Why I Design | A Foundation Story
The desire to create or design comes from a place of purpose and lays the foundation for our work.
When I first started designing and creating, it was a means of self-expression and storytelling. But when looking beyond that, it had much deeper roots.
My grandma at her 100th birthday party
My grandma passed away a couple of months ago. She was 104 and always amazed me with her determination to live life to the fullest and have fun no matter what was happening or how old she was.
Her way of being was inspirational and made a huge impression on me.
Two taglines I’ve created in the past (Escape the Ordinary & Design at Play) represents this way of living life and has now laid the foundation for my work and business.
Here are a few things that led me to these two meaningful phrases and how to applies to my work.
Having a Young-at-Heart Spirit
My grandma lived life. She lived it no matter what. In the face of aging, any health issues she may have been dealing with, or her physical limitations. She smiled the entire time too.
This young-at-heart-spirit kept her exploring and adventuring until the very end; She had her 8th child at 47, took a voyage on a Mediterranean cruise at 95, and also volunteered at a hospice thrift shop until she was 100. Of course there’s more but those accomplishments show that she never let the grass never grow under her feet.
In her mind, age didn’t exist and I believe that kept her mind healthy and contributed to her longevity.
The evidence of this may not necessarily be set in stone. But studies have been conducted which states that feeling younger may lead to better health habits which in turn, helps you live longer.
Step Away from the Everyday
My grandma was never satisfied with the same old, same ole. She always was in search for something to do, someone to see, or a new experience to take in. This led her to do things that many of us dream to do at thirty-something!
While routine was present in her life, she was never stuck in it. She was always willing to put her daily to-do’s on hold for something spontaneous and exciting.
Living an Extraordinary Life
Who doesn’t want to live a full life and to a ripe old age? I know I do!
I don’t know my grandma ever imagined her life would turn out the way it did and that she’d live as long as she did, but I can bet she was happy with how full her life was. This is something I want for my own life; A rich life, full of incredible stories, lessons, experiences, and achievements.
The Why
My grandma taught me a lot more than what I’ve written about here. But a couple of things she has taught me was to always be open to new things and take in everything that experience has to offer (good or bad). And don’t forget to smile, laugh, and stay light on your feet.
While it may not help us live to 104, my goal with my work is to invite a little extra fun, curiosity, or something out of the ordinary into my customers’ lives. I would also love to use it to bring light to different topics and stories that are important to me, which hopefully makes a positive impact.