Do you ever feel like a failure?
If so, you’re not alone.
There’s this other guy who felt that way a lot too…
We know him as Vincent Van Gogh.
AKA The Big Fat Failure.
Did you know that during his lifetime, he tried a bunch of different careers and “failed” at all of them?
“Oh yeah,” you’re thinking, “But then he found painting and got all famous and adored. He’s not actually a failure Melissa, ya Big Fat Liar!”
First of all, I wouldn’t lie to you.
Second, let’s stop being fat-phobic. (Whoa, look at how our insults as children were already peppered with cultural judgements on fat?!)
Third, YES Vincent found art, and YES people now fawn over his work, and YES he is now famous and adored and studied and all that…
But when he was alive, none of that was happening.
He wasn’t adored or appreciated until after he was dead.
Moreover, he wasn’t just NOT appreciated…he was mocked.
His first actual art show (when his family put some of his paintings on display) wasn’t until his FUNERAL.
This would be more inspiring if Van Gogh hadn’t killed himself at the age of 37 (for many complex reasons I’m sure, but amidst being unappreciated as an artist.)
Was he a failure because people didn’t appreciate him while he was alive?
Was he a failure because he never personally saw material success?
Is his work less valuable because it wasn’t adored in live action?
Is yours?
xx
I matter.
And so do you.
I’ve missed you all. I’m back from maternity leave – I’d like to introduce you to Mirabel, who just turned four months old.
I’m taking a hiatus from coaching to focus on writing, and though the way I show up in your inbox may be a little different than before, my purpose remains the same: to remind you that you matter.
Your story matters.
Your art matters.
Your existence matters.
Speaking of which, it turns out that’s part of why I created “The Questions You’ll Wish You Asked” journal.
I knew it was motivated by how much I missed my mom and how I wanted to write answers down for my girls…but a big piece of this puzzle is that it’s actually a reminder of why every story matters.
Since it was published, I’ve received so many stories of connection – and not just with the people sharing the journal. Filling it out has created a connection to SELF, to ancestral stories, and an understanding of personal worth that transcends the journal itself.
Pretty incredible.
Since that first Time Capsule Journal for Mothers and Daughters, I’ve created more:
A Time Capsule Journal for Mothers and Sons
The versions for fathers are being released on September 10th, which not-coincidentally is my 37th birthday.
If you’d like to get me a gift while getting yourself one too, will you go pre-order the journal that resonates the most with you?
If you’ve had a positive experience with the journal, will you reply and share it with me?
And if you ever worry that you don’t matter, and like nobody will ever really give a shit about your work so what’s the point, will you watch the video below?
xo
Melissa
https://youtu.be/ubTJI_UphPk
Hello, World!