As 2019 comes to a close I’ve spent the last week or so really reflecting on the ginormous year that I’ve had both as a human being and a professional creative. As a human, I can say that I’m both equally shy as I am pretty soft spoken. This year really helped me become more in tune with my spirituality; mental prowess, and everything in between more than ever before.
Being someone that has never liked talking about themselves much, I, have never really understood how to explain my career or my goals to others in a way that makes sense to someone who may not understand the level of creativity and drive that I have for myself. 2019 brought me to the hard-discovered conclusion that not everybody may be supportive of your creativity; drive, and ultimately the end goal you have for yourself before you leave this earth.
Life lesson: Sometimes it’s truly better to leave some parts of your life in the dark to some and open to others.
This year marked my first dip into television and also saw the announcement that this newspaper is being turned into a physical magazine that people will soon be able to read themselves in real life. It’s been such a monster year, that now that I’ve had a chance to sit and think about all of the great I’ve achieved this year …. it’s a moment.
It’s a moment that I can now take to thank those who stood by me in the eyes of negativity that sought to convince others that I wasn’t real. Most of you stood by me; my subscribers soared, and people connected with me more than ever before because 2019 taught me how to open and raw with my emotions and the struggles that I was going through as a real human being.
A thing I’ve learned this year is that sometimes “public figures” or “bloggers” or “creatives” or “influencers” or whatever the term is that one chooses to classify people like me as — are placed on this pedestal to make themselves appear perfect. Some influencers and such I’ve seen them fall from grace because they’re living in this unrealsitic fantasy that they don’t have real human problems.
As a survivor of domestic violence and someone who openly struggles with depression; anxiety, and PTSD I became open about that about 9 months ago after I felt that being honest about my own struggles hopefully could help someone else. I’ve been in the “public eye” with this newspaper for most of my existence on the earth in which we live.
Some of you have watched me grow up before your very eyes; some of you have been around since this blog was called FashionBzaar (that was 14 years ago, and others are just joining us. I’ve tried my best to build an inclusive; genuine, informative and entertaining community that tends to all instead of some. That hasn’t been easy. People have not been easy on me. Rarely has someone stopped and asked “Are You Okay”, “How Are You Holding Up?.”
Building an online community through blogging and journalism has opened my eyes to parts of the world I had no idea existed. It is the journey I’ve shared with you guys that has allowed me to see and witness the unbelievable elements of our world that make our world beautiful. From my deep-dive investigations; to our actual full blown investigations, to leaking info in the name of public interest, and holding those in power accountable — 2019 truly has been a remarkable year.
I hope in 2020 that people are a little nicer to their neighbors. I try to limit the “hit pieces” or negative pieces that people may find in this newspaper (whether from me or someone else) about someone else. We/I are not in business to publish negative pieces about others. We make crack jokes and lit up the petty truck, but we are not in business to push agendas and stuff like that.
2020 is a vital year for America. We can do this together.
Be First to Comment