to me, mentally speaking. I consider all the aspects of what I do as something creative, from improvising solos on stage, to collaborating on other artist’s music as a writer, to making the smallest adjustments on a song’s mix, and even replacing/ rewiring the components on an organ. Using my senses in conjunction with my brain on anything musical gives me the serotonin boost I crave. Read more>>

Julian Tejeda

Personally I am happy as a creator, I find that when I am being creative I’m always more optimistic, however, there are times I do wonder if a regular job would be the safer route. I’m sure many people just starting out in the industry can all relate and say that the pay isn’t always so great (sometimes nonexistent). It can be a huge deterrent that leaves people thinking they’d be better off settling down with a regular job where the pay is stable, I would know as I’ve experienced this a copious amount of times. Read more>>

Shawn Ahkeah

I always dreamt of being an artist painter but as i grew older it became something i kept in the back of my mind. I knew when i graduated high school i needed a job, so i had menial jobs but in the back of my mind i wanted to do art. I joined the air force hoping when i got out id have a steady employment and education but there was no time in the service to go to school for art. when i got out of the service i still was looking for employment and got into the construction field. Read more>>

Chelsea Bumgarner

Living a life as a full time creative maker comes with ebbs and flows, like any other career choice. I began my creative journey back in 2014, after leaving my job with a gut instinct to follow my dreams. Those dreams were slightly unclear at that moment, but I knew I did not want to work for anyone else, and yearned to live my life for myself, on my own terms. Sweet Thyme Design sprouted and blossomed over time in a very organic and natural way, as I began to let my heart and skill set lead the way. Read more>>

Dylan Keawe

Music truly saved my life and I can’t imagine wanting to give it up. As creatives and as humans in general, I think we all wrestle with self-doubt. I’m constantly filtering out negative thoughts and reactions to allow myself to be present and accept situations for what they are. But there are absolutely days (that sometimes turn into weeks) where I question my progress and future. When the pandemic hit and shut down the touring industry, before that I was making a living as a touring freelance keyboard/guitar player. Read more>>

Angie Nordstrum

Heck yes!! Living the Artist Life is the best life for me! I made a very conscious choice to leave my “real” job six years ago to pursue my lifelong dream of working for myself. I had always wanted to branch out on my own, but life kept throwing me curve balls that made me believe I needed to stay in the “real” job. When I got divorced, I thought that meant I would never be able to branch out on my own. I had a young son and needed to keep my health insurance and benefits. But I got to the point where I just knew I had to give self employment a shot. Read more>>

Christian Aparicio

Naturally, creativity comes with being an artist. It’s in my DNA. My artistry can’t exist without my God given creativity. I’m happy being myself. An artist and a creative. I’ve had many “regular” jobs. I’ve worked at restaurants, retail stores, non-profits, etc. What’s funny is that in every job I have had, my desire to create was always in the back of my head. Through every work opportunity I learned that the “regular” job is a blessing that can fuel my artistry until my creative work becomes my main source of income. Read more>>