We were fortunate to catch up with some brilliant artists, creatives and entrepreneurs from throughout the Houston area and they share the wisdom with us below.

Erin McFarland | Photographer

This quote is on my website and after almost 20 years of being a professional photographer, I’d say it rings true. Being a creative in any capacity means bringing parts of yourself to whatever you are creating. The ways I’ve been shaped and influenced–by other art forms, relationships, and worldview– can’t help but come through in how I create. When I photograph people, I try to capture the connections between loved ones. Or when I’m photographing a person solo, I want to capture the unique beauty and infinite worth of that person. I’m also a lover of books and I think the imagination that comes with story spilled over into a lot of my work with children. Music has a way of amplifying the emotions of other art, so I’ve always enjoyed combining music with photography. And finally, probably most importantly, the people I have loved and who have loved me, have contributed in ways I can’t even put into words. Read more>>

Lindsey Barr | Hiking Guide Service Owner

For me personally, success looks different on a day-to-day basis. Over the last few years, I have faced both physical and mental health challenges which have led me to re-frame the way I view success for myself. I no longer feel like I have to be The Best – just the best version of myself on any given day. It means listening to my body and knowing when to push myself and when to allow myself to rest, and being at peace with the outcome looking different from one day to the next. A day in the office can be successful without checking off every item on my to-do list, or a trip can be successful without completing the planned itinerary. But as long as I know that I did my best physically and/or mentally, I feel successful! Read more>>

Kelsey McDonald | Customer Experience Professional and Owner of Viola and Beatrice Stationers

I’ve though about this a lot the last few years. And I will say I think it’s something that is different for everyone. I have a busy life. family, friends, full time job, small business on the side, hobbies, etc. There have been many times in the past several years where I would talk with my partner and say, “Why am I doing all of this? What if I just stopped?” And his answer was always very simple, “What if you stopped?” From there I would proceed to talk myself through a hypothetical path and I would always come back to the fact of, “I don’t think I can stop.” As my life has ebbed and flowed, my brand and business has along with it. I have tried to shift my thinking into accepting that I can’t do it all at the same time, but some of these things don’t need a time line. I have a business because I would be working on these ideas anyways. I also really love trying to bring people together via writing letters and snail mail. I do think, when something, really anything, in your life is moving you farther from joy instead of closer to it it’s time to examine it. That doesn’t mean it won’t be tough or hard work, but it’s its not feeding your soul, moving you closer to a goal, or making you more Gollum than Bilbo, something might need to change. Read more>>

Lindsay Renee Chapman | Event Designer & Luxury Brand Marketing

I have one child, she’s 15 and it’s like looking in a mirror. We grew together and as much as she learned for me, I learned from her, the most being open. Read more>>

Michele Gonzales | BCBA

As the parent of a non-varbal autistic young man and gay daughter, the most important thing I have done, and am continually having to learn to do as my own early experiences did not prepare me adequately, is to increase awareness of the inherent biases limiting the lives of so many people in our communities. The way our society has historically and continually assigns advantage is so limited, value so ill defined and ridgely adhered too, by such arbitrary and cruel criteria that it’s almost invisible to those who continue to benefit from it’s hierarchy. That social blindness is a terrifying place to wake up from, especially when those you love suddenly do not meet the criteria for many things we at least want to take for granted in our larger communities, like basic medical treatment, access to appropriate education, access to our shared resources, parks, stores, public spaces. I have fought for every inch for my son; nothing was guaranteed for him as a result of his disability. Having experienced the very real way our society ices people out for almost any difference and how it increases by degrees in parallel with that diversity has given me a perspective that I’ve shared over and over again, that I continue to come back to, and that once others recognize this, for the most part, they start fighting too. And that has had the greatest impact on my children. Read more>>

Anastasia Rose | Professional Creatrix, Therapist, Doctoral Student

Inspiration is an interesting concept. We speak of it so highly as creatives and we put it on a pedestal. We seek it like an unsatiated and finite resource. In my growth as a creative, I have learned that inspiration is not finite nor is it something I have to chase after. I have found that inspiration is around me, all the time. I write music and poetry about the people who I interact with who are probably my biggest inspirations. My partner in creativity and in love is someone I’ve written a large portion of my poetry about in my most recent collection Poems For An Open Heart. I have written songs about the people who I love, abhor, miss, am confused by, and I am frustrated by. I write about the people I meet in my personal life and also in my professional life as a creative, therapist, and doctoral student. Inspiration is everywhere — our creative job is to find it. Read more>>

Paul Seibert | Photographer, Creative Director, Author

I would love my legacy to be of creativity and community. I would love to be remembered as someone who challenged the way we, as society, see things, appreciate the beauty in the the seemingly mundane, and reveal the often overlooked details which define a place. I would hope that the quality of person that I am is also remembered. Through my developmental years in photography I benefitted greatly from being around other members of my community. My perspectives grew because of the people I surrounded myself with. That being said, one good turn deserves another, and so I have committed to providing those same insights and opportunities for growth for other aspiring creatives throughout the years. Read more>>

Paige Parker | CPO (Chief of People Officer)

Discovering equilibrium and focusing on what truly counts at any given moment instead of attempting to accomplish everything simultaneously like a superhero. I’ve realized the significance of discerning where to channel my energy to avoid burning out. Embracing and embodying our brand completely has empowered me to convey to others the importance of striving for their healthiest selves. Read more>>

Skinner Myers | Professor/Filmmaker

I think what makes me happy is when I’m able to pursue exciting things in life while including friends and family on that journey. I think sharing new experiences with those you love makes life that much more sweeter. Those experiences create a story that you can go back to and relive over and over. It also make me feel good when I see those close to me thriving at life and achieving goals that they have set out for themselves. And it’s extra special if I can have a hand in helping them achieve those goals. Read more>>

Sam Dawson | Artist of Photography

Simplicity. The raw beauty of a woman with wrinkles at her smiling eyes. The rough texture of a cedar tree. The sun and it’s golden beams, shining through a quiet forest clearing. The unpredictable rain from a storm shower. The passion in a lovers eyes. The gift of life and the quietness of death. The art of this world makes me happy and the souls that I meet. Read more>>