15 The Blacksmith

I will take pride in a hard day's work.

Sweat drips from her brow onto the anvil in front of her. The forge is roaring. A long queue was waiting out front today, and several horses still need re-shoeing. Everything wears down fast in this harsh landscape. Without her, every horse would be lame and every wagon would break down. This town would fail. Even though she is covered in soot and her muscles are weary, she is satisfied with her hard work. She won’t have it any other way.

The Blacksmith is the ultimate craftsman. She takes pride in an honest day’s work. While underappreciated by most people, she is essential for the town to run smoothly. She is happiest when she can get stuck in, work up a sweat and get her hands dirty! Sometimes you have to take on some seriously hard work to get where you want to go. The Blacksmith encourages you to embrace it. Yes, it will be tough, and you’ll have to make sacrifices, but it can also be satisfying and fulfilling. Whether you’re working towards your own goals or helping someone else on their journey, the blood, sweat and tears will all be worth it when you reach your destination out there in the cosmos!

We can sometimes get carried away and take on more work than we should, without realising it. Take a step back and reassess your situation. Make sure you’re putting in the work for a good reason.

You can’t keep working hard forever or you will burn out, so remember to check in with yourself and take those much-needed breaks.