Late last year, I was laid off. It wasn’t sudden, but when it happened, it still caught me off guard. It’s taken me some time to sit down and properly document the journey since, but I knew I wanted to share this chapter, how it all started.

Some backstory, I have been doing hand lettering for almost or more than a decade. On and off, here and there, between school, work, life. It started in a classroom, when I was bored and restless and just began doodling. I didn’t know then that those small strokes would stay with me for years.

I kept posting my work, mostly online. Not to sell, not even thinking much about where it was going. It just felt good to make something with my hands. But deep down, I never really thought it was worth anything. I never saw myself as someone who could sell their art. Maybe it was self-doubt, or maybe I just didn’t feel like I belonged in that space.

There was a time I tried to sell a few things, prints, patches, under a different brand. But it never really landed. The scene back then felt small, and most of the people who resonated with my work were overseas. Locally, it felt quiet, like I didn’t quite fit in.

And of course, there’s the voice of tradition. In Asian families, choosing a creative path can come with a bit of tension. My grandparents never saw art as a proper job. But I’ve been incredibly lucky. Despite all that, my parents always supported me. Even when they didn’t have all the answers, they never asked me to stop.

Still, I never fully committed to it. The idea of building something from my lettering always lived in the back of my mind. But the timing never felt right. There were always bills, responsibilities, doubts.

Then came the layoff.

It was unsettling, but strangely, it also gave me space. With no full-time job, I thought, maybe this is it. Maybe this is the moment I stop waiting.

Maybe starting isn’t about feeling ready. Maybe it’s about choosing to begin anyway, even with doubts and shaky hands.

THOUGHTS

I didn’t have a clear roadmap. No big launch. I just started small. I researched, ordered supplies, scribbled down messy ideas. It was scary. Some days still are. But I told myself I rather try than wonder forever. I rather give this version of myself a chance.

Because starting isn’t about having it all figured out. Sometimes, it’s just about deciding you’re ready to begin, even if the timing isn’t perfect. This is how my lettering project began. Softly, quietly, but with intention.

If you’re curious, I will leave you with this, feel free to explore my work. Shockingly, it all began with a few doodles in class. That was 11 years ago, and somehow, we’re here now.

Thank you for reading. It means a lot to me that you’re here at the end. Stay tuned to see how my journey unfolds #babysteps.