I was gifted with another profound moment this week. Another moment that reminds me of the importance of the work I’m doing; the importance of safe spaces, empathy, and trust. The importance of women being able to circle up with other women. The importance of self-discovery. My women’s classes, where small in numbers recently, have been incredibly big on heart and authenticity. On Wednesday evening, the attendees and I were engaging in very deep conversations while they worked on their projects. We talked about some of our biggest challenges and burdens, how we’re finding our way through, and how life can be really tricky and bring you to your knees sometimes.
One of the women was sharing a story about a journey she was embarking on and how she’s afraid because similar journeys haven’t turned out well or lived up to expectations. And, as she’s sharing her story and walking around the studio looking for additional materials for her project, she comes upon two square-shaped mixed media pieces I made years ago. She holds them up and says, “These are the designs on your business cards!” I acknowledge that, yes, they were pieces of my artwork that I turned into business cards and then she proceeds to tell me the most beautiful story:
When she first started coming to the studio in September, she took one of those business cards. She resonated with the “Believe You Can” message and really needed to hear it at the time. So she brought the business card home and added it to an altar she has next to her bed. She shared that for the past six months, that card is the first thing she looks at each morning and the last thing she looks at each night before she goes to sleep. On days when she feels the self doubt creep in, she reminds herself to believe she can. On evenings when she hasn’t had the best of days, she revisits the card and it reminds her to believe she can have a better tomorrow, find the strength she needs, look at things through a new lens, utilize all of the new tools in her toolkit, and so much more.
As she’s talking about this, I can feel myself getting choked up. Tears start to sting my eyes and I can feel the emotions bubbling to the surface. It’s customary for me to use my own artwork in my business cards and it’s also customary for me to have positive, uplifting words in my artwork. It’s kinda my jam. But, to me, those business cards have always just been business cards. A way for people to contact me, book a class, follow me on social media. I honestly never gave much consideration to the fact that these pieces of cardstock might be a lifeline for someone. Or that they might become a talisman that someone reaches for when they begin to feel unmoored.
The woman then asks if I have any more cards. I direct her to the opposite end of the studio and off she goes to pick up one of each design. She tells me she’s taking them on her upcoming trip. She knows that she’s going to be tested during this trip, that she’s going to have to remind herself of all the ways she’s grown, and when things are tough, she’s going to have to really lean into her boundary-setting practice. She’s nervous she might falter, might regress, might be bested by someone in her life who is not on a journey of self-discovery and knows how to manipulate and push buttons. She wants to have the extra cards close by to simply touch while in her pocket or to look at when she needs a reminder of how far she’s come. They will help to reinforce her metaphorical force field during the times she feels disrespected, undervalued, or tested. During the times she might want to resort to old ways of being when feeling like she is in survival mode. And, she shared, in the event that her trip goes better then anticipated, and in the event that she feels as though she’s got it all under control, she plans to leave the cards behind in places where the universe might guide them into someone else’s hands at a time when they need the reminder that they, too, have the power to “Believe They Can.”
To say I was touched by this story would be an understatement. To say that I am inspired by the bravery of all the women who step foot in the studio would be factual. And, in light of this story, to continue to view my art and words as “just business cards” would be foolish.