Tuesday Thoughts And Curiosity

Isabelle

1 day ago

3 min read

Dear Friends,

I recently went on a trolley tour to explore the murals in St. Petersburg, and I came home with much more than a collection of colorful pictures on my phone.

First of all, I have to say that I was impressed by the artwork. Everywhere we looked, there were beautiful, creative, and sometimes surprising murals. Some were playful, some told stories, and others made you stop and look twice.

But what I found even more interesting were the stories behind the art.

One of the artists we learned about had actually studied computer science. Art wasn't necessarily the career path he had originally envisioned for himself. But after creating his first mural, something clicked. He was hooked, and today he makes his living as a full-time artist!

Our trolley tour guide had a different story. She told us that she had never really been particularly interested in art. That changed when she volunteered for her first SHINE project. SHINE brings local and international artists to St. Petersburg to transform walls and public spaces into works of art. What started as volunteering turned into a genuine love for outdoor art. Today, she is so passionate about it that she shares that enthusiasm with visitors like us.

I found myself smiling at these two stories. Neither person necessarily set out with a grand plan to become involved in the art world. One discovered a career through his first mural, and the other discovered a passion through volunteering.

And then there was something else that impressed me about the organization behind SHINE.

Their hospitality toward the artists is extraordinary. They take care of travel, hotel accommodations, art supplies, and food. Think about that for a moment. They don't just invite talented people to come and create. They make sure they feel welcomed, supported, and taken care of while they're there. What a wonderful way to bring people together and make creativity possible!

It got me thinking about how often the things we end up loving aren't necessarily things we went looking for.

Perhaps you volunteer to help at an event and discover that you love organizing things. You accompany a friend to a pottery class and find yourself fascinated by working with clay. Maybe you start gardening because you want a few flowers in front of your house, and before you know it, you're reading about plants, visiting garden centers, and talking to strangers about their favorite roses.

Or perhaps you take a trip somewhere for an entirely different reason and discover a little town, a beautiful landscape, or a new favorite activity that you never would have thought to look for.

Isn't that part of what makes life interesting?

We sometimes have a rather fixed idea of what we like and what we're not interested in. We might even describe ourselves as someone who isn't artistic, adventurous, musical, or particularly outdoorsy.

But how do we know? Perhaps we simply haven't encountered the thing that sparks our interest yet.

And I think that's a lovely thought, especially in midlife. We have so many experiences behind us, but there are still discoveries waiting to happen. Not necessarily big life changes or exciting new adventures. Sometimes it's just an unexpected little spark that adds something new to our everyday lives.

Maybe that's one of the pleasures of staying curious. We don't have to know where something will lead. We don't even have to have a particular goal. Sometimes an ordinary experience turns out to be the beginning of something we never knew we were missing.

So, here's something I'm curious about:

Have you ever stumbled into an interest, hobby, or passion completely by accident? Something you never thought would be your thing, but somehow became something you genuinely love?

I'd love to hear your story! Share it in the comments, or simply reply to this email. You never know whose story might spark someone else's interest!

PS: Message me for a free consult to start moving toward a more confident you.

You are loved. Deeply loved. Loved beyond measure.

Until next time,

Isabelle