This Letter is Long Overdue
A Letter From the Editor
My friend, it’s been a long time since I’ve written one of these... a simple letter about life. (Honestly... I should... probably... write these more often.)
There’s no catch to this letter... I’m not asking you to click or buy anything; I’m just sharing where I am right now in life. But I must warn you that this is a lengthy letter, so read at your own peril, LOL.
In recent years, life has been both fortunate and unfortunate for me. And just like so many people right now, life has been, especially, financially unfortunate.
However, I have also been fortunate enough to engage and partake in so many passions in the past few years, and through these past few years I’ve been able to say that I’ve found four passions that I never want to give up... interior design, the Enneagram, photography, and writing.
I would classify interior design and the Enneagram as my primary passions—if someone where to ask me what I do, these two passions are the first two that I would mention.
I’m still building Morningstar Interiors from the ground up. And I must admit that when I started Morningstar Interiors in 2021, I knew that it wouldn’t lead to instant success, but I didn’t think that after four years, I would still be searching for the the client that puts me on the map. But I keep the faith by a paradoxically encouraging thing a friend told me...
My friend, Melissa, who owns Unique Tile and Resource Room in Nixa, told me that it took her ten years to get Unique Tile off the ground.
To this day, I remember exactly how I felt when she told me that; I felt uncertainty and peace at the same time.
When it comes to my Enneagram work, I’m still plotting my return to Enneagram podcasting world, but at the same time, I’ve been working on adding a new avenue to my Enneagram work... public speaking.
In my early high school years, I started doing a little public speaking in my hometown, and I loved it—I mean... I’ve always had an innate talent for it. However, during college, I dropped out of the public speaking industry a little, but I’ve been itching to get back to speaking on a stage.
And, last year, I started crafting my Enneagram in the Classroom training, and I’m now putting the finishing touches on it. And just a few weeks ago, I started developing a Discover Your Number Workshop. Which both, The Enneagram in the Classroom and Discover Your Number Workshop, will help me achieve my goal of getting back into the public speaking industry.
I also began writing down my Emotional Enneagram Genealogy Theory at the start of this summer, so that it’s not just stuck in my head.
What is my Emotional Enneagram Genealogy Theory? Well, I’m so glad that you’ve asked!
In summary, this theory suggests that there is a genealogical relationship between one’s Enneagram type and their emotions that starts with the core emotions of the Enneagram. And I’m very excited to share this theory in its fullness with the world once it’s ready!
Now, when it comes to my secondary passions of photography and writing, I don’t really classify them as secondary because I spend less time on them, but rather because I do them for both business reasons and just to have fun (but let’s be real... I have fun doing all my passions).
As I’ve started in the world of photography as what I call a returning novice, I’ve sort of became the unofficial school photographer for my school—Delaware Elementary—which is where I spend most of my photography time right now. I’m also planning a headshot and portrait mini session that was tentatively set for July 7th; however, I’m going to have to push the date back to the end of July.
On the opposite side of the coin is writing. Writing is probably where most of my cognitive load has been lately, but it’s also probably been the most intoxicating avenue recently because of all ideas that I’m working on.
Aside from writing articles on The BW Printing Press and writing the rough draft of my Emotional Enneagram Genealogy Theory, I’m still writing my interior design book—I’m keeping that title a secret until it’s closer to publication. And in the next few weeks I will begin reading source materials, so I can write an adaptation of Thornton Wilder’s play Our Town. (Or, shall I say... a deathly twist of Thornton Wilder’s play Our Town.)
As you can see, I’ve been staying busy professionally, but the personal side of life carries a different story...
Earlier I mentioned that life has been financially unfortunate for me recently, but I didn’t really tell you how.
So, despite working two jobs, sometimes three if I have a student that I’m tutoring, I still don’t have enough money to live comfortably. The bills get paid, often times weeks late, but I rarely have enough money to provide my own groceries and just to enjoy life. In fact, on Good Friday, my car was repossessed... now, I was lucky enough that my pops was able to pay to get it back and I was able to get my car back on Easter Sunday. (And I know that I don’t tell my parents this enough, but I truly appreciate all the money that they have given me so I can pursue my dreams and passions, especially since going to college and moving out was supposed to lessen how much they had to support me financially.)
The relationship side of life has also been a little tough.
I confess that 26 year old Braylon is no where near where 18 year old, freshman in college, Braylon would have thought he be by now when it comes to relationships. I’m still single and the only friend group that I see regularly are my co-workers.
Now, don’t get me wrong... being single at 26 still has its advantages, but my lately body has been craving a closer relationship. And I also love all my co-workers at Delaware Elementary; I am fortunate enough to serve as the building sub for the best school in Springfield. And I especially love my Stir Crazies (the co-workers who I’m the closest to and hangout with the most). The Stir Crazies, unbeknownst to them and myself, have been my saving grace this past year.
However, while I’m thankful for my Stir Crazies and I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world, I thought that I would have the type of relationships that businesses grow from... entrepreneurial friends that hangout every night, who never stop planning, and who grow together. 18 Year old, freshman in college, Braylon also was naive enough to believe that he would be married shortly after graduating college—honestly, that’s part of the reason I chose the college that I chose, but that’s a different story within itself that I will save for another day.
Well... if you have stuck it through and read the entirety of this letter, you might be relieved to know that I’ve said all that I can say (not really... I can talk forever, but I’ve said all that I’m going to say in this letter, LOL). But I also must apologize because I said there was no catch, but as I’m penning this letter, I realize that there’s a small catch...
Lately, I’ve been building my business in a town metaphor, and I’ve ‘founded’ Arden’s Cove. Arden’s Cove is a place where individuals feel safe enough to be honest and to do deep soul work and remain in the soul work despite how uncomfortable it may become. So, if you’re just like me and have recognized that building beautiful and meaningful things often comes with walking through dark caves, then welcome... you are officially a citizen of Arden’s Cove!
With Love,
Braylon Williams
Editor-in-Chief
