Setting Sail

Introduction

I am in the middle of a major transition in my life. This blog post will serve to document some of my journey to the present, and will serve to kick off a new future.

Early Years

My whole life, I’ve been both an artist and a rebel. On the artist side, I’ve been drawing ever since I could pick up a pencil. I was around the age of six when I first drew a recognizable creature. It was an elephant. I wish I had the original drawing. If I ever find it, I will certainly share it.

On the rebel side, I’ll share a fun fact. In every school and full time job I’ve ever been to, I’ve caused the rules to change. The first instance of this recurring pattern was in preschool, where I simply left one day to play by myself. In a parking lot. Needless to say, neither my parents nor my teachers were pleased, and the school implemented stricter policies surrounding leave. While I don’t just walk out of places anymore, I am very conscious of problems and inefficiencies, and am vocal about resolving them.

Growing up, my creativity and free spirit made student and then office life very difficult. My teachers used to chastise me for doodling in class, and jobs primarily paid me for output, not creativity. It became such a problem that I began actively suppressing myself. I began to believe people when they questioned my work, and sometimes even me personally.

Finding My Place

As I struggled to find my place in a world that I felt ill-suited to, I made a few attempts to change things, for which I am eternally grateful. I started my own web design business as a means of earning revenue on my own terms, and helping people directly. I created my own art portfolio site, where I posted my paintings and sketches. I even co-founded an e-sports team with three other awesome dudes, which has flourished beyond my wildest expectations.

Throughout the years, I’ve taken on part-time jobs to supplement my income while maintaining these projects. I sometimes imagine myself in an interview for a full-time position. As I go through the interview in my head, listing everything I’ve accomplished, I imagine I’d walk out half way through! I can’t imagine giving up autonomy over eight hours of my day, five days a week, for decades.

My last part-time job led to some serious introspection. I was stagnating, throwing away my talents and meaningful contributions to society for a paycheck. The idea of losing steady income terrified me, which led me to take less than ideal jobs, which made me too tired to focus on my passions, which kept my income inconsistent. It’s time to break the cycle.

In any journey, one needs a purpose and a plan. Here are mine.

My Purpose

To create, to leave a lasting legacy of work, an imprint of my soul that will far exceed my short lifespan. To stretch my creativity to its limits, to lean into projects precisely because they will grow me as an artist and a human being. Too seek wisdom and truth, that I might speak wisdom and truth.

My Plan

I am no longer receiving a paycheck. I’ve saved up several months’ worth of living expenses to cover dry months. All the mechanisms I need for income are present. They’ve been built up over many years. I will expand them, and strengthen them to support me indefinitely. Regular blogging will be one step in this direction.

I’m setting sail. Dry land is safe and secure, but where I’m going there will be storms. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

– Daniel Freeman

Launching with this post is a new long-term project, Freedan Daily Sketches, where I mint a new sketch on the blockchain every day!

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