Good Evening My Darlings,It feels like forever since I last sat down and connected with all of you here on Travel Write Draw. Truthfully I've been having a really rough time lately, as in lots of crying, breakdown fits, and rocky emotional roller-coaster rides. I'm about to make some MAJOR moves here in New York and quite frankly I'm scared shitless. I've been doing what most overly anxious OCD people are prone to doing - running around asking everyone for advice and seeking answers, while feeling totally unsure and uncertain about making a major decision. And all the advice getting can really throw you for a loop. In my quest to get some real answers on how to create real quality content on my blog, I consulted with a blog "expert" and walked away feeling completely sideswiped to the point that I didn't feel like I could write on my blog anymore (hence why I disappeared for over two weeks).
I WAS PARALYZED...I was told that my content wasn't good enough, that my traffic was dismal, and that I needed to write an E-Book?! I felt like everything I had ever learned about social media, being authentic, and being myself was completely WRONG. Honestly I'm still reeling from the experience. BUT with every hard lesson comes a wave of self-affirmation. How can anyone FAIL at being THEMSELVES?! Seriously?! How can you go wrong expressing yourself, speaking from your heart, and connecting with people from every corner of the world?! Frankly the fact that I've managed to connect with anyone through the internet in a meaningful way feels like a huge WIN to me.
Furthermore, last night I attended a brilliant personal branding class through The Lovely It Girl, a personal brand consulting boutique, where the founder Michela Aramini challenged all of us to identify our inner "It Girl". Suddenly all the reasons I love life and feel passionate about being a fashion illustrator came flooding back to me. I was reminded that my "It", my unique intrinsic value, is the only voice I really need to listen to.
So my loves, I'm on the quest to find and re-define my inner "It". Just like the ever stunning and talented Candice Lake I illustrated above, I want to exude all the light and warmth of the world from the inside out. I want to live in my "It" and I want you all to come with me. What does being your "It" self mean to you?! Who are you at your very best?! I'm thanking Michela Aramini BIG time for beginning the new movement and suggest all you amazing readers join in.
SO much love,
Meag xx
Love this girl! Being authentic and you is the only way to connect, forget the negativity, anyone who looks at a blog from a completely two dimensional facts and figures stand point is naive in the sense that they aren't looking at the community you've created and the readers you've engaged close enough, that's where blog worth is, even if we aren't the yet the gorgeous Candice Lakes or Chiara Ferriganis on the world. Keep doing what you are doing, learn ways to improve on it and grow :) Love your work chick!! xxx
ReplyDelete@Jordana Ripp that is absolutely where the blog worth is, that's where the life worth is. I don't think I realized until now just HOW fulfilling it is to connect with people through my blog. This gives me something in my world that nothing else can - the amazing feeling I get from helping people and connecting with them through my journey. Thank you for being such a supportive friend and TWD darling along the way. I'm right there with you unscrippted XO
DeleteYes!! Welcome back! You definitely, 100% connect to me when you write like this and I feel like I'm having a conversation with a friend. I'm happy you feel positive about this blog again - the rest of us always did. :D
ReplyDelete@poiseonarrows positively the greatest feeling in the world to know that you feel like you are talking to a friend when you come to my blog! I do love this blog and all of my readers to the moon. Sometimes self-doubt creeps in and you wonder if you could do things better. I realize now that I don't have to have all the answers today and it doesn't mean I have to stop posting on my blog in the meantime. Thank you for being here along the way - I appreciate more than you will ever know XO
DeleteWhatever, I love your posts. You CAN'T fail at being yourself. People who only see numbers and/or black and white are missing out on the grand spectrum of life. I am not really sure what is my "it." I kinda lost "it" when my husband lost his job (not his fault) and we got very poor very fast. I have not been taking care of my inner self, so today is the day. Gorgeous and inspiring post, as always. Blessings, dear.
ReplyDeletehttp://lamentinglizzie.blogspot.com
@Elizabeth Hisle I LOVE that, today is the day!! I feel it too. It's time to start settling what's on the inside to be my "It" on the outside too. It's an inside out approach to life, love, happiness, and your career. Sending so much love to you too XO
DeleteWhat a lovely post! Love the illustration as well. I'm glad to hear you feel better. I think best is to be yourself ..... Can you tell me more about the class you took? I am very interested. :)
ReplyDeletehttp://balearaitzart.blogspot.com.au/
@lorenabr of course!! Basically it is a personal brand consulting class for anyone looking to start a business and really figure out what unique intrinsic value they offer to the world that no one else can! Check out more details on her website: http://thelovelyitgirl.com/ and you will get a really good sense as to what she offers in terms of consulting etc XO
DeleteOmg Meagan! I didn't know you were going through all of that stuff :( you can always email your fellow blogger friend from across the river! I love your blog, it's so different from everything else that I've seen. I think it's perfect and whoever said all of those things to you is a horrible person. I always just think to stay true to myself because it's MY blog and if someone doesn't like it they don't have to read it. I love your blog, I love your content, and I'm really glad to have actually met you in person and I can't wait to see you again!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete@Monica Siembieda you are the sweetest!! Thank you my love for all your words of encouragement, they mean the world to me. You are so right. The whole point of blogging should really be to connect with like minded people who enjoy what you enjoy and vice versa. I can't wait to meet with you again too and hear all about your adventures lately XO
DeleteThat's some serious blogging problems! That's wild! I'm glad you've reconnected with yourself. That expert really takes blogging to a whole extreme. If blogging makes you happy you should continue doing it no matter how anyone feels about your posts. I hope you continue to post more about your artistic career! xoxo Caroline
ReplyDelete@Caroline Bogush of course, definitely will not be stopping anytime soon. It's been almost four years and I'm more committed than ever to Travel Write Draw. I think I just want to add more valuable content for my readers and have a little more order to my posting xx
DeleteLoved reading this, I wish you the best of luck. But your blog really is brilliant already!
ReplyDelete@Alysia Webster thank you, you're so sweet xx
DeleteBoooooo to this so-called "expert"! Anyone worth their salt knows that doing anything that's inauthentic to you or your voice is disaster for you blog! I'm mortified that this person would suggest otherwise, but I'm so so so so so glad you found true inspiration and followed your gut.
ReplyDeletePretty much like everyone else said before, you are an inspiration. I adore your illustrations and deeply respect how open you are here on your blog. I can't wait to see the new direction you take your work in (and that Jeff Koons retrospective post is gorgeous, by the way!).
Sending light, love and encouragement all the way from PA. :) Keep doing what you're doing, because it is amazing.
@Veronica Marche soooo true!! Doing anything inauthentic is totally transparent and doesn't resonate with your community at all. This was definitely a good learning lesson for me. You have to just trust yourself and your intuition. Thank you for your incredibly kind words of encouragement. They mean the world to me. Sending light and love right back to you xx
DeleteI am happy to hear that you gained your passion back! You are an extremely talented illustrator! I love your work and your blog! It is inspirational, fun, unique and dynamic! Keep it up,girl! You illustration of "It" Girl above is fabulous! It tells it all! Happy, happy!!!:-) All the best for you!
ReplyDeletewww.pursefixation.com
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@Purse Fixation you are such a gem, thank you for your sweet words of encouragement always. I never doubted wanting to continue with my blog but rather the ways in which I could be elevating it to better serve my readers. I appreciate your support so, so much and love your enthusiasm that you bring to your blog too xx
DeleteIt's cliche, but you need to write about what you love! It's definitely hard to come up with new content all the time and be creative, especially when it feels like everyone knows exactly what they're doing and everyone's coming out with amazing blog posts, but just do you! Forget other people, forget what they're doing, forget what other people say (even me!), and just listen to your inner voice! Of course, you definitely sometimes need to get advice from others because it can help put things in perspective, but only listen to what feels right to you!
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
~Sara
@Sara Strauss {Sincerely, Sara} exactly, I think learning to filter feedback and opinions is key. Otherwise you can get so lost and away from yourself. Thank you for your kind words as always Sara xx
DeleteI came across your blog in bloglovin and this post is really inspiring.' How can anyone FAIL at being THEMSELVES?! Seriously?! '- this line of yours really stick to my mind, i'm nineteen and am having a hard time figuring out myself, the things i want to do, and the person I want to become. At this point in time there are so many people dictating what I should and shouldn't be, it's good to read about people standing for what they believe in and staying true to themselves. thank you!
ReplyDelete@Vienna Inah De Francia of course my love!! I'm so touched by what you wrote. Remember to always listen to your instincts. Let your gut guide you. Only YOU can know what is best for YOU. The only person who knows how to be you is you. I understand what it is like to get so wrapped up in what people say, or how they tell you to be, but you have to learn the fine art of filtering. Listen, what is meant to stick will stick, and the rest will fall off. We don't have the time to learn absolutely everything ourselves through personal experience so it is good to listen to our elders but we have to know for ourselves when enough is enough xx
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