My Day Job vs. My Night Hobby

I know that a lot of the artisans out there have day jobs and work on their hobbies on the side, in free time/in the evenings/on the weekends. That's the position I am in right now. I envy the ladies that are able to spend all their time building their businesses. I don't begrudge them this. I am happy for them but am obvi a smidge jealous. But hey, it's a waste of time to be jealous, because everyone's situations are different. No ifs, ands or buts about it.

Working 9-5 (or in my case 830-530 (sucky I know))leaves me drained and less than creatively stimulated on a pretty regular basis. I attempt to bring home enough enthusiasm and motivation for my crafts while also decompressing from a usually stressful day... this is often a lot to ask of myself, especially because my job in retail construction if often demanding and mentally draining.

Some days I just want to come home, sit on the couch and watch tv snuggled up with puppster and kitten.... but the productive Patty in me wants to use my free time to be a hobbiest. Productive Patty feels like I should be working on learning more about sewing, exploring new tutorials, honing my already "mad skillz"... In forcing myself to work on the craft, sometimes I view it as another job that I have to do. I don't need something else to stress about but in essence, I am stressing out about my "hobby", something I am supposed to enjoy.

Not.cool.Amanda.Not.cool.

Sewing would be mad at me if it had emotions. We have had such good times together and Sewing wouldn't want those good times tainted with the anxiety I bring from my day job. Gah, I struggle every day!

I have recently read some great articles about different women's struggles and successes with similar issues (but different at the same time because let's face it, everyone's path is different.) (Check out some of my faves from Blacksburg Belle and Maggie from Gussy Sews) Finding encouragement through other's stories has been pretty awesome and that's no lie... my time will come where my work life and hobby will even itself out, a happy medium will be reached (I hope) but in the interim, it's nice to know that I am not alone. Whether your a crafter, an artist,a musician, an indie game designer (manfriend?) or anything in between... there are so many people out there doing the same thing, yearning to let the creative juices flow... and just keeping on swimmin'... through those often bumpy waters.

PS. Shout out to manfriend who always encourages me, even when I am cranky or negative or both.