Recently, I was ordering my usual oat milk mocha at my favorite coffee shop when the young man at the counter, a barista, casually asked, “Whatcha doing today?”

I shrugged my shoulders and answered, “Not much, just a little work.”

“Oh, cool,” he said. “What do you do?”

“I’m an artist,” I said sort of robotically.

And this is when it got interesting.

His eyes widened with awe. “REALLY?! Wow!” he said with authentic amazement. It was as if I was the first to ever reply with this answer.

He then went on to ask me more questions. “What kind of art?” , “What materials do you work with?” All the while, his eyes were curious, his spirit enamored.

 

KRR i heart your heart

 

His response struck me. As I settled in with my mocha and my thoughts, I remembered how fortunate I am to make art for a living. Like, people actually pay me to make art! As I thought about it more, I also became astounded! I’m an artist! I get to make art. For fun. For a living. For healing. For community building. How freaking cool is that?

I spent the entire day walking around in amazement like I had unwrapped the most loving and surprising, and thoughtful gift of a lifetime.

The gift was his sincere and authentic response that jolted me back into what has been a truly unique journey of a lifetime.

The gift, always, is the art. That I get to be and do and explore and live a creative life. That I get to do it with others. That I’m supported. That art will always be a refuge.

I am lucky. I am grateful. And I hope it always remains.

Sending so much love,

Kelly Rae

Hi, I'm Kelly Rae Roberts!

Before I picked up my first paintbrush at the age of 30, I was a medical social worker. I followed my whispers and started playing with paint and everything changed.

Now I’m a full-time artist, author and Possibilitarian, who helps women explore and nourish their creative souls.

Don't want to miss a post?

Get my LATEST POSTS sent to your inbox.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Recent PostsRecent Posts Flower

My wish for us in 2023

My wish for us in 2023

  Happy New Year, friends! I've been reflecting on this past year, what I'm proud of, what was hard, what I want to carry forward in 2023, and what I want to let go of. It has been a pivotal year for me, and I'm ready for a fresh start. As I move into this next...

read more
On midlife, becoming, emerging

On midlife, becoming, emerging

  The snow came this week, falling gently and creating a soft, white, wonder. I've been waking up to its bright white invitations to create beauty, to make a cup of tea, to read, to snuggle in.   I've been full of thoughts lately. So. Many. Thoughts. Much of...

read more

Explore the Blog Categories

Instagam icon Let's be friends on Instagram (I love it there!)

[instagram-feed]