Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christina Valles. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Christina, thank you so much for joining us and offering your lessons and wisdom for our readers. One of the things we most admire about you is your generosity and so we’d love if you could talk to us about where you think your generosity comes from.
My generosity derives from my belief that we are all one. With that being said, it makes it our responsibility to take care of one another. I believe it is human nature to give and find joy in giving. By giving you are creating. Even by taking care of me, I am in turn taking care of those around me because how I treat myself will reflect onto how I treat others. I do especially think when you have experienced hardships, it compels you to want to take care of others. We are all capable of giving, it does not have to be materialistic. Giving someone support and love is a form of generosity.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m the founder of Art 444 the Community, a nonprofit organization that is centered around making art accessible for all. We collect donations of new/gently used art supplies which are then provided to artists in the community for free and used to host free art classes/events. The main focus is to bring the community together through creation while also providing the tools needed for people to connect with their inner artist. My goal is to eventually have a community arts center.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Learning to view fear as a guide has changed my entire outlook. Challenging myself to try new things and go after what my intuition feels called to. Instead of being scared of failing I now know it is a crucial part of the journey and is not really even a bad thing. It redirects you. I no longer fear things not working out because I trust I am capable of handling any situation I am put in. I also no longer expect myself to know everything, especially if it’s my first time trying or doing something. It’s our ego that expects perfection. I’ve learned to be patient with myself and remember my journey is my own, meaning it is not going to look like other people’s, so what’s the point in comparing?
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
It depends. A lot of the times when I’m overwhelmed I like to isolate and pull my energy back to myself. I take time off my phone and like to go on walks or lay out at a park. Journaling always helps. Meditating is one of my favorite ways to ground myself and stop overthinking. Other times I make plans with my friends and loved ones. Surrounding yourself with people who you love and love you will immediately relieve any stress, which is why I feel so called to create a community centered space.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @art444thecommunity
