My Journey
I’m sharing a bit of my personal journey—from working endless shifts just to get by, to finding space in the evenings to paint, to building Ephemeral Dream Creations into what it is today.
I wasn’t always an artist. Throughout my life, I’ve worked all kinds of jobs across nearly every industry. And for most of that time, I was broke.
If you’ve never been broke, you might not realize just how expensive it is. Everything costs more when you have nothing to spend. But this isn’t a “woe is me” post, we’ve all seen enough of those. I just want to establish a baseline for the reality of where I was coming from.
When you’re broke, you really only have two choices: get reckless or get busy.
The reckless path happens when people try to pretend they aren’t struggling. They spend two dollars for every one they earn, maxing out credit cards and taking on loans to buy things they can’t afford, all while feeling trapped by the weight of it. I want to be clear, these aren't bad or foolish people. They’re normal people doing the best they can in a system that tells them they need things to live a "normal" life. They make costly decisions trying to fit a mold, get frustrated when it backfires, and end up trapped in a cycle that leaves them even more broke.
I’ve always landed in the second camp: as soon as I realized I was struggling, I got busy.
That’s why I’ve worn so many hats over the years. That’s how those of us who get busy survive. We wake up early, stay up late, and grind harder than anyone would believe just to keep our heads above water. We cut back on time with family, skip hanging out with friends, and set aside our passions. We sleep, work, save every penny we can, and sacrifice the things we love just to drag ourselves forward.
Because of that survival mentality, I had to put my art on the back burner for a very long time.
I never stopped dreaming or imagining, but my passion was locked away while I focused on the grind. Eventually, I decided things had to change. It started small, painting in the evenings while my wife and I unwound after a long day. Then, I started sharing my work. Then, selling it. It’s been a long road, and financial freedom doesn't happen overnight, but I’ve finally found a balance where I’m no longer just surviving, I'm actively pursuing what I love.
That’s why I wanted to write this. No matter what your dream is, or how many years you’ve had to put it on hold, you can always come back to it. It won't be easy, and it requires commitment, but your dreams are never truly out of reach if you’re willing to get busy.
