Is it natural to wonder what life would have been like had you chosen a different path? Is it common? We asked many artists and creatives from all over the country if they’ve ever wondered about whether they should have pursued a more standard career path to see what we could learn from their stories.

Phoebe (Feebee) Joynt

I have been a full-time artist (self-employed) since 2019 and still to this day in April of 2022 the question of “should I just get a real full-time, work in a cubicle, in an office, water cooler talk, actual co-workers kind of job?” And I think that’s okay, as creatives, to question our self-employed commitment especially under times of stress, feeling under appreciated by our clients, or just during times of creative writer’s block and struggling. Let’s face it; Read more>>

Kasaundra Hamilton

When the bills are due, when the kids need something new at the last minute, when unexpected expenses arise… I find myself on Indeed.com pondering how I could rearrange my schedule to add time for a 9-5. It would make life so much easier financially to have a set and steady source of reliable income. If I knew I could clock in a set number of hours and bring in a set amount of pay weekly, my mind my be more at ease. But then reality strikes. While my finances may be more secured, my heart and mind would not. Read more>>

Coley Curry

I feel incredibly fortunate to have art and creativity at the forefront of my life. My daily routine is always changing; the projects that I’m working on and the people that I’m working with are always shifting. It feels like a gift to get to spend my time in this way, even when I feel overloaded or uninspired I try to remind myself of the privilege I have getting to work as an artist and a dancer. That being said I often think about how life could have been different and the many decisions that could have shifted my focus or career. When I was younger I read “The Beach” by Alex Garland. Read more>>

Helene Marie

I know I am not alone in this moment because I have discussed it with fellow creatives. But the times in which I question, “I should just have a regular job” are when my calendar slows down. This stretch of days creates a false sense of insecurity, as if my schedule were not busy just the week prior. My slowest month has been January, post-holiday so it should be understandable. In my mind however, at the top of year is when I should be just as active as the end to set the tone for the new year. Read more>>