There are days when I sit down at my desk, pen in hand, and feel the slightest hesitation before I begin. Not because I don’t know what to do—but because starting still requires courage.
Calligraphy is a delicate practice. It demands attention, patience, and a steady presence. There’s no rushing the stroke, no forcing the ink. You have to arrive fully, even when your hands feel unsure. Especially then.
When I started Parker & Patrice, I didn’t feel “ready.” I didn’t have everything figured out. My business was young, my confidence still forming, and my work—while deeply meaningful—was evolving in real time. But something in me knew that waiting for certainty would mean never beginning at all.
So I started afraid.
That fear didn’t look dramatic. It was quiet. It showed up as questions: Am I good enough yet? Am I too late? Should I wait a little longer? But calligraphy has taught me something important—hesitation doesn’t disappear before you begin. It often softens because you begin.
Every letter I write requires a small act of trust. Trust in my hand, in my breath, in the space between strokes. I can’t grip the pen too tightly or the line becomes strained. I can’t rush or the form loses its grace. The work itself insists on presence.
And so does building something meaningful.
Parker & Patrice is still growing. I’m still learning. But that doesn’t make this work less real—it makes it honest. The practice of showing up, of tending to something with care, even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed, has become one of the most grounding experiences of my life.
Doing it afraid doesn’t mean pushing through with force. For me, it looks like moving forward with intention. Slowly. Thoughtfully. With respect for the process.
Calligraphy reminds me that beauty doesn’t come from perfection—it comes from attention. From being willing to stay with the moment, to begin again when a stroke goes awry, and to trust that growth happens through repetition.
If you’re standing at the edge of something new—whether it’s a creative pursuit, a business, or a quiet personal shift—I hope you know this: you don’t have to feel fearless to begin. You just have to be present.
Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is pick up the pen, take a breath, and start anyway.
Marsha
Planning an event in St. Louis?
Whether you’re hosting a wedding, birthday, brand activation, or boutique pop-up, I’d love to bring live calligraphy or on-site engraving to your event. I serve the greater St. Louis, Missouri area and would be honored to add a personal, luxurious touch to your special day.
Learn more or book me at www.parkerandpatricecalligraphy.com
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