We’re looking forward to introducing you to Lilia G. Check out our conversation below.
Lilia, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I think everyone is given a “path” they feel they should follow but I feel like I go a general direction but not a clear cut path. My mom always told me “there’s more than one way to get where you want to be” and that really stuck with me. To me, I’m just traveling through this life like one would climb unpredictable mountains to see beautiful views and sweeping rivers, no exact pathway- just seeing hope for something more in one direction.
Living with health and disability challenges has changed how I view life and its progression. We should not compare our path to others because everyone will have their own unique life.
Traveling this way through life has given me a greater appreciation for doing things intentionally and being more thoughtful of my decisions moving forward.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a lifelong artist that has been shaped by years of hardships and my experiences. I have grown from the dirt over and over again, even when I think I’m lost to the earth I always sprout again. Transformed, evolving.
I have technically been disabled since birth due to a genetic mutation but unbeknownst to us. As these conditions went untreated over the years my health worsened to a point where it could no longer be ignore or dismissed. I was severely ill and something was very wrong. As soon as I turned 18 I got state health insurance and begin seeking help for my symptoms, I could no longer work “traditional” jobs and my life as I knew it flipped upside down.
I have been an artist my entire life and always loved creating. I got to the point where I started selling my art out of desperation for survival. To pay rent, to buy food, pay bills etc. This continued on until the stress of it all almost genuinely killed me. I was in heart failure and facing so many complications that doctors could not manage, I was on palliative care for months. I had given up hope.
When I got the opportunity to move to Minnesota I did it because I just had some sort of hope that maybe the doctors here could help me. Do something my previous ones couldn’t. Which ultimately gave me the best medical team I could ask for. They have given me hope for life and living with better managed symptoms. I am still of course disabled and chronically ill but I have a better support and medical system here so I feel like I’m actually able to live more of my life again.
During all of this I have felt immense grief and feelings words could never express, art has always been my savior and I have fortunate enough to connect with so many people from creating content to share my art, fashion, and experiences.
A lot has happened since I moved to Minnesota but I am now finally in a stage in my life where I no longer need to rely on social media or my art to sustain my life. My art can be more intentional again. I feel like I can breathe.
I am excited to be working with local art centers this year. I have found a great art community here in Minnesota and I will be painting a mural that will stay up for 6 months before another artist paints- in the newest accessible & inclusive art center called “Creative Flow Art Center”. I hope to work with these centers help bring more art classes, gallery showings, events and more! I am excited to be more intentional with my art and truly connect with local communities more.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child I was told I could be whatever I wanted to be, but at the same time I was almost squished into this “box” of what I should be. I believed that everyone else determined who I was and what I was meant to do. So if I didn’t fit into those boxes I was a disappointment and failing at life.
I no longer believe other people can be the dictator of who I truly am. Life is full of misunderstandings, different opinions, etc and you simply cannot please everyone and that is 100% okay all you need to do is what you feel in your heart is the right direction. I am exactly who I am supposed to be at this moment in time. Nothing more nothing less.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Under no circumstances – do not stop being who you are, do not stop loving what you love, you are exactly who you need to be and stop letting people tell you otherwise. This is your life not theirs.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe that being silent about some things until “all the facts” are out to make the “right” decision – may ultimately more harmful vs doing what you believe is right based on the current information you have.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
If I laid all these down right now, my soul and energy would remain the same. I would still be me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beacons.ai/inkedbunny
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/inked.bunnyx
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- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@inked.bunnyx?si=36KZNzig65Vk_q8M
