Interview with Java Bere
There's a lot of emphasis in coaching on tuning into your unique magic and your "zone of genius".
What is something that you are innately good at, or that you instinctively know to be true? What comes naturally to you that doesn't feel so easy to others? What do people tell you is something special, that you have a good eye for or a good feel for? Are you a natural at making people feel comfortable or creating joyful experiences? Or is there something you loved as a kid and have recently discovered, that makes you feel most like yourself?
These are the questions I sent to today's guest author, Java Bere, whose words you'll find in the second half of this post.
These days, I find it relatively easy to stay attuned to what makes me feel good, in the way I live my life, how I choose to spend my time and the communities I'm part of. But I remember when that question - so what's your unique magic - would have sent me into a complete panic. I used to spin myself into a whirlwind of comparison, regret and catastrophic thinking. I would've begun with, "Well I used to be good at x but I never have time to do anything anymore." My answers would have been very black and white, tied up with regret.
I was living at such a fast pace, with more responsibilities than I could handle, not allowing myself space to process what had happened in the past, and believing it was selfish to spend time or money on opportunities that might open up new possibilities for my future. I thought that a more simple life was only for people with financial security, a straightforward history of wellbeing, generational wealth, steady jobs and a home to their name. It felt always out of reach to really consider how things could be different. The idea that aspects of life could ever feel easy made me laugh out loud.
If that's you, I see you.
Sometimes the first step in moving towards the life you want is to spend some time in the company of people who inspire you by being a step or two ahead.
Watch the actions they make in alignment with their values, the boundaries they set to meet their unique needs, the ways they stumble and change path when something's not working, the words they use to be visible in the world.
For me, that meant people who inspire me to live a colourful life. People who help me feel seen and valued. Diverse voices that come together to offer ways of living that are inclusive. People who keep me believing that positive change is always possible, not only on an individual level but collectively for our planet. As the mercury reaches 40 degrees in the UK, that last one feels especially important.
Which leads me on to today's guest author.
I remember the first time I came across Java Bere on social media. A photo of her desk caught my eye. The kind of workspace that lends a peek into the mind of its owner, a beautiful jumble of cherished books, pinned quotes and old papers. I was hooked. It felt so unique and welcoming. I've since come to know Java better - and was lucky enough to be a guest on her podcast for a conversation about the twists and turns of creative expression - and I'm so happy to be sharing her words here. I've learned that she extends that care and curiosity to every aspect of her world, in a way that feels both creatively rich and simple. What's Java's unique magic? Read on to hear all about it in her own words...
Trigger warning, baby loss.
'Eight years ago, we lost our first child Alma. We had a late stage termination at six months in the womb due to heart complications and a long term diagnosis. At the time, I was working in a job I enjoyed, but I knew wasn’t fulfilling my creative urge.
This collision with motherhood, death and chaos brought myself and my life into sharp focus. What was I doing? How was I spending my days? What did I want?
And through this process of questioning, I found an ocean of love and creativity. I started drawing again, writing poetry for the first time in years. I poured the love I held for our absent child into every small moment. I listened to songs in a different way, I hand wrote notes to loved ones, I threw dinner parties for the people who were here with me while I grieved the loss of the person who wasn’t.
I have noticed from a very young age that I experience the world in a way that is possibly more heightened than many people I meet. I am acutely sensitive to shifts in sound and light, I notice tiny details that often go unseen, I find wonder in the often banal.
At times it can feel like I am having a romantic love affair with my daily life. It brings me flowers, creates shadows on the wall to amuse and delight me, causes me pain and makes me question every single detail.
It is uneven and complicated, but it does also mean that I can generally find something to explore or watch in the every day. It can make existing uncomfortable, but never boring.
I try and channel this into bringing people together, asking questions to try and understand their journey, finding the humour in the dark moments. Connecting to the many truths that we are all experiencing in our own unique worlds.
I endeavor to listen carefully, honour each and every meal (even if it’s a pot of instant noodles) and to find the poetry in the mundane.
I find such magic in the meetings of minds, the stories we share, the recognition that we are all wandering around figuring it out as we go along, the power of honesty in dispelling shame.
The peeling paint on a door, the way we time travel by purely existing.
Listening, watching, celebrating, every day.'
Java Bere (she/her) is an illustrator, writer, curator of objects, table stylist and host of the podcast ‘On the Irregular’. She draws, writes and talks about kitchen life, celebrating the every day and the irregular paths of creative women. She lives in Hebden Bridge with her partner, two young children and a cat called Nutmeg.
You can find her in the following places:
Java's homewares and illustration online shop: javabere.co.uk
Java's Patreon: https://patreon.com/java_bere
On Instagram @javabere
‘On the Irregular with Java Bere’ wherever you find your podcasts