🌿 Gratitude for the Grind

Leatherworking has become my creative fuel — the thing that grounds me when the world feels chaotic and loud. Over the years, I’ve bounced through a lot of hobbies (I’m kind of a hyper-fixation guy), and somehow, my wife Elisabeth has endured them all with grace and a raised eyebrow or two. But leather? Leather felt different. Like coming home.

She didn’t just support me — she challenged me. Encouraged me. Kept me accountable. When I didn’t know what I was doing trying to turn this into a business, it was her steady hand that helped me find clarity. She reminded me that I wasn’t here to mass produce — I was here to create art, to craft meaning, and to serve people in a way that felt true.

And that’s the part of the grind I’m most grateful for — the service. The chance to help people reconnect with themselves. Teaching my first class showed me that “helping” doesn’t have to be about emergencies or money. It can be about reminding someone they’re allowed to make something imperfect. That they’re allowed to feel good. That they can take up space and be — without pressure, without judgment.

So yeah, I’m grateful for the tools, the craft, the process...But more than anything, I’m grateful for the people. My wife. My family. My students. The quiet moments at the bench when all the noise fades away and there’s just leather, thread, and breath.

That’s the grind. And I’m thankful for it.