Introduction to Following Your Bliss

Losing my job ended up being the best thing that ever happened to me. I didn't realize it at the time, but when I did, it was like finally coming home. It forced me to realize that I am a creative person living in a pragmatic world, so I must carve out my own niche, rather than search for a place of validation.

It was my mother, a teacher, writer and lifelong scholar, who introduced me to philosopher, Joseph Campbell, who said "when you follow your bliss… doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors, and where there wouldn't be a door for anyone else." (For more information about Joseph Campbell, go to www.jcf.org)

It is his belief that if you love something, you must pursue it, and forget about practicality. We all have talents, like fingerprints, which differentiate us from one another. If we do not pursue and foster those talents, then we are not living the life that was intended for us. We are not embarking on the true journey.

With the support of our parents, my sister Joanna (a furniture artist) and I decided to combine forces and talents, and see where the journey would take us. In the summer of 2002, "Celtic Bliss Gallery" was born. Within those walls we celebrate our Cape Cod childhood and our Celtic roots. It is our place that we have carved, and our greatest joy is sharing it with others.

One of the most rewarding and validating moments of my summer was sitting on the grass in front of the gallery on an August evening with my creative writing students, talking about the aftermath of September 11th. "How can this not be important?" I thought to myself. For me, those doors have finally opened.

Dreams shouldn't be an escape from reality. Rather, they should be an extension of it. Therefore, I want to share my experience with others, to show people that you can be happy and fulfilled in your work. Life is too short not to love what you are doing, and if you are following your bliss, the rest will fall into place and the world will only benefit, as we all have something valuable to contribute.