“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else - means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.”

e.e. cummings

You have value; importance; purpose.

As we re-emerge from the pandemic times into now, we are seeing what has changed, what has not, and what is being revealed in the space between.

Yes, it’s exhausting, frustrating, fatiguing, annoying. Yes, it’s unfair, unrealistic, and ridiculous. Yes, it reveals anger and doubt and more.

So where does the value of you meet your boundaries? Your choices? Your balances? Where is that space between the value and the anger? That spot that you can reside in comfortably without emotional trauma and angst?

As we move forward in our industries, we see where the change wants to thrive, and where there is no change. It truly has become more defined in many ways.

If we want change, we must value it even more, by becoming more aware of the boundaries we need to set in order to achieve it.

There is way too much passive-aggressive behavior under the guise of “woke”. It’s fatiguing at best.

So, what do we do? What do I do? What do you do?

What is the value of YOU?

Only you get to decide that.

You don’t need to shout it from the roof tops necessarily with “these are my boundaries!” but you need to know your value, claim your value and quietly assert your boundaries if your value is being dismissed.

We all survived this pandemic. You will survive saying “no” to a project, to a person, to situation that tries to devalue you.

The behavior of devaluing, or shaming speaks volumes about the person/project/situation - than it does about you. How you RESPOND to that behavior speaks volumes about you.

Is it easy to say no? As a recovering people-pleaser, I can say, no, it’s not always easy. Nothing worth taking a stand for is easy. Neither is recovering from saying yes to something or someone who shows no respect to you.

Your worth means more than a project.

Your worth means more than what someone thinks of you.

Your worth is non-negotiable.

The value of you as a human being and artist is non-negotiable. Everything else is details.

If that value is not honored, then it’s a firm and simply “no”. Full stop.

You do not negotiate against yourself. You do not devalue yourself when someone or something shows blatant disregard of your human-ness or your artistry.

You will not flourish in a situation that devalues you.

Your birthright is to flourish.

So claim your value fully. Let your value lead you fully into your life and into your boundaries.

Do it with quiet fierceness.

Will you work again? Yes. On your terms, with your people.

Saying “no” to being de-valued allows space for you to explore and find where your boundaries are embracing a “yes”!

with fondness & fierceness,