Picture this - a young Indian girl skating through the streets of Boston, MA on her way to the art supply store. That was me! Hi, I'm Dhara - the founder and CTO of Wana Create.
During the height of the pandemic, the art supply store was my haven. The colors, the textures, the possibilities. I felt safe in the chaos. But, that wasn't always the case. It all started when I realized my love for trying new things. To be new at something meant I could allow myself to make mistakes. To be new at something meant I could learn and see progress. I strolled the aisles of Blick's looking for my next victim. And...score! Oil Painting! I was suddenly filled with excitement and visions of opportunity.
Months went by and years went by. I continued oil painting. One day as I picked up the brush to prime a new canvas, I realized how much I had learned about myself and the world through oil painting. It taught me patience. It taught me self-confidence. It taught me how precious each moment is. Through oil painting, I realized the power of hobbies.
Months went by and years went by... again. I picked up a book that would change my life forever - Myth of Sisyphus. Sisyphus is a character in Greek mythology who is punished by the Gods to push a bolder up a hill over and over again for eternity. In the book, Camus says we must imagine Sisyphus happy. Our daily life may feel like pushing a bolder up a hill - pointless. But, we must make our own meaning (aka. take control) to find happiness in the absurdity of life. But, how?!
One of the easiest ways to find happiness and purpose in the modern world is through hobbies... but most people never get there because of their fear of failure or fear of trying something new.
After that realization I became charged with the mission of helping people try new things & tap into their creativity. Wana Create was born! The days that followed were filled with street interviews, surveys, and lots of testing!