Actually an Artist

Oh, this is a good question. I’ve skipped the past few days because they didn’t really invite any sort of deep thought to bubble up. But fulfillment is a big question mark for me these days! I don’t think life has any one perfect path to “fulfillment” which is really great because otherwise we’d all end up as bakers in Maine (nsfw but hilarious).

I do think all sorts of work can be fulfilling for a person, even if only for a time. I grew up thinking I had to have One Career and that this would be Fulfilling and Support me economically. HA! As if that’s a thing in late-stage capitalism anyway! 🙂🙃 I didn’t exactly pick ‘practical’ subjects to study-French language and music were my college degrees. I’ve had a lot of experiences and really I’m thankful for them.

Organ building: Did it in college, met my husband doing it. Quite fulfilling, but not a ‘forever’ job for me.

• Could be very physical
• Learned lots of cool skills
• Power tools!
• Engineering, but like in a hands-on practical way that I could ENJOY
• Deepened my understanding and appreciation for the pipe organ

Becoming fluent in French: Started in Middle school, continued through young adulthood. Glimpses of fulfillment for years, something I look back on with satisfaction knowing I could always go back to it.

• Met and developed relationships with people all over the world not bound by the English language
• Studied in France twice
• Broadened my horizons… literally

Renovating our bathroom. Not really fulfilling, but fun to work on with my husband. Rated Medium

• More power tools! It was neat to bring that experience back out in new ways
• Mostly just dragged on (surprise!)
• Awesome before and after pics-we really did a lot.
• Mostly his thing. I helped with carrying big things and strategizing and keeping up the momentum
• But we also involved our kid, Theo, which provided some priceless moments

Playing an organ concert: Quite fulfilling, or a relief. Not sure, to be honest! I play weekly in public, but a concert is to a different level.

• When people “get” what I’m doing with the music and program, it’s quite fulfilling due to the deeper connection between us
• A LOT of work: hours upon hours of practicing
• Communal… hopefully! Hopefully people come I mean! And as said before, the opportunity for deeper understanding and connection is fulfilling beyond most other things

Teaching: Most fulfilling thing I do, I think! And I feel like I’ve gotten better in the past year than ever before, particularly as my empathy and understanding have deepened

• I think this is a forever sort of fulfillment
• Communication and vulnerable connections forged
• Sharing my love of music/arts
• Not sharing the shame-based and judgmental aspects that were a part of my studies 😒 (not that it was all like this! It wasn’t! But I was particularly sensitive and self doubt and denigration became my loudest self-talk)
• I teach one-on-one and group classes at multiple price points, and its fulfilling to know that a wider audience can afford to study music because of that!
• As fulfilling as music is, I ALSO need art in my life, so I’m expanding to teach/use art to teach as well! (stay tuned for more!)

Contemplation: mad fulfillment, but not work, so I’m not going to include more for this prompt 😅

Parenting: ALL THE WORK ALL THE TIME. And yes, amazingly fulfilling. But usually when paired with contemplation, because cuddling my (once again) sick son to bed isn’t super fulfilling until I stop my frantic work self and focus just on what’s important and what’s right there in that moment.

Just a little glimpse into my life. What do you do that you find most fulfilling? Are others involved? Share below!