We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marjie Erkkila a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Marjie, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
My resilience comes from having no one in my youth to help me, support me, or appreciate me.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My love of metal smithing is inspired by the beauty of gemstones. I design a piece of jewelry by trying to best show off the unique character of the gems !
As a member of our co-op art gallery, I am able to give the public a chance to own a signed piece of jewelry that could become an heirloom..
My sculpture has been exhibited at Churchill Downs after an international competition and my photography has been published numerous times in internationaly distributed magazines. Horses are a passion of mine and often appear in my work !
In 1978, I was the first female police officer in my city. I was not treated well .
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?
Perseverence. Do not give up on what it is you really want to do even if you must postpone it .
Apprenticeship. Learn skills and develop talents from a person who is successful at your endeavor.
Assertiveness. Be strong and your own best advocate. Be brave. Allow no one to supress your ambition.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My childhood was horrible. My biological mother was addicted to pharmeceuticals manifesting in verbal cruelty and my father was an alcoholic who became very scary when he was drunk.
There was no emotional security and no one who was always glad to see me. No one praised me for anything. To escape particularly bad days, I would mount my imaginary horse and run through the woods .
I learned to rely on no one but myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.catchlightartgallery.com
