Creative Ways of Living: Azadi Amaan
Exploring more creative (and gratifying!) ways of working and living
Welcome to this month’s edition of Creative Ways of Living, where we’re widening your aperture around more creative (and gratifying!) ways of working and living. Join us as we journey through the life of Azadi Amaan, currently based in Washington State, whose days are filled with a harmonious blend of work, music, farming, and self-discovery.
Azadi’s Unique Life Portfolio:
Music Composition: Currently, Azadi is composing their second full-length album and collaborating with filmmakers to offer emotional music for documentaries and LGBTQ+ films. Azadi just released a new song!
Self-Care: Prioritizing health and well-being, Azadi dedicates time to workouts, homemade meals, and moments of quiet reflection.
Homesteading: Tending to a small homestead with their partner, Azadi finds joy in caring for goats, chickens, a rabbit, and nurturing a variety of fruit trees, blueberries and their garden.
Work-Life: By day, Azadi works as an Executive Assistant. They also perform life, compose music for film and teach piano.
Alice Katter: What does living a creative life mean to you?
For me, living creatively is synonymous with flexibility, freedom, and being present moment-to-moment. It's about adding creativity to everyday moments (i.e. cooking, baking), the ability to chart my own path, and embracing the present with an open heart and mind. It also means having space to do “nothing” (i.e. let my mind wander, think, daydream, relax).
A Day in the Life:
How do you balance your work and life set up between flexibility and freedom & longer-term security/stability?
Currently, my partner has a full-time job. Along with being an Executive Assistant, I teach piano, do other side gigs and appreciate the ability to shape my career path. After an unexpected job loss, I went through a journey of reassessing what matters to me and where I was headed. This has reinforced the importance of pursuing my passions and nurturing my long-term goals for me.
One of which is to grow the majority of my food - I enjoy eggs and seasonal veggies, fruit (figs, plums, apples, blueberries, strawberries, and herbs) available to cook and snack on.
What do you love about your set-up?
I appreciate the chance to truly create my own schedule (my prime time to do anything is 3am….). I appreciate the ability to focus on self-care and creative endeavors.
What are the hard bits?
As my own boss, I grapple with imposter syndrome and the occasional self-doubt. However, I also see challenges serve as a catalyst for growth and self-discovery. I have relinquished the need for external validation and societal norms, forging a path guided by personal passions and intrinsic motivation. The hardest part about that was shedding my identity tied to conventional success, by letting go of that, I feel I have unlocked the door to true creative expression.
Can you tell us about a ritual that makes you feel inspired and connected throughout your workday?
Incense, candles, and the simple act of brewing coffee or tea. Additionally, spending time outdoors and walking my pup connects me to the rhythms of nature and stirs my creative spirit.
What does “Out of Office” mean to you?
For me, "out of office" is a state of being present in daily moments, immersed in nature, unreachable by cell service and not checking any email/technology. It’s allowing myself time intervals of rest and recharge – we all deserve rest.
Thank you for joining us on this exploration of Creative Ways of Living with Azadi Amaan. Stay tuned for more stories of creativity, passion, and purpose.
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