New "Looks" for New Year, What's the harm in "creating?"

Hello all,

Well, today I sketched out some new design concepts for 2007. It's imperative for me to evolve as a jewelry designer, but to retain my fundamental style to keep my old customers while simultaneously gaining new ones. I am thinking of developing a signature line for retail locations--which is sort of evolving right now.

I am really happy, b/c a fellow Punahou alumni, and distinguished jewelry designer, has sort of agreed to be my mentor. It's funny reading her tidbits about Punahou and the accepted forms of success that we should conform to. It is something that I constantly struggle w/ as an artisan. As some of you may know, I am a law school dropout. I was on my way to Bay Area to begin my legal education, when I found out I was pregnant w/ Cade.

Cade just made the BIG 2 on Christmas Day. And even though two years have passed, I am still struggling w/ the release of my former ambitions regarding law school and becoming an attorney. When you graduate from Punahou, the only truly acceptible forms of success come in acronyms: M.D., J.D., M.B.A., or Ph.D. Well, I guess I should have included C.E.O. or C.F.O.--but it has to be w/ a Fortune 500 company. If we don't succeed in any one of aforementioned areas, we are perceived as failures.

No one really takes me seriously if I tell them that I make jewelry for a living. They think I do it for side money, or so I can buy a new pair of Jimmy Choo shoes every month or so I can get a new MacBook Pro. I used to get really annoyed, but I am sort of used to it now. I am not ashamed. People have told me that it's such a waste that I don't follow through w/ my original plans of going to law school. People have said I am wasting my intellect by doing what I am doing. And quite frankly, I am tired of defending myself and my choices. I have a beautiful son, loving boyfriend, supporting family (well, they are almost there) & friends, and I do something I am passionate about for a living. I love my life, and I wouldn't change anything about it--not for a six-figure salary, or the approval of others, or the prestige of an advanced degree.

Someone give me an "AMEN!!!"