New Art, A Trip to Los Angeles, and How My Mindset Shifted
An Epiphany and the Power of Mindset Shifts
Earlier this year, I experienced an epiphany, or an “Aha Moment,” as Oprah might call it. I realized I had been unknowingly holding myself back from things I wanted. I had become so comfortable in my daily routines that I trapped myself in them without even realizing it.
For example, since returning from Hawaii, I had often told myself I just wanted to “be at the beach.” The problem was, my brain had defined this desire as living within walking distance from the ocean—one warm enough to swim in. But the truth was, I don’t live within walking distance of an ocean. Not yet! But I do live just 20 minutes away from a stunning Puget Sound beach. I could visit whenever I wanted, but I wasn’t. My mind had built an idealized version of what I thought I needed, leaving me out of touch with the life I actually have.
Edgewater Beach in Mukilteo, WA
The Beach Day That Changed Everything
The day I realized this, I got in my car and drove to the beach. That seemingly small mindset shift made a huge difference in my life. It felt liberating—like opening the door to new possibilities.
This awakening set off a chain reaction of realizations. For the first time in years, I stopped living so much in my head and started embracing life as it was, right in front of me. Shortly after my beach day, I realized that I hadn’t been to Los Angeles since 2016, and I had been craving California like never before.
My brain had convinced me that a trip to L.A. was a “big deal,” something that needed months of planning. But what if it wasn’t? What if it was easier than I thought?
Rediscovering Myself in Los Angeles
Thanks to the travel benefits my husband gets through his airline job (which we are so grateful for), I was able to take a spontaneous trip. I went to L.A. for just one night to see an exhibition of Uta Barth’s photography at The Getty Center and visit some of my favorite spots in West L.A.
This trip turned out to be more than just a quick getaway. It was the first time in my life that I traveled completely alone for my own personal experience, and it was transformative. The time spent in L.A. gave me space to connect deeply with myself — free from old fears, anxieties, or the pressure of others. I found peace and joy in my own company and felt truly at home in myself.
Art Inspired by My Journey
When I returned from Los Angeles I headed back into the studio, inspired by a piece of Mookaite Jasper I had brought back from The Spiral Staircase, a charming shop located onsite at one of my favorite restaurants, Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga, California. As I worked on a new piece called Feel Sunshine, I was transported back to the energy, the sights, the smells, and the joy I felt in California.
Feel Sunshine is now available for purchase in my online gallery. And if you’d like to hear what it sounds like, check out Sunshine (Come On Lady) by Josh Rouse. I used to listen to his album 1972 on repeat while driving along the Pacific Coast Highway, and it always takes me back to that time and place.
Feel Sunshine has since been purchased, but if you’d like to commission a painting inspired by the same feelings, you can learn more about that process here.
The Moral of the Story: Don’t Trust Your Brain
I guess the moral of the story is: You can’t always trust your brain. My mind had kept me from experiencing some of the most beautiful moments of my life, and it was only when I pushed past its limitations that I could truly see and feel the world around me.