Practical Moms Can Pursue Their Passion

True. She was Amy, and she was a mom. But after a week at the workshop (and a slight shift in her self-perception), she was confident enough to add a new title to her repertoire: she was also an "artist."

The almost overnight evolution from self-proclaimed meek mom to outspoken artist has changed Amy's life. Now this Purveyor of Whimsy, as she likes to call herself, is taking cues from the universe and getting excited about working with giant plasma cutters, two things she couldn't have imagined a few years ago.

Amy's always been crafty, but her first career in special education was one of practicality. After her first child was born, however, her creativity began taking over, and she found herself painting on the nursery walls and later venturing to a local junkyard to experiment with metal.

Up until this point, her art had only been a hobby, not a career and definitely not an identifying characteristic. But all of that changed when her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer.

"'Life's too short' sort of became the family motto, and we just thought why hold back?" Amy says. "The worst anyone can say is no, and there will always be people who don't like what you do." At that moment, Amy made the decision to follow her dreams, wherever they might lead.

She's found her niche in unique mobiles that combine colorful cut glass and metal. To Amy, they appropriately represent the continual struggle for balance in our lives. And after two immensely successful art shows, Amy's now taking classes toward an art degree and has plans of eventually supporting her family with her creations. "At first I couldn't believe that people liked what I did, and they were willing to pay money for it," she says. "A few years ago I wouldn't have been thinking large scale, but at this point, the sky's the limit."

So what if your dream job—whether it's an acrobat or an artist—seems light-years away? Amy recommends taking micro movements toward your goal and surrounding yourself with like-minded people who exhibit the qualities you find inspiring, such as passion and creativity.

"I like to be around anyone who's passionate about what they do," Amy says. "One of my best friends is a doctor. But she's not a doctor because it's great money; she's a doctor because she just wants to heal. That's her passion. So to be around her and hear her talk about her work is very energizing to me."

Amy also stresses the importance of staying true to yourself and, more importantly, taking the time to stop and ask yourself about your own personal truths. Only then can you have the courage and confidence to follow the path less taken to a rich, fulfilling, and inspiring career.