That one regret

Before you jump into conclusions,  It's a career regret.

It takes courage to quit your job. But it takes more courage to go after your passion.

I've always wanted to be a make up artist but never had formal training. Since my sister and I have an artist blood, when I was young, I had painting lessons and had an exhibit with other artist children. I know I will always know how to paint but when I grew up, during my teenage years, I wanted to paint on people's faces that I did the make up of some of my sister's friends for their gimmick nights and some prom/debut events. But I never really had formal training.

Few years ago, my sister gifted me with a Bobbi Brown Make Up manual which I love and bring with me whenever I have a make up gig. For my birthday last 2011, my Kuya Stew gifted me with Body Shop's travel make up brushes, and his sister Chimayne, gifted me with a face brush when she came home to the Philippines for a visit. This year, I squealed in delight when my friend, Shom, gifted me with Bobbi Brown Travel make up brushes for Christmas and my sister gave me money to buy whatever I want and I saw a new make up manual at Powerbooks that sells for a very affordable price and it's on its last piece.

The sight of a make up palette relaxes me. I cannot go to the mall without dropping by a bookstore and the make up section. I don't always buy, I just really like to...well, ogle.

I used to live 5 minutes from SLIMS fashion school, walking distance from LaSalle College International and a short cab ride away from Frank Provost Make Up School. These schools offer Make Up Courses. My career regret is that I did not enroll myself in a Make Up school when I am still very near the schools I have mentioned and have the means and resources. I remember myself inquiring at LaSalle College International and Slims, I already inquired and have the school brochures, requirements list, rates and the schedule of the semester to enroll in. I even have contracted my friends to pose as my make up models for my portfolio, but during the end of my career in BPO,  I became tired from literally dragging myself to work and I'm tired and stressed most of the time. I couldn't find the time. Before I knew it, I lost my work-life balance, hit quarter-life crisis, moved back home and enrolled myself in Graduate School... which eventually, I see it now, 2 years later that my going back home had an important life-changing purpose.

But still, the thought of me making people's faces pretty never left me.

I know the basics, I even learned how to do the smokey eyes by accident when I was in college, but still I wanted to have formal training. Since it's been bugging me when I moved back, so before 2012 ended, I signed up for a Make Up Workshop at the first weekend of the year for a jump start.

Late last year, my sister shared something our late Dad, who is an artist and a photographer, told her. She said something like as long as the talent is innate and you know the basics, the rest like expertise and excellence will surely follow. I don't really offer my make up services as of now especially at weddings because I don't feel confident enough, because I know it's the Bride's biggest day. If it's just like a dinner party, a night out, another kind of ceremony, I have no problems doing it.

I don't plan to go on full time with this whole Make Up Artistry business because Writing will always top my list but I know the Universe is listening  and this year I'm just going to keep on going and operate from within.