181 - Burned-Out Nurse to Full-Time Calligrapher

Shinah Chang ·

🎧 Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts

Don’t Let Your Deathbed Self Wish You Did More

Belle thought in 2019 she had her dream job as a nurse helping take care of terminally ill patients on a daily basis… until the real burnout hit her. Between COVID taking over in her job, and needing a creative outlet, Belle started dreaming about calligraphy as a source of relaxation at a time when she needed an escape the most.

Join me as I chat with Belle about how she went from an overworked nurse, to borrowing money from her mom to invest in her calligraphy education, to transitioning to calligrapher as her full time job (only 8 months ago!).

We’re sharing…

  • (2:50) How Belle went from a burnt out training nurse to finding joy in calligraphy when she needed it most

  • (6:20) How calligraphy went from the backburner to her main career (and how the Pro Calligrapher Bundle pushed her into starting her creative business)

  • (13:20) How Belle took the leap to full time calligrapher 8 months ago

  • (17:35) The best part of becoming a full time calligrapher & the most challenging part (and the advice Belle would give to those aspiring creative business owners)

  • (24:30) My takeaways from our interview - the financial analysis, the “deathbed regret” feeling, and how DOING IT SCARED is still doing it

  • (27:50) How the Pro Calligrapher Bundle can help you, like it did Belle, move toward your goals

Remember - ready is not a feeling, it's a decision. You might never feel like it's truly the right time, but you don’t want to find yourself on your deathbed saying, “I wish I would have done that.” Because at the end of the day, time is fleeting.

If you’re ready to start moving closer to your creative goals, our Pro Calligrapher Bundle enrollment opens July 21, 2026 and I’m celebrating with 2 FREE hour-long strategic workshops to help you see the path forward.

Visit https://learn.crookedcalligraphy.com/webinar/ to sign up for one of 2 LIVE Webinars happening July 21st, 2026 & July 22, 2026!

Find Belle Here:

IG: @handwrittenbybelle 

https://handwrittenbybelle.com/

ABOUT CROOKED CALLIGRAPHY

Hey - I'm Shinah! A former miserable corporate lawyer turned sassy calligrapher and teacher. Ten years ago, I was WISHING I could create beautiful calligraphy but feeling really un-creative and LOST about how to achieve that... and now I truly believe that ANYONE can learn this beautiful craft - because I've already taught it to THOUSANDS of people, from all different backgrounds.

Calligraphy has given me a gorgeous life. It's helped my students find PASSION, PURPOSE, and a reason to JUMP OUT OF BED each morning. What could it do for you? =)