Shine has been my life and work theme for the past, well, ten years now. It started with making homemade soy candles. It was creative therapy for my post-design job self. I had decided to leave my full-time interior design job at a high-end residential firm. Consuming antacids like candy, exhausted, no light left to shine. Many of you know the feeling. Burned out. Snuffed out.
When you take away oxygen, the flame of a candle dims and then dies. But for a little while a little ember glows. Return the oxygen, and the fresh air allows the flame to grow.
As I cooked up candles, I worked through the concepts of shine. I began blogging and writing. And designing again. It was reenergizing to gift to others something hand-crafted, something personal. It was fresh air to step back into people’s homes and encourage them as they worked on their projects.
Over the years, things and circumstances have taken the fresh air away. Last year, when my third son was born prematurely at 24 weeks, the 5-month NICU journey pretty much snuffed my flame out! Being a mom of three busy boys and starting a business and new blog can sometimes make the flame flicker a little!
But there are things that have been the “oxygen”; my faith, friends, and family. Little steps at a time. Taking online blogging courses, reading, learning about business, leadership, and design. My husband never misses a chance to encourage me to shine a little brighter, a little bolder.
Sometimes shining a light exposes things that aren’t too pretty in us and around us. My eyes have been opened to those around me who may have had their light snuffed. There is opportunity to connect the creative with constant needs around us.
You may not feel like your little light is very shiny right now. Your light matters—give it oxygen and let it grow, and let it SHINE!
Hi, my name is Natalie. I’m an interior designer, blogger, pop-up shop owner. I’m married to an architect and mom to three energetic little boys. My background is interior design, but God has stirred in my heart a passion for connecting a creative lifestyle with helping others. Through shine design, ideas for design-based service projects have been planted and prayerfully will continue to grow over the course of the next year and beyond. Shine Design Blog is a place for learning and encouragement for designers (professional or self-professed!), creatives, and those with an interest in design.
Thank you for your encouraging words, Natalie! I’m excited to see where Shine Design takes you. Praise God for creativity and design community.
You are so cute! I love you and everything about your creative efforts. Natalie, God allows you to shine a light into the lives of others in ways you might not even be aware. God bless you and thanks for writing this post.