Coffee, Talk, & a Walk: Tina Steinberg
I am so delighted that Tina Steinberg is sharing her story with us. I came across Tina's jewelry when I was reading an article in a magazine and saw Kara Goucher wearing the "I am Not Afraid" necklace. I loved the necklace and contacted her immediately to get one. She is so talented. I highly recommend checking out her site after you’ve read her post here. She has really inspired me. It is also through her that I met Amy Thackery, who designed my logo. THANK YOU TINA!
When I started making jewelry in 2003, it was such an organic experience that when I look back on it now, I have to remind myself that the best things in life really are that simple . I remember at that time, I didn't ask "what if this doesn't work?", nor did I ask permission from anyone or think about the expense of it all. I didn't let my head complicate a perfect experience. I let my heart do what it needed to do.
Doing what you love takes courage, lots of courage. I remember the first time I went out to sell my jewelry. I went to a local farmer's market and set up a tray of about three dozen pieces. At the time, my jewelry was a bit different that what you see on my website, but it was still very special. I started to freak out as I realized that people are going to judge me and my work. I felt this way for several years until I realized that I have nothing to prove, that I was doing what I do for the love of it...then the fear dissipated.
Doing what you love takes a lot of letting go. I didn't realize until I made my first sale, how much I love what I do. My eyes started to tear up as I told my customer, "This is my first sale and I didn't realize how sad I'd be to let this piece go, yet happy that you love it so much.' I find myself repeatedly getting attached and letting go in the process of doing what I love. I think this can apply to anything we do. It helps align ourselves with what we love then helps us take our next step, with passion, to the next thing we want to work on.
Doing what you love takes a lot of perseverance. I have to admit, I can be a bit naive, but I'm not apologizing for that. I have learned some hard lessons and have had numerous setbacks, but I wouldn't have it any other way. With every setback, I tell myself that nothing takes away from the core of labor of love, it just adds to the beauty and strength of it, then I move forward.
If I stay true to myself and the reasons I do what I love, I can overcome whatever comes my way. Passion and perseverance start in the deepest part of you that no one can touch, except for yourself. Honor that part then the world is yours.
Thank you for reading and your presence at this beach retreat. You Rock! I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts in the comment section below.
See you at the beach!
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