My Motivation as a YA writer and Illustrator.
"Somewhere along the line of development we discover what we really are, and then we make our real decision for which we are responsible. Make that decision primarily for yourself because you can never really live anyone else's life." -- Eleanor Roosevelt
I have made many bad decisions in my life. I have regret. People say you live and you learn, but the reality is not that simple. Most people can look to family and friends for advice, but again, the reality is not that simple for everyone. The reason; family will sometime tell you what they think you want to hear, or tell you what they think you should hear.
My example:
My life was in a tailspin and needed to stabilize. I was dating an older man, who was well off and nourishing. The signs of incompatibility were there, but my family and friends encouraged me to work through it because they felt it was in my best interest.
The marriage didn’t last long and I was miserable and controlled (my own fault). The consequence, the “learn part”, I have become estranged from my friends and family. Now I am mending the wounds with people who were close to me.
So my motivation as writer and illustrator is to inspire young people to make rational decisions. Make decisions based on life experience of themselves and others. Use sound judgment. Have realistic Expectations. Learn from failure. Take calculated risks. Have courage to be themselves, the fear of being yourself impedes development of independent individuals who judge and decide knowingly for themselves. The fear of judgment by others is a path to unhappiness.
The ultimate goal is happiness? Without happiness, what do we have? Sadness. Life is short and we only live once.
Carpe Diem
I have made many bad decisions in my life. I have regret. People say you live and you learn, but the reality is not that simple. Most people can look to family and friends for advice, but again, the reality is not that simple for everyone. The reason; family will sometime tell you what they think you want to hear, or tell you what they think you should hear.
My example:
My life was in a tailspin and needed to stabilize. I was dating an older man, who was well off and nourishing. The signs of incompatibility were there, but my family and friends encouraged me to work through it because they felt it was in my best interest.
The marriage didn’t last long and I was miserable and controlled (my own fault). The consequence, the “learn part”, I have become estranged from my friends and family. Now I am mending the wounds with people who were close to me.
So my motivation as writer and illustrator is to inspire young people to make rational decisions. Make decisions based on life experience of themselves and others. Use sound judgment. Have realistic Expectations. Learn from failure. Take calculated risks. Have courage to be themselves, the fear of being yourself impedes development of independent individuals who judge and decide knowingly for themselves. The fear of judgment by others is a path to unhappiness.
The ultimate goal is happiness? Without happiness, what do we have? Sadness. Life is short and we only live once.
Carpe Diem