I remember feeling self conscious in an art class when I attended community college. Although all art and artists are unique, I struggled with perspective drawing and saw things in a way that made it extra challenging to “get” how to do it. My kind, compassionate instructor always would comment on my work when viewing it, “you’re a designer!” I was shy and quiet in the class. I didn’t ask for that feedback, or completely understand it, but it was validating. It helped me to accept my uniqueness and be more confident about myself as a “designer.”
I still don’t completely know what my teacher meant by what she said, but I could tell by her enthusiasm and energy of praise that it wasn’t something to be ashamed of. Those people in our lives. The ones that say one thing or another, often in passing, that have no idea how much those few words mean to us. To my former art teacher, I share my gratitude. Thank you for being okay that I was, and am, different. And not just being “okay” with that, but demonstrating a level of acceptance that I have worked on achieving for myself.