Ever since I can remember, I've always wanted to contribute to making the world a more beautiful place; to be an artist. I grew up with my brother and sister in a modest home in Haifa, Israel to parents that were in their daily routine as a welder and a secretary. At the time, the country's main exports were oranges, and wars with neighboring countries were routine. In the room I shared with my siblings, I learned to improvise and create from having very little; I wanted a pencil holder? I created it from old wrinkled newspapers and glue that I made by cooking flour and water. I wanted a colorful shirt? I learned how to sew. If I wanted to make a tasty meal, I learned how to cook. Having limited resources actually propelled me to develop diverse skills, a fresh perspective, and curiosity that remained with me and has helped shape who I am nowadays. I could create and produce beautiful things from scraps, regardless of whether it was a useful art piece, a tasty dish, or a fashionable item. The need to create was stronger than me, something I couldn’t help but do ... But then something happened to me that hurt me deeply. A craft teacher simply thought I was no good. She did not only think I had nothing to learn, but that there was no point in my learning at all. One day, as I was working on creating an appliqué bag from denim, she told me, "Oh come on, nothing good will ever come out of you." I was so hurt. Here, an authority figure who "understands" tells me there is no point in me pursuing artistic expression. From that day, for many years—though I continued to create, because I simply could not stop from creating—I stopped showing my work to people. I was anxious about getting hurt again. And worse than that, I began to believe that my ability was not only simply ordinary, but that it would never be the center of my life as I dreamed. I surrendered to the belief that "art cannot exist" and that "art is not a profession". Someone once told me that a person whose first profession is art, his second profession is to be hungry. And when the voices in my head broadcast 60 times a day "Nothing good will come out of you," I accepted that art would be some kind of a hobby of mine, something that broke out on weekends, and that it would be an irresponsible step on my part to consider it as a way to making a living. And still, art did not let go of me. Even when I was managing schools and when I was teaching college students, the artist in me kept kicking, resisting, and trying to break out. The voices of ‘reason,’ which conveyed the need to make a living, dictated to me that it was unwise to think like the younger me who wanted to create, especially being a parent of two children. I spent many hours reading books, listening to podcasts and watching leading mentor videos, trying to understand the significance of fears and harsh criticism on the one hand, and the need for insatiable creation on the other. The turning point began when I dared to ask myself: What do I want? What do I really want? I could not point to anything. I realized that I had the strength of mind, that I had power. Further, when I was focused and goal-oriented, the universe mobilized and helped me to complete my mission. Then, I decided to step into my passion. I contacted a friend, someone I knew from Axen, and told him I had some art pieces, and he asked to see them. It's hard for me to describe the heartbeat, the nerves that came with sending him some pictures. Then came the email. At that moment, I felt as if the gray clouds on a cloudy day were moving aside, and a warm ray of sun broke out and lit up the sun’s face, simultaneously lighting my soul with the fire of creation. I began to show my work to more and more professionals. And at the same time, I kept asking myself: What is the purpose? What is the story I am going to tell? Then I noticed an amazing phenomenon. There are thousands of self-improvement books written each year on the same topics. Millions of people attend workshops, study, read, listen and watch content for personal empowerment and self-development and that doesn't always help I sat in front of my piece and just stared at it. A chill passed through my body. I sent a picture to a friend, a fan of Robbins' work, explained what I did, and he looked on in admiration and wrote me back "It's really inspiring!" Then I realized my mission: to turn the ideas of the best mentors in the world into something that we not only study their concepts, but also carry out our principles on a daily basis. How? Using inspirational furniture. I decided to devote my life to multidisciplinary art, study, act, produce and present so that wonderful people who dream of making a change can be reminded and inspired daily by a piece of furniture that signifies this to them. To name a few: I created the "Warrior of Light" bench inspired by Paulo Coelho, a desk/ table inspired by Brene Brown's "Vulnerability is Courage", and a coffee table that represents life as Eckhart Tolle’s series of moments. My works are dedicated to people who did not allow themselves to try or were afraid to try again; to those who were told that they ought to color within the lines and not pursue their passions; for those who dream of change, and the inertia of life draws them back to the path they want to fulfill. We have the power to try, make, and create. I wish you that your home, your business, your haven will also be your source of inspiration and sanctuary, and support you in turning ideas and knowledge into a practical reality. Read more