Finding & Living with Purpose

Over the years we’ve had the good fortunate of speaking with thousands of successful entrepreneurs, artists and creatives. Some are happy, some are not. The happy ones almost always had a strong sense of purpose and so we are very focused on trying to help our community members and audience find their purpose. This series is our attempt to create more dialogue around finding your purpose.

Manuela Or Manny Insixiengmay

Finding my purpose is a journey that is continually evolving, requiring a lot of experimentation and “play.” I can say that I am not someone who knew where they were going from a young age. I grew up with immigrant parents who valued education and it was understood that since I was “good at school” I’d be a successful doctor, lawyer, or scientist. Luckily for me, I loved school. Where my school peers when to summer camp, I went to a camp program at a local college and took classes. It was awesome. In tandem, I also took all the photography and art classes I could during all of my education. After graduating from my undergrad, I worked in a research lab for about a year, and it was during this time I realized that the path that I was on: school, job, grad school, academia — was not for me. The long days working alone in a lab felt challenging for me. Not because the work wasn’t interesting but because I needed way more social interaction.  Read more>>

Brenda Thomas

While I was going through a dark period, I realized my purpose. I couldn’t find anyone who looked like me or any resources in my community to help me. Experiencing a nervous breakdown led me to explore herbal remedies, which eventually led me to energy healing. After being healed, I felt compelled to share this knowledge with others who looked like me. This is why I decided to open The Healing Garden Café. Read more>>

Amsi Hernandez

My purpose comes from my faith and spiritual beliefs. As a religious person, everything I do is aimed to glorify God and be an example to those around me. I believe my talents and creativity come from Him and it is my responsibility to better them and craft them to the best of my ability. Like most creatives, the path to learning is never ending. There are always new things to learn and new people to learn from. Read more>>

Nadine Gustin

I stumbled upon my purpose while trying to navigate the death of my husband. His passing was extremely unexpected, he was a young and healthy guy who had a lot of life ahead of him and I never wanted to consider that anything would happen to him. The first few months were dark and foggy. I just remember going through the motions. I wasn’t really present; it felt like I was just some participant in my daily life, but I wasn’t truly living it. At one point, I scheduled a reading with a medium, just to see if she could connect with him and give me any messages. That reading had such a profound impact on me. It’s almost as if everything changed after. The medium gave me such comfort and hope for a future that I could not see before, and she made me aware of abilities that I never knew I had and never knew I could develop. That reading left me with a newfound hope and where there once was rain and dark clouds, all of a sudden I saw the rain weaken and a rainbow forming.  Read more>>

Carlos Melendez

For my whole life, I have been a lover of music. Not playing it or talking about it, but listening and collecting music. When I was a kid, every Christmas and birthday, I only asked for CDs. My dad used to take us on drives around Milwaukee and I would listen to my CD player on those long car rides. As a teenager, I was a Limewire kid (shhhh). Every night, I would spend hours looking up lists of the greatest albums and artists and downloading songs to try them out. iTunes became the new thing, and I’d use my dad’s credit card to buy full albums, which did not sit well with him! One time, I accidentally spent over five hundred dollars without knowing and was scolded. I received my driver’s license at sixteen years old and every weekend I developed a routine of going to several record stores, buying up CDs and eventually vinyl records.  Read more>>

Kristi Telnov

I never planned to be a wedding photographer. I stumbled into photography back in 2010 while I was studying for my MBA degree, and it lit a fire inside of me that seems to grow every year. Art has always been a huge part of my life. Drawing on years of experience in classical art school and growing up in the family of a fashion designer, I eventually became interested in fashion/beauty photography. After a few years in front of a camera I finally found myself behind the lens and from then everything just fell into place. Read more>>

Carlos Pérez

I found my purpose through defining who I am for myself. This sprawled a curiosity to know first hand what I am capable of accomplishing through being my best self. Read more>>

Rebecca Dhrimaj

I am a firm believer that every one of us has a purpose that lives inside us. Rather than “finding it,” you need to develop enough self-awareness to be able to tune into it and harness it for the benefit of yourself and others. When I look back on my life, I see a common thread that is woven throughout my journey: my incredible drive to be a force for good and my ability to see the light in others. This internal compass led me to pursue several projects throughout my career that changed my perspective on life while also reinforcing my purpose and values. One project I initiated during my undergraduate studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania stemmed from the political tension I witnessed around immigration during my time studying abroad in France. I approached my economics professor with a research topic – The Effects of Immigration on Regional Unemployment Rates in the Netherlands – that eventually led to a co-authored paper in International Advances in Economics Research and a Fulbright scholarship to study at the Universiteit Maastricht in the Netherlands. Read more>>

Megan Divincenzo

I believe I found my purpose by being curious, and always searching and striving for more. I am never happy with settling and I always think there is more to learn and grow from. I also do a lot of the inner work on myself to understand what brings me joy and how I can distribute that joy and knowledge to others . Read more>>

Julie Labanz

I was one of the lucky people in life who grew up always having a sense of what they wanted to do = at least because everyone told me I would be good at it. Understanding human behavior and what makes people tick = helping people to feel understood and connected has always been a passion of mine. Additionally, growing up with two juxtaposing views of the world (being raised by non-religious parents yet being religious myself in my early days) fired a passion in me to help people experience connection regardless of their beliefs. During my early career, I noticed a recurring theme: many clients struggled with sexual and relationship issues but felt ashamed or hesitant to seek help. Some of this stemmed from religious trauma or long-standing sex negative messaging from upbringing. This realization sparked a desire to create a space where people could openly discuss these concerns without judgment. I pursued further education and training, eventually becoming a Certified Sex Therapist. This specialization allowed me to address a wide range of issues, from sexual trauma and desire discrepancy to kinks and consensual non-monogamy. Read more>>

Iva Jelinić

Well, actually, interior design wasn’t my first choice of profession in my life. I have always had a love for design, but I never managed to gather the courage to start design school. The first university I graduated from was in the health sector. I graduated in radiology technology. I can’t say that I don’t like this profession, I really like it too, but design is what I actually found my purpose in. Read more>>

Corinne Decost

My purpose found me Part of me always knew I was meant to become an actress. When I played with my Barbies as a kid, they were making movies – they all had different roles and my self-insert Barbie was the actress-director. I put on little plays for my family in my living room. I took 5 dance classes a week, performed in dozens of productions before graduating high school. I knew I loved telling a story, and being any piece of telling a story larger than something I could put together myself. Another part of me felt it wasn’t a “real” job, and that I needed to find something more lucrative. Part of that just comes from growing up in a small town in New Hampshire – there it really is NOT lucrative, unless you’re one of a handful of people running one of the handful of theatres in the state. Many patrons of the theatre I grew up at asked me if I’d be majoring in theatre after I graduated, but I told them I wanted something to study something more practical and I’ll keep pursuing it on the side. Read more>>

Margaret Archambault

Ah yes, the search for our ever elusive Purpose. After all, what are we without a purpose right? But, what is it exactly? How do we recognize it? I knew what I enjoyed doing, painting, but I felt like that thing wasn’t important enough to be considered my purpose and more often than not, the notion of me living as an artist was met with the usual eye rolls. If we go all ‘Maslovian’ about life we only need to breathe, eat, drink, dress and be able to sleep in our safe shelters. But what then about our purpose? Is it not vital to our existence? It sounds vital – ‘Purpose’ – with a name like that I decided I’d better focus on it and how purpose and need are connected. Admittedly, life had me actively questioning my direction and searching for my purpose for decades. In time, I finally discovered that my purpose and the purpose of each and everyone of us is to live. I know it sounds cheesy, but the truth is, how we decide to “live” is what determines whether we live in the joy of our purpose or not. My purpose is to live me. And if my way of living has me creating something from nothing through painting, or writing and generally contributing to the collective consciousness then I’m good. For me purpose and happiness fit together like puzzle pieces and we can’t complete our life’s puzzle if the pieces don’t work together. Sometimes we have to eliminate the things that prevent us from moving forward. Read more>>

Kristin Martin

Finding one’s purpose is always right in front of you. It’s the simple things that make you feel a sense of inner peace. Our society creates this idea that one’s path or purpose is a specific career or a specific way of life which can easily be manipulated by those around you or by your own ego. It’s actually much more simple than that. Narrowing down your purpose to one specific idea or field lacks a sense of curiosity and courage. My purpose in life has ebbed and flowed throughout my life. There has been one consistent factor: to serve. I do this in many ways; everyday. I offer guidance when asked by friends and family. I offer encouragement to strangers when they strike up a conversation. The thing that fills my cup most is serving others. I discovered my purpose through quieting my mind and following my soul. I always follow my heart. That is where the answers lie. Read more>>

Liesha Mckinley-barnett

I believe that your purpose finds you if you are looking for it. I spent a lot of time doing what I thought I was supposed to do and was never satisfied. I found my greatest happiness and joy in food justice. I have cooked all over the world and nothing compares to doing the work that ensures families are able to nourish themselves. I could not find joy solely creating meals for those who could afford a night out. The peace that comes with making certain people are able to thrive felt so much better. Read more>>

Emilymai Dunbar

I discovered my purpose through my life’s pain. A quote I once read changed the trajectory of my life: ” Channel your pain into your purpose.” I didn’t even know the definition of the word purpose at the time, but I knew I wanted the pain to go away or at least subside; to do that, I needed a way to mitigate what was happening to me internally and externally. Therefore, in my search to understand the word purpose, I started reading books about purpose discovery; I read scriptures from the Bible about how great men overcame and lived out God’s will(I am a Christian). I started listening to sermons and asking questions; I became deliberately interested in my quest for purpose discovery. While inquiring, I realized there was ONE person I forgot to talk to about my world, Jesus. He has always been more than a figure as a Christian I look to emulate; he has been a friend and guiding light in my life; neglecting to communicate with Him only made my initial quest of understanding purpose; therefore, I consulted with Him on what I was born to do, I only heard ONE THING FROM HIM “use what is in you, around you to expand my kingdom.” that was it for me! The real question was, “Lord, what is in me? I knew what was around me then, but I lacked an understanding of the Innate deposit I could use to expand His kingdom.  Read more>>

Kimberly Heimbach

I found my purpose by constantly following my interest and building upon my education and passion in the field of art. This allowed me to build my skills over a variety of relatable industries from working in-house as a graphic designer at Pottery Barn teen to owning my own t-shirt brand and working with a celebrity stylist. My career and education started in ballet but after injury prevented me from going further I found a new purpose in creating beautiful art with my hands and creativity rather than my over-worked body. By attending an art college to get my BFA I also had the opportunity to explore many different aspects of art from life drawing to building a website. I am so happy to currently be stable with both my passion and profit creating live watercolor guest portraits while bringing so many smiles and memories people will cherish forever. Read more>>

Maya Rosalia

From a young age, I was fortunate to discover my purpose. While many of my peers are still exploring their career paths, I found clarity early on. There are both advantages and challenges to knowing one’s calling at such a tender age. I realized around eight or nine years old that my passion lay in the music and entertainment industry. Immersed in dance, acting classes, and piano lessons, I was constantly surrounded by music. My mother, who studied musical theater, filled our home with the songs of top musicals, which I grew to love. What intrigues me most about entertainment and music is their collaborative nature. Even as a child, I involved my friends in my creative endeavors, choreographing dances, staging performances, acting in plays, and writing stories together. When I was nine, I formed a girls’ group with some friends, which was a thrilling experience. Performing our original songs and creating music that was uniquely ours solidified my desire to make this passion a central part of my life. Read more>>

Teena May

The vision for BlackAmericana Fest originated with Jenn Jeffers’ (Dusky Waters), my festival co-creative partner, her desire to learn more about her musical heritage, hear from culture bearers of this musical tradition, and elevate the stories and contributions of Black folk, often overlooked in narratives about this genre. Inspired by artists like Rhiannon Giddens and other Black artists who have embraced the banjo’s Black origins, Jenn felt called to explore this genre and to challenge its perception as exclusively “non-Black.” She shared this vision with me, who, similar to Jenn, felt excluded from this musical history. During my upbringing, I ran from my love of country music, mistakenly believing that writing folk, roots, and Americana music betrayed my community and wasn’t reflective of “Teena May’s music”. In claiming their place within Americana, both of us discovered a profound sense of belonging as well as immense joy writing and performing music that feels authentic to their experiences and deeply rooted in their identities as Black women. Read more>>

Erin Mckenzie

Initially, I pursued a degree in Dental Assisting, but after facing several challenges and failed tests, I decided to take a step back to reassess my path. During this time, I reflected on what truly brought me joy. As a child, I was deeply involved in theater and music—I sang, played various instruments, and participated in numerous plays. This realization helped me reconnect with my passion for the arts and ultimately guided me toward my true purpose. Read more>>

Jessica Yacoub, Maex

When I was 14, my life changed forever. My mother passed away after a five-year battle with brain cancer, leaving me as the oldest of four siblings in a single-parent household. With money tight, I quickly became aware of the safety net that formed around us—our kind neighbor who brought us expired but edible groceries, grandparents who drove us to school, and many others who stepped in to support us. In that moment, I realized the profound difference that a community can make during a difficult time. What could have been an overwhelming crisis became hard but manageable because of the everyday heroes who came into our lives. It was then that I became aware of my purpose: to live a life of service. While I didn’t yet know exactly how, I knew that I wanted to create safety, teach essential skills, and be like those who had been there for my family.While my career has changed many times, my calling has remained the same. I am a lover of people, a community builder and an educator. Read more>>

Sai Srikar Hari

When I moved to the United States for my MFA, I recieved the keys to my first studio. I realized that this was the first time I had had a studio space. Until that moment, I had mostly worked outdoors, with communities, and on film sets but never all by myself. With this opportunity, I wanted to really focus on the studio as a site and concept and redefine ways of image making in my own practise. I became interested in finding possibilities to work with the digital apparatus (webcams, mounted cameras, etc.). I realized my intention with making images shifted from a curiosity in looking at the world towards understanding the inherent abstractions of the types of looking carried out/afforded by digital image and the devices reproducing it. Turning my focus there allowed me to re-think the dynamics of the relationship between the device, its operator(myself) and the world. Read more>>

Rebecca Kenny

In October 2021, I was driving to my job as a high school English teacher when I was involved in a collision with another vehicle. I broke my neck, back, sternum, pelvis and sacrum, and was taken to Aintree Major Trauma Centre in Liverpool where I had to learn how to walk again. I was in hospital for 10 days at a time when COVID meant I was not allowed visitors. Prior to the accident, I had started to write and perform poetry. I wasn’t the greatest performer, but I enjoyed being creative and it was a good outlet for me. Whilst I was in the hospital recovering, I interacted with lots of poets online, and they would sit with me, virtually, to write poetry together. Writing helped me forget the pain, the struggle of learning how to walk, the terrible hospital food, and the fact that I couldn’t have visitors. We wrote and wrote and wrote – and once I left the hospital, and whilst in recovery at home, I decided to publish the poems we collaborated on to raise money for the hospital that saved me. I knew that my life wasn’t going to be the same after the crash. My career was disrupted; I did not know what the future held. What I did know was that poetry and the artists I had around me made me feel real, corporeal – normal, even. I decided to write my own collection of poetry, drawing on my experiences, and in early 2022, Crash & Learn was released. Instead of succumbing to the temptation of instant gratification from KDP and self-publishing, I spent my recovery time learning at home the intricacies of publishing. I learned about ISBN allocation, distribution, barcodes, formatting, typesetting, cover art, bookselling – it was a welcome distraction from the process of recovery. I called my company Bent Key, after the front-door key that was found in my pocket after they cut my trousers off in hospital. That key had been rendered useless; I was adamant I would not be. Read more>>

Alex Julie

Purpose was not a word in my vocabulary until September 22nd, 2018. That day found me on the beach in Montauk, NY. As I gazed out at the blue-green water, my mind was trying desperately to understand how, after 33 years of the “right” accomplishments, I could feel so empty, so disconnected, so depressed. This well-worn negative thought loop was interrupted by a shower of icy water and sand as my dog Roscoe raced out of the waves and plowed straight into me, hoping for a wrestle. In 2018 I was on my 11th year in New York City, working grueling hours in the finance industry, and drinking myself to death to push away the intense suffering that pervaded almost every moment of my life. My days were spent riding waves of adrenaline and anxiety, and my nights were sleepless. I was on anti-depressants, and each week felt like a series of checklist items to get through. Roscoe was the only spark in my life, my one tether to unconditional love and joy. I credit him with keeping my alive during those years. We began to wrestle on the sand, the sound of the waves crashing mixed with our chuffs and growls. A few minutes in, I had Roscoe firmly by the scruff (not an easy task against an 80lb 7 year old goldendoodle who was notorious for his moves within the Tompkins Square Park dog community!). As I peered into his soulful brown eyes I noticed for the first time that nearly half of his eyelashes had gone from a rich apricot to a delicate silver. Read more>>

Rj “go Get Rj” Mcbean

I always loved photography, but when I started I wasn’t very good. I got a D in photography in high school but I loved doing it even if I wasn’t that good. I worked in silence for many years because photography was my release from stress. One of my friends had asked me to do a photoshoot for him afterward when we were reviewing them he saw a photo and said “Man! I didn’t know I could look this good.” After that moment, I knew that was how I wanted to make me people feel. That was my purpose Read more>>

Noah Sorin

I found my purpose through a deep passion for sustainability and a desire to make a real impact on the world, particularly in the lives of young children. Growing up surrounded by nature, I developed a strong appreciation for the environment early on. I spent much of my childhood exploring the woods in my backyard, building animal shelters, climbing trees, and gardening with my parents. When I moved to college, I realized that most children don’t have the same opportunities that I did to engage with nature in such a meaningful way, and as a result so many people grow up not caring about the impact that they have on the planet. As I learned more about the challenges of teaching young kids about complex environmental issues, like climate change and ocean conservation, I recognized a gap in resources designed specifically for this age group. This realization drove me to create Idori, a company dedicated to making sustainability education fun and engaging for children. I’ve always been passionate about creative writing, and this seemed like the perfect way to put that skill to use to create a positive impact in my community. The purpose of Idori, reflected in our name, “I dream of real impact,” is to foster sustainable habits in young minds through innovative, interactive, and story-driven resources​​​. Ultimately, my purpose is driven by the belief that educating the next generation is the key to building a sustainable future for all of us. Read more>>

Christie Harrison

As a teen mom, I knew early on that I had to carve out a path not just for myself but for my firstborn as well. Balancing college, work, and motherhood was overwhelming, but there was always something inside me that urged me to keep going, to push through. I eventually completed my master’s degree in public policy and administration from Texas Southern University, but even then, I struggled with confidence. I didn’t feel like I belonged at the tables with leadership, so I started at the bottom—working my way up from a clerk to an administrative assistant, operations specialist, middle management, and ultimately, chief of staff for an elected official. Each position taught me something valuable, and I observed my leaders, telling myself, “I can do that.” But as I moved up, I noticed a gap in leadership—many lacked the ability to genuinely grow and motivate their teams. That’s when it clicked for me. I realized that I had been placed in those positions to learn and grow, so that I could share that knowledge with others, helping them find their own path to success. This realization became my purpose: to encourage, motivate, and guide others to reach their full potential. Read more>>

Quinn Caroline

Growing up I fell in love with Fashion Design and everything that comes along with it. I woke up every morning excited to pick out my newest outfit and go window shopping at my local mall. It didn’t take long for me to decide that a career in the fashion industry was the only path for me and I poured all my love and passion into my career every day since. In college I studied Fashion Design Management at Cornell University and dreamed of working at one of my favorite fashion brands once I graduated. As I learned more information about the fashion industry itself through classes, internships, and research, I started to realize that my love for Fashion Design and my love for the Fashion Industry weren’t necessarily the same. I loved designing garments, connecting with people, and bringing joy into the world through my designs. I’ve always thought “there’s nothing better than putting on an outfit that feels just so utterly you that you can’t help but smile” and I wanted to create outfits that would make people feel that way. There is part of the Fashion Industry that thinks the way I do, but due to the growing number of fast fashion brands in the past two decades, we’ve become an industry known for underpaying our workers, promoting overconsumption of products, and creating mountains of waste. By creating my own brand I hope I can create unique designs in a more ethical, sustainable, and meaningful way for everyone to enjoy. Read more>>

Kristen Nguyen

I’ve always had an active imagination. I loved daydreaming about becoming the main character of my favorite shows, and finding ways to integrate multiple shows into one storyline. I actually got into a bit of trouble when I was younger for not paying attention. It never stopped me though. When I retreated into my imagination, I felt free. Growing up, I was always told that I needed to have a serious profession. At a young age I decided I wanted to become a veterinarian. All my classes were geared towards achieving that goal. Those few precious moments where I could slip into my dream world kept me grounded as I slogged through chemistry and biology classes. When I learned halfway through my college career that the chances of me being accepted by vet school were slim to none, I was devastated. My whole life had been focused on one goal, and now I was floundering with trying to figure out what I was going to do in two years. I thought about changing my major, but I was too stubborn. I didn’t want to take longer to graduate than I already was. I felt like I had nowhere to go. I was aimles I finished my degree and took the first job I could as a paper pusher with the State. I’ve always been the type of person who brought my stress home with me. Having stopped daydreaming in high school, I had no respite from the stresses of my job. Read more>>

Michael & Teresa Grey

Finding our purpose wasn’t something that happened overnight—it grew out of the toughest moments in our lives. When my partner and I were struggling with infertility, the emotional and financial toll felt overwhelming. We realized we weren’t alone in this pain; so many others were going through it too, often in silence. That’s when we knew we had to do something. We decided to turn our struggles into something positive—a way to help others on the same journey. That’s how Gift of Parenthood was born. We wanted to create a platform that wasn’t just about fundraising but about building a supportive community. We designed it to be easy to use because we knew the last thing anyone needed was more stress. And to give families an even better shot at achieving their dreams, we introduced a $25,000 quarterly grant giveaway. Our purpose became clear as we saw families come together, not just to raise funds, but to uplift each other. We turned our pain into purpose, creating a space where no one has to face the journey to parenthood alone. In the end, we’re not just helping to build families—we’re building a community filled with hope and support, where every dream of parenthood has a chance to come true. Read more>>

Katie Sikora

I like this question because it made me realize that although now I think my purpose and my craft and talent are all working together in an effective and fulfilling way, I did not find my purpose at the same time as finding my craft and I didn’t love my craft until I found my purpose within it. My father is a photographer and has been since he was young so after I was born and became old enough to hold a camera, he had me out shooting with him and making sure photography was a part of my life (like the time he helped me design a photography-themed science fair project in the seventh grade). And don’t get me wrong, I did love it and thought it was really fun to shoot with my dad (and still do), but I wouldn’t say I found purpose inside the larger idea of photography until I got to undergrad. I had decided to be a double science major with a science minor but after two semesters of all science and math and no creativity–and remembering that raw love of taking pictures with my dad–I changed my major to Visual Journalism and almost instantly could imagine my dream life unfolding in front of my eyes because the thought of doing that every day fueled me to get there. Read more>>

Shantell Marshall

At the age of 30 years old which was 2019, I made a decision to step out of my comfortable zone which at the time was a relationship, a 13 year one; we had 5 beautiful babies but for me something was missing. When I moved out that zone God moved closer to me and when he moved he moved. I started to feel, not only learn who I was but I started to feel who I was. Pain created numbness for me and life struggles from my own choices placed me in a permanent state of survival mode so instead of living and being present I was like a robot. But 30The moment I found Shantell was the moment I realized that everything God had brought me through in my life was everything I was meant to tell the world, because it would be the very thing that would help develop, evolve and save so many girls and women from pain that turns us numb and rips us from our God given identity and prevents us from learning what our true passion and purpose is. BUT GOD!! Read more>>

Hailey Wetzel

Purpose has looked different for me during different periods on my life. Currently with music, I find purpose in being honest about my emotions in my songwriting. The more authentic & vulnerable I am, the more people respond to my music. I try to be intentional and understand what propels me to write and perform. A huge part of it is for my inner child who always dreamed of music but never felt fully okay to be emotionally expressive and vulnerable. I do it for the version of me who searched in so many other places to find purpose, knowing in the back of my mind that music has always made me feel the most at home in my own skin. It’s always made me feel like I’m not alone in my big feelings so I also love when I can make listeners experience that. There’s also the part of me that loves learning and being challenged. So I also find purpose in learning more about how I can grow as a musician and instrumentalist. Read more>>

Charde’ Brown

There was a time in my life when everything seemed to crumble around me. I experienced a mental breakdown, a culmination of accumulated trauma from generational issues, troubled relationships, and the deep-seated feelings of abandonment and being misunderstood. I often felt that the love I gave to others was not reciprocated, and I struggled with mental health issues that I was unaware of at the time. In the midst of this turmoil, I found myself searching for a way to calm my mind. One day, almost by chance, I picked up a paintbrush. Painting became my sanctuary, a place where I could pour out my emotions and find solace, especially during moments when I felt unheard. Through this unexpected journey, I discovered my purpose in God, who blessed me with the gift of painting. This newfound purpose brought me a profound sense of peace and fulfillment that I had never known before. My art tells the story of my spiritual journey and my battles with emotional and mental health. By sharing my experiences and the transformative power of this Gift and my faith in God, I hope to connect with others who may be on a similar path. Through my paintings, I aim to inspire and uplift, offering a glimpse of the peace and hope that faith has brought into my life. Read more>>

Joseph Burris

This is a big question, and I am not sure about others but for me the question how did you find your purpose is a really big question. I don’t know If I found out my purpose, I don’t know if anyone ever really does. I have walked on the path less traveled all my life, and have suffered many injustices, that later on made me stronger for it. I know the kindness and love of a mother, who never gave up on me, and always new I would make it in this world. I have been broken and learned how to heal, then I learned to bend without breaking. I have always considered myself a freak, I love the night, the darkness, the mysteries of the unseen and the secrets of life. Depression has been my friend since I was 16, and loneliness my lover. A loner not by choice, but forced upon, by many of my own failures. Being goth helped me enjoy my own soul by accepting the fact I was a freak. I still to this day will look deep into the night sky and ponder my own life, my faults, my fears. Why am I here? and what am I supposed to be doing, in other words what is my calling or purpose? There were a few friends and a deep spiritual side that helped guide me in many ways. They helped me to create a foundation so I can keep one foot on the ground and my head in the sky. I have in time, accomplished many things, but still find myself wondering, and contemplating my own self, my own next breath, and the question that is always with me…. why? The world is a odd place to me, so many people seeking, and never finding a purpose, its just so odd to me, that even now, I know I have a purpose, what it might be I do not know, but I truly believe no one is on this earth by accident, we are here for something, and I feel that is part of the struggle is to find pout why are we here, Read more>>

Mallory Ramirez

My purpose would definitely be, being a mom and photographer. I didn’t know it was being a mother until we started having kids. I always wanted kids but never thought of myself as the stay at home mom. And sharing those journeys. I love to be creative and create. But also sharing that motherhood journey with others. Motherhood can be so isolating especially if you do’t have family near or around. So sharing the journey has also made an impact on other moms as well as helping me not feel so alone. When me and my husband were getting married in 2018 our wedding photographer was amazing. She seemed like she loved her job. And her job seemed fun from my point of view. The emotion and feeling I felt when we received our photos back made me feel so good. I thought I’d love to do this for other brides. The day is so stressful. Planning is so stressful I just thought if I could make one brides day easier I’d be happy.  It’s the biggest day of a girls life that a lot of us had dreamed about for a long time. So that’s how I got into photography. And now I don’t do weddings so much I focus more on newborns and families. That is where my passion lies. I have always taken a million photos of our family and I know that one day this is all we will have so they are so so important to me and are priceless. The feeling I get when o help a family capture those precious moments of a new baby, or first birthday that will never happen again and they will cherish these photos even 20 years from now is unmatched. Read more>>

Michael Butala

I worked for a global contract manufacturer for 18 years. The company was great and, focusing on Healthcare at the end of my career there, much of my focus was on diagnostics accessories and devices. Through engineering and business I helped develop the products with our partners, offered engineering advice to help get products to market quickly and quote the programs in a way to help our employees and customers cross a win-win finish line. Given my education and tenure there, I coached our employees and customers for best practices and how to avoid pitfalls. It felt really good to help my coworkers and customers and ultimately, the end users of those products that need diagnostic solutions to healthcare. However, being a contract manufacturer means ultimately your customer gets the final say in their business and when it comes to dollars and cents, our OEM partners needed to do their for the good of their business and their shareholders which can have an adverse effect on the interpersonal relationships you grow with your teams. After a few short-sided decisions impacting many of my colleagues, I felt driven to have more control over what I do for a career and wanted to have a direct, positive impact to my community. This, ultimately, drove me to start a small business in my neighborhood. Read more>>

Leilani Jeraffi

My journey to finding my purpose was deeply intertwined with my experience of suffering. At a time when I was grappling with overwhelming anxiety, panic, depression, and insomnia, I felt profoundly lost and disconnected from myself. I was desperately trying to escape these feelings, believing that controlling them would bring me peace. But the more I resisted, the stronger they seemed to become, trapping me in a relentless cycle. It was through Ayurveda that I discovered a new way to relate to my emotions. Instead of fighting them, I began learning to sit with them and accept them as they were. It was a challenging practice to pause and resist the urge to change these intense feelings, but gradually, I embraced them without judgment. What I found was a profound richness in this acceptance. I realized that these emotions were not my enemies but my teachers. They revealed parts of myself that needed attention, care, and understanding. In those moments of deep emotional connection, I uncovered new depths of feeling and discovered aspects of myself I hadn’t known before. I truly believe that deep suffering, when embraced, can be a blessing. It provides an opportunity for profound self-discovery and connection. Allowing myself to experience and accept these emotions lead me to a deeper understanding of who I am and an intimate relationship with my inner world, in turn, guiding me to my purpose of being a healer. Read more>>

Wendi Johnson

My purpose comes from the people in my community. People of all ages. My mission is to inspire and ignite passion in others through my art and how I live my life. I see so much destruction in the world, from poverty, to racism, global warming and wars. What I know for sure that the opposite of destruction is creation, building art and creating a community of art for everyone. Not limited by finances or color of the skin or ability, creation of theatre where everyone who wishes to can participate. It is everything to me. What I have worked and failed and continue to work toward, bringing art, specifically theatre to the community Read more>>

Mallory Vara

I believe I found my purpose when I was young. I have always gravitated towards art and creating, more so hands on creativity. Over the years I have developed my style and certain skills that help me stick out among others. Painting to me, is stimulating, it’s therapy, it’s an escape. All art is. This is how I know it is meant for me. There are many routes you can take as an artist, right now I am still finding my way. Read more>>

Michelle Renee Druitt

Finding my purpose was somewhat of a journey. Being a caregiver laid the foundation for my becoming an Advocate. When I got married, and had my second son, I resigned from my position at Covenant House to care for our baby, and shortly after, my Mother. My Mother started showing signs of dementia, so my husband and I decided to move her in with us, and our two boys. Being a caregiver led me to my purpose. I am an Advocate for all women, and a Parent Advocate for the Special Needs Community and our families. Read more>>

Carlton Young

My journey to finding my purpose wasn’t conventional—it was marked by a series of life-changing, near-death experiences that forever altered my perspective. I faced death not once, but three times. The first was when I fell out of a moving car that was turning at a busy intersection—an event that could have easily ended my life. The second occurred at the age of 13, when the vehicle I was in almost slid off a cliff at Rogers Pass in Montana, leaving my mother and I shaken but miraculously unharmed. The third, and perhaps the most intense, happened at the age of 24, when I was shot at point-blank range. Incredibly, I survived each of these harrowing moments. These experiences left me searching for answers. I began to question why I was still alive, and what purpose God had for me in light of these events. It wasn’t an immediate revelation, but over time I began to understand that my survival wasn’t a coincidence. I realized that these near-death encounters were shaping me for something greater—they were preparing me to uplift and support others who had walked similar paths of trauma and survival. Read more>>

Jessica Savano

I’d say I truly discovered my purpose through travel. I know that might be hard for some to grasp, but for me, travel isn’t just about taking a one-week vacation each year—it’s a lifestyle. When you step outside your comfort zone, especially when you’re traveling alone, and immerse yourself in different cultures and perspectives, something shifts inside you. It’s hard to put into words, but it’s profound. As I began sharing my travel experiences on YouTube and saw my audience grow, I started meeting people in various countries who thanked me for inspiring them to step out of their own comfort zones and explore the world. That’s when it really hit me—travel is my purpose. It allows me to learn incredible life lessons and inspire others to do the same. Read more>>

Natalie Shell

Creativity has always come easy, and I fell into photography by chance, but selecting and specializing in newborn and maternity photography was very purposeful. I’ve always loved children, and I saw myself having 2 or more kids running around by now. Life had other plans. I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2017 and spent years trying to get pregnant with no success. I experienced a miscarriage that almost broke me. So, when I set out on my own photography business I knew I wanted to help people cherish this gift that wasn’t meant for me. I want them to have the memories from this miracle and I take great pride in being a part of this time in their lives. Read more>>

Alex Kasznel

Honestly I can’t recall a time before I wanted to play the guitar. That urge has always been in me as long as I can remember. Essentially every other creative pursuit in my life has stemmed from that desire: the band, the Company Picnic fest, all of it. Once I reached adulthood, it just occurred to me that if that urge had survived for so many years, it was genuine and had to be taken seriously. I’d never be happy or fulfilled if I wasn’t pursuing it at the highest level possible. I think there’s something to be said for trusting those instincts. Read more>>

Zack Cossick

My passion for canine training and behavior was ignited at a young age, evolving from a hobby to a fulfilling career. Through hands-on experience with my own dogs, I discovered the joy of training and its mutually beneficial effects. A pivotal moment came in 2017 when I adopted Ralf and guided him to become a certified therapy dog. Our volunteer work together revealed the profound impact that well-trained dogs can have on people’s lives. This experience crystallized my purpose: to harness the power of human-canine relationships to drive positive change and improve the lives of humans and their dogs. I’m now dedicated to sharing my expertise and passion to empower others in the world of dog training and therapy work. Read more>>

Erika Burnett

I grew up in a single-parent home, with little support from my father. As a child, I often felt alone and voiceless, not quite fitting in with the other children my age because I had no interest in being popular. In search of connection and belonging, I joined the Girl Scouts at the age of 9 and remained a part of the organization until I was 17. Girl Scouting became a sanctuary for me, where I was accepted and valued for who I was, a sense of belonging which I hadn’t experienced before. It provided fulfillment and balance amidst the trauma I experienced during my high school years, where I endured bullying and was even physically assaulted by strangers—simply because I was different. I never tried to conform, and that was what set me apart. After high school, I continued to serve as a Girl Scout leader for 10 years, nurturing young girls who, like me, needed a place to belong. In 2005, I took my passion for growth a step further by enrolling at the University of Pennsylvania’s College of General Studies to study Sociology, and later, at Manor College, where I majored in Business Administration. Despite these accomplishments, for years, I chased accolades, believing they would fill a void I didn’t even realize I had. Read more>>

Bryce Owens (bo3)

I found my purpose by finding myself. I did this by being myself and understanding that I was put on this earth to create. I chose to create by being musical. Music to me is a place of comfort and it has always been there for me. Music provides emotional, physical, and spiritual support. Without it, I feel that life is tasteless. Read more>>