I met Jill Velasco several years ago through Rabbit Rescue. She and her husband are two of the most giving, dedicated volunteers on the team.
I treasure my friendship with Jill. She’s creative, giving, smart…
We are in a book club together. Her art hangs on my wall. Her words about goals and authenticity that I’m sharing below are just magic. Thank you for writing for us Jill!
As many of our friends know, my husband and I are big fans of the TV series, “The Office.” I’ve re-watched this one show many times but the other night, one part stood out to me. Having a Graphic Design background myself, it is fairly often that I am compared to Pam Beasley, the Dunder Mifflin receptionist. In this one particular episode from season 2, the women in the office are invited to partake in a Women in the Workplace meeting. It’s in this meeting that Pam is provided with information on a program offered by her company to take graphic design training courses in New York and fulfill a dream of hers. Filled with excitement at this opportunity, Pam is suddenly deflated and discouraged to pursue this by her then-fiancé, Roy. It was what her officemate and friend, Jim said to her at the end of the episode when he hears of this sudden change of heart that hit me. “You gotta take a chance on something, sometime…”
Regardless of how excited Pam was at this prospect, she let someone else decide her path and choices, making her talk herself out of an opportunity due to the negative thinking that it may never lead to anything or it being impractical. While we may not all be in Pam’s shoes with a fiancé like Roy, how many of us have talked ourselves out of doing or working towards something we really desire? Now don’t get me wrong. There is no such thing as a “sure thing,” not every idea will be a great one and more than likely you’ll not strike it rich overnight. But, if you have something in your heart that means the world to you, isn’t it at least worth a chance at exploring? If you set out a plan and decide on the path that you need to take to get you there, while putting in the work necessary to see it through, it could be more realistic than you think. There are always going to be hurdles, people who may not believe in you, financial and time constraints but you never know unless you try. Surround yourself with those who cheer you on and support your goals, walking beside you when things are tough while learning to separate yourself from those who just wish to discourage you and keep you down. We all only get one chance in life and no one knows exactly how much time they have or where they are in line. Why should we always keep waiting for the “right time” to come around? There is no better time or investment spent than on yourself in pursuit of your dreams.
Jill Velasco is an Artist and Educator specializing in graphic design and colored pencil portraits and botanicals. To see more of her artwork and writing, visit jillvelasco.com or follow “Jill Velasco Art” on Facebook and Instagram.