What happens when two strangers in different career fields interview each other about the work they do? Let’s find out.

Dorit Elena Konig is a New York City born and raised musician and dancer. Faith P. is an artisan and animal caretaker living in Maine.

Dorit Interviews Faith

Dorit: Are you happy? Is this the life and work that you want?

Faith: I would say I am quite happy. There’s a rather worn old motto about blooming where you’re planted and I’ve taken that to heart. As a child and teenager I wanted to be a veterinarian or a teacher. When a health crisis made those ideas impossible, I adjusted my dreams and goals to create a personal and work life that is as full, rich and rewarding as I ever could have wished.

Dorit: Being born, raised and living in Maine, do you wonder what it would be like to live in an opposite environment?

Faith: I’ve sometimes wondered what it would be like to live elsewhere. I come from a town of about 1,500 people. We have a small, but well-stocked corner store and a Baptist church in the center of town. That’s it. No stop lights, no sidewalks, no restaurants. If you want entertainment or to dine out, you have to drive at least 15 miles. This isn’t the environment for everyone.

Mainers are a rugged and stoic breed and it isn’t always easy to live here. We plan ahead in the winter, knowing that we could be snowed in and without electricity, heat or running water for several days or a week with roads that are impassable. So the idea of living in a place where things are more accessible, where there’s more diversity and opportunities can be very appealing. And if I had to live in a big city, I suppose I could. Good people are everywhere and usually easy to find. But I believe my spirit is meant for this place. I need silence and starlight. I need the sound of peepers on a spring night and loons crying on the lake. I need the raw beauty of a rocky coast on a foggy morning or snowshoeing through the woods on a winter day with only my tracks visible in the snow. I could survive anywhere, but Maine is where I thrive.

Dorit: I read that you work with your sister on the crafts. Are you close in age, and is it ever difficult working closely with a sibling?

Faith: My siblings are all much older than I am. My sister is nearly 8 years older. We have very different styles and personalities, but have a common goal and great love and respect for one another. There are times when we clash, but it’s rare and we both know that minor annoyances happen and that “this too shall pass.” The fact that we can also make each other laugh without saying or doing anything is a huge bonus. So while working with family can be challenging, it also has many benefits because you know each other so well.

Dorit: How long did your cat boarding kennel take from idea to actuality?

Faith: My idea for a cats-only boarding kennel came from a reworked dream. My health forced me to forgo vet school as I’d hoped, but I still had a strong need to care for animals in some capacity. I’ve always had an affinity for cats (I love dogs, too!) and having a bright, safe, welcoming place for people to leave their cats when they vacationed seemed like an ideal fit. My mother and I designed the entire place and our builder made it a reality. It took about 2 years to dream, plan, design and build. This year we’re celebrating 20 years in business.

Dorit: How do you manage time between your businesses and other life obligations? Do you have a team?

Faith: Overall, I am the team. I was born with a can-do attitude and am able to juggle multiple things and pull it off so it looks easy. It isn’t, but I usually never tell anyone that. Over the last few years I have begun to realize that being so self-sufficient isn’t really ideal. Sometimes allowing others to help you is a gift to them. People, especially people who love you, want to feel needed. They want to know that they’re important in making your life a good thing, even if it’s just in some small way like stopping at the post office or helping fold laundry. So sometimes I ask for help now. And it’s truly OK to do it.

Dorit: Are you able to survive financially on the kennel and Etsy shops?  

Faith: I live a very simple life. I have few wants, as material things do not impress me. As long as I can keep my little house warm and cozy, have food in the freezers and pantry and know my cats and dog are well cared for, that’s all I need. Luckily I have enough to live on comfortably. I’m not rich and have no need to be.  

Dorit: Is there a dream you haven’t fulfilled yet?

Faith: My dreams change and grow as I do. So far I’ve been able to fulfill most of them in my work life, although I’m always thinking up new ideas for something I want to create. Finding time to make all those ideas into reality is difficult. One project was in the back of my mind for nearly 3 years, but I finally made it happen. In my personal life I’d like to travel more. See America and Canada in an RV, explore the countries my ancestors are from, visit friends around the world, that sort of thing. I’d also like to find more time to write. There are stories and characters floating around in my head and I’d like to eventually be able to give them their voice.

Dorit: When was the last vacation you’ve taken?

Faith: My last vacation was several years ago and it was wonderful. But I’m not known for relaxing well or for long and am quite content at home. I do love to take day trips here and there, exploring areas I’ve somehow missed or revisiting spots I love. Day trips are mini-vacations where I can leave everything behind for a few hours, renew my mind and spirit and still get back in time to sleep in my own bed that night. They’re perfect for me.

Dorit: Do you consider yourself successful? What is success to you?

Faith: Success to me has nothing to do with money or power or fame. Success is when you can make someone else’s life better in some way. Maybe with a little kindness or by making someone laugh. Maybe by comforting a person when they’re sad or troubled. Friend, family, stranger, client, coworker or even an animal, it matters not. If I can end each day knowing that I have in some small way made this world a little brighter and better for another, then I consider myself to be a success.

Faith Interviews Dorit

Faith: You mentioned that you’re the only American in your family. That leads me to assume you’re the first generation to be born in America. What’s that like? Is it difficult to balance two different worlds and cultures? Is your family accepting of your career and choices?

Dorit: I am the first generation American and New Yorker. My siblings are much older. Balancing two worlds – actually three to four worlds – was normal to me. The only hard part is that sometimes my words come out jumbled since I grew up with 4 languages. But I get to make jokes about many cultures and mess with accents for fun. I like the sounds of language. I don’t necessarily like one of my siblings, but I’m not sure that has to do with country, but rather with personality. My parents probably were not accepting until they saw me perform and they understood I was doing art. I wasn’t vulgar or demeaning. They were able to see an art form clearly. I’m sure they worry very much for me, for my state of living, for my future.

Faith: What challenges have you faced in life that have nurtured your resilience and determination?

Dorit: I used to be ambitious. I think I’ve become jaded.  I went through terrible things, but I’ve lived through them and I’m still here. That makes me resilient. My soul can’t seem to get rid of the things I have not yet accomplished or that got nearly destroyed along the way, so maybe part of me is still determined to see my dreams or goals through. By the way, my parents are survivors and they come from survivors. It’s in my nature and in my culture to survive.

Faith: How has living in NYC influenced your life and work? Do you think you would’ve been able to find the same opportunities and success elsewhere?

Dorit: The one thing about NYC I would miss is that I can find anything I want. If I want to learn Butoh, Brazilian Drumming, if I want to hear Klezmer, or eat Georgian food, I can find it. I can get to anything I want to learn and I’m always hungry to learn. But I grew up in the Bronx, when NYC was very dangerous and I never thought NYC was beautiful. I still have that “need to survive” and “don’t bring attention to yourself on the streets” mentality, or that “everyone is out to get you” thought.  It’s common to immigrants and children of immigrants. Now with the internet, you can do anything anywhere you have internet. But I’m sick with technology and sick with city air, shit smells and rushing and hustling. The funny thing is that I know how to survive so well here – I’ve learned the system so well – that would not be able to afford to move. It’s crazy. I would have become something else if I did move out early. I don’t think I would have ended up an artist.

Faith: What/who inspires you in your songwriting and performing?

Dorit: Life experiences inspire my art, not other artists. I may love a group or a singer’s ability, or the style or taste of an artist of any kind, but I never want to be them. I always feel like I need to learn more skills, so I can express more. Great teachers inspire me. I take online courses, and sometimes one easy new concept inspires a whole song. The older I get, I realize you can’t be anyone else. I’ll never be thin. I’ll never be a supermodel or have the skin of a Kardashian or whoever is supposedly flawless these days. Genetics is genetics. It’s the same with art for me. I won’t be moved by the same thing as other people. I’ve met some people that have inspired me and they ended up being hurtful or just being so normal and having so many problems that I realized there is nothing to be inspired by. You just find your own path and when you have a moment of inspiration, try to record it quickly so you can work on it and expand on the idea if it’s truly a great one.

Faith:  How did you start down your career path? Were music and dance always passions for you? How did you happen to become a teacher? How do you manage to juggle wearing so many different hats?

Dorit: I have taken dance and music lessons since I was very small. I was good in school, and also good in music and dance, but they were all forced onto me. I didn’t just discover a love on my own. I try to do that within and without those two. And I try things that have been difficult for me in the past, like acting. I’ve written one-woman shows with a teacher who is again very inspiring, but also a troubled artist.

When it comes to Middle Eastern dance, that was cosmic. I had no interest whatsoever, but it kept coming to me through different people, and so one day I finally went to a class. Two weeks later, I was in Turkey and two months later, I was in Egypt with my mentor/teacher/mother in dance, and she was telling dancers from other parts of the world that I was the best dancer she had. I was just a beginner. I didn’t know anything. I guess I lived up to it later. But, she saw something in me. Then I started working with a Middle Eastern drum teacher and he predicted I would be playing for my classes. It all happened. My dance teacher Serena had me teach classes very soon after becoming a professional dancer, and eventually, I started playing drums for my students. Now I’m getting hired more as a drummer than as a dancer.

As for music on the singing and songwriting side, I went through many incarnations and tragedies. I started working on an album maybe 14 years ago. I lost all my money and still have no album. It’s very hard to do it, especially now with no money. I’m trying to record with my boyfriend, but I constantly give up. I hope one day I can say I did it. And I hope it’s soon. I hope my parents will be alive to see it, or at least some record. I would feel like I accomplished something. I would feel legitimate to have an album. Maybe it’s a false feeling to think other people would take me seriously if I did have an album, but people do take me seriously. It’s a life goal.

Juggling – I waste time, I procrastinate, I don’t make enough money, I want to get out of debt. And I’m trying now different spiritual techniques to understand myself and be closer to nature and closer to my true needs and desires. Sometimes we trick ourselves into thinking that we need what we have. But maybe we are just afraid to let go of things that may not be perfect. It’s the opposite of abundance thoughts. It is fear coming from scarcity.

Faith: What are your biggest struggles? Feel free to answer that from either a personal or professional perspective. Or both.

Dorit: I think I answered this one. Finishing my album, finding my passion, getting out of debt. Wondering if I will have children. Wondering if I’m in the right relationship. Wanting to live a life with money. I need a vacation. This life is tiring. Worrying about my parents. Worrying about my future. Weight gain, age. Holding on to outdated dreams. City life. Needing nature. Do I drop most of everything, take a giant risk and a day job? If I continue the path of the last decade, I will die with nothing and will be very, very poor. I don’t want that. I want to be healthy and secure, and have enough to explore this amazing world or just walk in the grass without worrying about those other questions. I want to be very passionate about something and be able to accomplish goals and be happy within that passion.

Faith:  What dreams do you have for the future? Are there other things/careers/places you’d like to explore or pursue?

Dorit: I’d like to explore healthy life. I’d like to explore ideas that bring more nourishment in terms of energy and money, and leisure. I’d like to have a dog. I’d like to travel again. I’d like to spend time in the country and breathe good air. I’d like to get closer to Spirit.

Faith: It sounds like you live a very busy and rather public life. What do you do just for you? What brings you joy and peace and renews your spirit?

Dorit: My life sounds public and I’m addicted to stupid social media, but the truth is that even though I sound like I’m telling all, I’m really not. I don’t wear makeup during the day and dress pretty shabbily. I’m used to just getting myself together for shows. I hope to change this, because dressing well and looking good helps mood and confidence, but I’m lazy and very tired. Even when I teach, I usually wear beat up clothes and no makeup. I’m very physically clean, but I don’t try very hard to be visually impressive.

What brings joy to me is learning something new, trying something new– like apple picking and playing with a Husky dog. The OCEAN!!! I love the ocean, the sand, the SUN!!!! I need the sun. The sun heals me. The ocean heals me. The salt water heals me. Epsom salt is good too. When I finish something, it makes me happy. But, nothing makes me happier than nature and spirit.

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Faith P. spends her time chasing cats, painting and creating a hodgepodge of goods and pretending the old books she buys are stock for the bookshop and not really for herself. A native Mainer, Faith may be kicked out of the state if it’s discovered she doesn’t like lobster. Find her Etsy shops, Dab Hands and DH Booksellers, here: www.dabhands.etsy.com and dhbooksellers.etsy.com