The Fire Inside

A personal reflection by Lori, founder of Raediant Designs and co-founder of OceanFire Designs

People often ask me:

Why do you wake up so early?

Why do you work such long hours?

Why do you give so much of yourself?

And the answer is always the same: Because I LOVE IT.

I wake at 3 or 4 a.m. most mornings (sometimes even earlier). My routine is the same - protein coffee first. Then I start creating - these past couple of years I've focused on jewelery; before that it was canvas art/painting. That quiet space, when the world is still sleeping, is the most sacred.

Before the sun comes up, I head outside for a walk or run or go to the gym. Then I return home, to help my daughter Rae get ready for school, and then start my workday, Sometimes early, syncing with my work partner out of Australia. It’s a full life, but it’s mine. And I LOVE IT.

The Balance Is Not Always Easy...

Between family, business, creativity, health, and helping others - it IS a lot.

And occasionally, the balance shifts excessively. I notice it when I miss those morning hours to create or simply reflect and breathe. That quiet time is more than just a routine; it’s sacred and keeps me grounded.

When that time slips away, something feels off. But I keep going, always trying to find balance. Not just for others, but for me.

There's a reason I'm not selling in craft fairs year around. There's a reason I'm not selling in stores around the city. That's not what it's about for me. I'm not pushing product just to push it. It may take me 3 to 5 hours to design or produce a piece. I'll never get back the time and money that I put into a piece like that. And that's OK.

It's Not The Money....

I get asked why I sell my jewelry for so little, or why I give pieces away. The truth? Because it feels good to make others feel good.

I’m not trying to make a living off of my jewelry. I do this for the joy, the creativity, and the freedom it gives me. Each piece I Raediant Design piece comes from my own mind, not anyone else's. That’s what I cherish most - that it’s mine. It’s a reflection of me, a chance for me to be free. That’s why I do it.

Protect Your Fire

If you take anything from this, let it be this:

Do it for you.

Not for validation.

Not for anyone else’s expectations.

Do what lights you up.

And protect your passion. That fire inside you?

It’s not anyone else's to take.

It’s yours to keep.