I’m Not Living to Work Anymore

For years, I was caught in the cycle.
Living to work. Clocking in. Clocking out. Feeling like my life revolved around what I did for money—what I had to do to survive. I’ve been in the 9-to-5 grind, the customer service trenches, the back-to-back calls, the multitasking chaos with no space to breathe, let alone create.

And I did it well.
Because survival made me sharp.
Because showing up was never the problem.
Because I knew how to carry weight with a smile.

But now? I’m redefining what it means to work to live.

This personal assistant role I’m in now—an independent contractor for a business owner who is also a visual and tattoo artist—has shifted everything.
I’m still working. I’m still showing up. But now, I’m in a space that respects the rhythm of creativity, not just productivity.
I’m trusted, not micromanaged.
I’m in collaboration, not just execution.
And I’m learning: work doesn’t have to strip you of your soul.

It can fuel it.

I get to work and live inside of my creative brain.
One hour I’m handling admin, the next I’m helping plan a sketch night or a pool party or an art exhibition.
It doesn’t feel like I’m selling my energy anymore—I’m sharing it. That alone has changed everything.

This shift in my external work has mirrored the inner one:

• I’m not hustling for worth—I’m honoring my gifts.

• I’m not just making room for creativity—I’m building around it.

• I’m not just working to live—I’m learning to live well, and let work flow from that place.

It’s a privilege and a practice.
And I’m still learning how to unlearn the old patterns—like apologizing for rest or questioning my value when I’m not being “productive.”

But I know this now:

My life is not a job.
My work is not my worth.
My creativity is not a distraction—it’s a compass.

And if you’re caught in the middle, like I was, let this be your reminder:
You’re allowed to choose differently.
You’re allowed to build slower.
You’re allowed to work for a life—not around one.