Me vs. the Machine

"Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune".

-- Jim Rohn: Entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker

I was recently sent this quote and could not shake the feeling that it came to me at just the right time. It's funny how you find ways to find the meaning behind even the simplest things when you're searching for answers.

I have been battling for some time with the struggle of going to school for Business while actively pursuing my goal of becoming an established Fashion Designer. It's a hard blow when you finally do the math and realize that they really aren't enough hours in the day for you to accomplish all that you want without something else being sacrificed. That something that feels like its being sacrificed is more quality time with my boys.

I always find time to do the routine things with them such as being chauffeur, chef, and fixer of all things at the last minute, but those things don't bond us, so much as they are what needs to be done. It's the moments of sitting on the couch and watching a movie together or going to the park that brings us closer. Those unexpected moments of hugs and "I love you" that you didn't have to initiate. I not only cherish those, but need to make more of an effort to provide the opportunity for them to happen.

So while I may battle with how to fit in time to do all the things I would like to do, there are some things that are non-negotiable and some that I have control over. I value the need for education, but also feel that there are those that soak up knowledge by living what they want to be. I want to be a Fashion Designer and yet I spend more time traveling down paths that only lead me back to where I started. All roads lead to me knowing what I wanted all along. I realize now that I let fear rule me with an iron fist and that my creativity was set aside and viewed as more of a hobby than a need.

I need fashion. I need the feel of fabrics in my hands, a sewing pedal at my foot and a desire to let my creativity take whatever shape or form that it chooses. I need to stop trying to "be" and just being. I need to believe in my own ability to pick and choose what roads I will travel going forward. There are some that I will take that will be scenic, smooth and have all the proper signs to tell me when and where to turn and how much farther to the next stop. And there will be some that will be bumpy, overcrowded and misleading. I know that I will be taking a risk by choosing to make my own map, but it's one that I've steered clear from for far too long.

Sincerely,

Ebony
(Conquering the world, one stylish step at a time)

C’mon, Ride It...The Great Brazil Express

C’mon, Ride It

I came across this great travel opportunity and wanted to share it. I will have to add this to my vision board of something I would like to enjoy some day.

I just want to draw!

Between talks with a graphic designer, a lawyer, online school, work and my most important job of being a mother to two boys, drawing has seem to have taken a back seat.

The creative part of me just wants to sit and draw and let my hands translate for my imagination. The business part of me understands that you have to be patient and make sure you protect yourself as well as your ideas.

Right now I'm trying to find the balance of the two.  I want to be able to share my ideas, but I also want to make sure that I'm given credit for what I've worked so hard for.

So for now, I let my ideas dance around my head and onto the pages of my "Big Black Book of Ideas" until they are able to take the stage.

Finding balance always seems to be a resounding theme these days.  Everyone wants to have it all without having to sacrifice too much.  I'm guilty of that as well.  I want everything to fall into place since I can't find time to manage too many interruptions. If it were only up to me, I wouldn't have to worry about that, but unfortunately, life always has it's own plans and I have to fnd a way to either roll with the punches, or duck faster.  :-)

Sincerely,

Ebony

(Conquering the world, one stylish step at a time)

Where it all began

I can remember as a little girl anxiously waiting for the Miss America pageant to start on TV. While others watched to find out who would be crowned with the coveted title, I watched to see what dresses the contestants would wear. I admired the way the dresses fit and the intricate detail that was added to make a particular dress stand out from the rest. With each dress that came on stage, I became more and more mesmerized. It was then that I realized that I wanted to become a fashion designer.

With that realization came the many designs that I would sketch out on whatever piece of paper I could get my hands on. I also managed to take over control of my mother's sewing machine to make some dresses for my dolls out of cut up socks (which make the best fitted dresses for dolls).

Through the years, I have gotten sidetracked and walked down different paths, but they all seem to lead me right back to my passion of becoming a fashion designer. So, I decided that I was going to get out of my own way and not only pursue my dream, but stay focused and committed into turning it into a reality.

This blog will chronicle what steps I take forward as well as some that I may take backwards. Please check often and comment, especially if you notice that I haven't updated the blog in awhile. I have set a goal of writing down one thing a day that I have done to make myself better and keeping this blog updated on a regular basis helps to fulfill that requirement.

Sincerely,

Ebony
(Conquering the world, one stylish step at a time)