Books We Love: Are You Shoulding or Musting?

{ The Crossroads of Should and Must: Find and Follow Your Passion}

I'm finding my lost self in between the pages of this book by Elle Luna. It was just the thing I needed. It's the kind of book I ache while I'm reading because of the way each word resonates, and also because I wish I had written it!

"There are two paths in life: Should and Must. We arrive at this crossroads over and over again, and everyday we get to choose."

"Must is who we are, what we believe, and what we do when we're alone with our turest, most authentic self. It that which calls to us most deeply. It's our convictions, our passions, our deepest held urges and desires—unavoidable, undeniable, and inexplicable. Unlike Should, Must doesn't accept compromises."

Yum, right?!

Somewhere between the all-consuming day job (feels like a must) and the laundry (unending piles of should--some clean, some dirty) is where I (should/must) squeeze in artmaking. A recent vent session with my Kindred Sisters was so revealing—it's like this not just for me, but for all of my Kindreds.

(Jan Avellana, Sketchbook)

(Jan Avellana, Sketchbook)

But now, we're in it together, all six of us. We're not alone in the struggle to make art central to to our lives, to live out our MUSTS. And that feels awesome. <3