Inspired By… Cassie Specterman
Today’s Inspirational person popped up in my pottery group, and although fabulous it wasn’t her creations that made me notice her and want to find out more…it was over several coffee dates that we began to share our stories, and I knew that you needed to hers.
It starts in a not unusual way, being part of a quite turbulent family, but when she lost her father things became significantly worse. This led to her being moved around a fair bit between relatives, so she remembers this as a time not just of sadness, but also of depression and disconnection from her mother and siblings.
This left Cassie holding a lot of anxiety and negativity, which carried into her adulthood, she told me that battled a lack of confidence and motivation. In her mid twenties another loss of a close family member let her into therapy, which she says “was the single best thing I could have done”. It took years of sifting through, and deciphering everything from her childhood to bring her to the outlook she carries with her today, but that investment in her wellbeing gave Cassie a whole new outlook, and that is my kind of person, show me someone who has experienced true adversity, and I will show you someone with something incredible to share.
Like myself Cassie had endless jobs that she found unsatisfying and unstimulating
She (like me) started experimenting with different ideas. Baker, barista, driving instructor, the list went on, but instead motherhood called, and she became a parent to two beautiful boys. Although she is adamant that she wasn’t at all artistic growing up she began experimenting with various artistic hobbies with the boys, and to feed her new more motivated mindset, and give her a creative outlet.
In 2023 Cassie decided on painting as a new hobby, and it became such a positive part of her life that she just didn’t want to stop! So much so that canvas’ just weren’t enough and her love of creating wall murals began. As we spoke she told me about a Marvel mural in her son’s bedroom she had just finished, and a misty forest mountain project she has just started in her living room (you can see the photographs below).
Sadly, for me at any rate, Cassie and I don’t see each other at the pottery studio anymore, as she has taken up an art class to hone her painting and drawing techniques. But I am so pleased that she is prioritising something that is a deep passion for her. Too many of us say ‘I’ll start that later, when I have a less stressful job, or the children are older’, all the while letting our talents go to waste.
Cassie hasn’t got a clear plan for the future right now, but says that maybe one day her wall mural enthusiasm could turn into a business, but for now she is focused on learning and practice. If you have an idea for a business name she’d love you to reach out and share it! As she says any support, encouragement and positivity from others is a good thing, and I completely agree.
And finally I asked Cassie the question I ask all my Inspired By people – what’s your pearl of wisdom, and it’s a good one and something I would do well to remember myself. “No two days are the same, if things don’t go to plan that’s okay. Take a breath, get some fresh air, and trust that it will all work out”.
If you would like to contact Cassie about murals or a business name please email me, and I will pass on your details.