October 23, 2013

AUTHOR PICTURE 2012

 

This post is part of a weekly feature called the Passion Series…enjoy!

 

Kim Dalferes is one of my new favorite bloggers. Her blog posts are so full of perspective on life, wit, and humor that I literally just read through a metric ton of her blog posts because I couldn’t get enough. I especially enjoyed the post on turning 50, which I’m totally blogging about tomorrow. Thank you for the inspiration!

 

So here’s the deal with Kim, or as they call her on her blog, “Kimba”. She hails from Florida and just published an awesomely titled book–I Was in Love With a Short Man Once. I think we can all relate a little bit to that one. Her blog is a creative outlet for her to express her “propensity to spout off”, which she admits, has gotten her into trouble on more than one occasion. Her topics vary from what it’s like to be 50, health, the joys of motherhood, and relationships with friends. As she says in her interview below, blogging has afforded her “a HUGE audience” that’s allowed her to speak her mind and build relationships with a great bundle of like minded women. That’s probably one of the things I love most about blogging–being able to form relationships with people from everywhere.

 

This interview doesn’t do her wonderful blog personality justice. Go visit her blog and make a new friend.

 

Here’s what she had to say.

 

Has blogging helped you in any emotional or creative way?    

“The Middle-Aged Cheap Seats” has provided perspective and an enhanced my sense of humor when it comes to life in the middle. I’ve bagged the idea of aging gracefully and have instead fully embraced the concept of using up everything I’ve got before I exit stage left!

 

Has blogging daily/weekly helped you achieve any personal goals?   

Blogging has helped me find this HUGE audience of successful, funny, middle-aged gal pals. Writing with this audience running around in my head has definitely helped me move forward toward the publication of my second book; titled “Magic Fishing Panties.”

 

Does the ritual of daily/weekly blogging give you motivation to pursue things you are passionate about?   

Hmmm… well I do tend to write/blog about ideas that I care about or have a high interest in: estate sales; children; women’s health for example. This week’s blog post discusses skin cancer and creating a back story for my new facial scar. My “passions” are fairly broad in scope.
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This post is part of a series on bloggers who have found direction or passion through blogging. If you would like to be featured in the Passion Series, please contact me through this form with responses to the above questions, and share your passions. Thanks! See all Passion Series posts >>

 

Shayna Keyles

 

This post is part of a weekly feature called the Passion Series…enjoy!

 

The story behind why Shayna Keyles started her blog An Arrow a Day is one of the best kind. She found herself working in a legal firm straight out of college, and it didn’t take long for her to realize it wasn’t what she was meant to do. Like me, she got into the 9-5 work routine, and felt her creative side slipping.

 

Lucky for Shayna, she was able to identify the one thing that truly fascinated her, and that she was ultra passionate about. This is the part of the story where I leap for joy because I know sometimes it takes people years to figure that out.

 

She loved reading the news. I know, that’s a really simplified version of it, but sometimes the best starts are as simple as that. The news gave her an ‘out’, and it was that ‘out’ that she realized she truly enjoyed. She ended up starting a blog dedicated to writing about the way our social/political landscapes intertwine, as well exploring “the relationship and the dynamic scenarios created along with it.” And she’s a damn good writer. You can always tell how good a writer is by the way they hold your attention, and she definitely held mine.

 

Here’s what she had to say.

 

Has blogging helped you in any emotional or creative way?    

Blogging has helped me remember that my life should not be dominated by my profession. I currently work as an executive assistant for a legal funding firm, which, though it is not my first (second, third, fourth, or fifth) choice of profession, is a job that I am planning to keep because it is full-time and because it pays relatively well to a 23 year old college graduate who does not want to pursue the field in which she majored.

 

Once I started working full-time, I found myself in a lingering slump that prevented me from enjoying much of anything. I constantly focused on increasing and improving my skill sets so I could “get out of here.” At work, I started reading the news more often so I could escape the mundane office world. It so happened that the news fascinated me — the way it was written, who was writing it, and for what reasons. I decided to comment on the articles I was reading — not just the content of the articles, but the way that the articles existed in the vacuum that is digital media.

 

I remembered what I was good at, and what I enjoyed. I kept it up. I stopped focusing so much on how to boost up my work-cred, and started to focus more on how to get better at things I’m good at, like how to design a webpage? How to do some graphic design? How to paint? How to take photos? (okay, so the last two have nothing to do with blogging, and the first two haven’t really happened on the blog yet, but you get my point.) It’s a good start.

 

Has blogging daily/weekly helped you achieve any personal goals?   

My ability to quickly collect and analyze data has improved drastically in the past few months since I’ve started blogging. I’ve also learned how to better navigate the internet, which has been a goal since I made a bet with a friend that I’d be more internet famous than him one day (it’s never going to happen, he has a Tumblr that shows lots of boobs and I write about the government. Booo-ring.) Nonetheless, these new skills have really helped me embrace my creative side, which I lost hold of once I entered the professional world.

 

Does the ritual of daily/weekly blogging give you motivation to pursue things you are passionate about?   

Writing a blog has helped me create an image of what I want my future to be. It has allowed me to combine my artistic passions with my political sensibilities, and my love for sharing knowledge with my beliefs about the world we live in.

 

Thanks Shayna for participating in my series!

 

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This post is part of a series on bloggers who have found direction or passion through blogging. If you would like to be featured in the Passion Series, please contact me through this form with responses to the above questions, and share your passions. Thanks! See all Passion Series posts >>

 

Cathy Nerujen

This post is part of a weekly feature called the Passion Series…enjoy!


Quite literally, I feel like Cathy Nerujen takes the words right out of my mouth when it comes to blogging (I’ve italicized my favorite lines for emphasis below). The answers she gives in this great interview are exactly why I created this series in the first place–to spread the joy that is blogging, and to see the wonderful way people have bloomed emotionally, artistically, and even spiritually because of it.

 

Cathy is a poet at heart, and her love of writing poems is what got her into this wonderful mess. She started out publishing poems on HubPages, and after realizing they were so well-received (she got literally thousands of views/comments), decided to enter the world of blogging and publishing online. And we are all very happy she did. Her blog is a fascinating abundance of resources for writers, and great blog posts. She even went on to collaborate with all sorts of writers to start her own e-zine dedicated solely to the art of writing, and she is awesomely close to publishing her very first book of poetry. Ah, the motivation she inspires in me!

 

Read and be moved. Here’s what she had to say.

 

Has blogging helped you in any emotional or creative way?
Blogging has helped me to achieve many things, Monique. Writing and blogging are indistinguishable to me. They let the poetic inner voice come out. Blogging enables my creative side to be more of everything. Seeing my words, and thoughts on the screen is exciting, and when they are spoken or quoted, it is awesome. But seeing them being read and then getting feedback and comments, well that is excitement multiplied. To think that they can enable others to relate, and connect and identify with things… it makes me so glad to be a blogger and a poet. Being a better writer is me becoming a better person. So emotionally and creatively, yes, blogging really helps.

 

Blogging helps me focus that creative energy, the words, that never ending surge of creativity. A blog lets me express myself in other ways than just writing alone. Blogging is more than writing. It is a continuance of the self. It is an extension of me the writer. Blogging should never stand still. It should always move towards something.

 

Has blogging daily/weekly helped you achieve any personal goals?  
Oh yes. Working for a publisher is challenging, and wonderful, and I love my work. Being a blogger gives me a whole platform of my own. It becomes me, the publisher. It’s my “Cathy” space for writing, for thoughts, ideas. I put it online and it’s open to the whole world immediately. I can develop things, grow ideas into writing that others can enjoy even more. And it can grow to include the readers more. We can bring others on that journey. Writing can grow to become more than just writing.

 

I am planning a format for a writing ezine, and blogging still tops my list of rewarding writing endeavours, besides poetry itself. Though the e-magazine takes time to put together, as there are so many people involved – and the ezine won’t come out till the end of the year – I will be so happy to see it come to fruition. I have also planned a poetry book for well over a year now. I recently had my book designed and typeset, and the artwork looks lovely. This is a very personal goal I have harboured since I began writing poetry, and later expanding into editing.

 

I plan to become a published poet, but in many ways, Monique, I am already. The blog puts me out there in the world. I worked up from HubPages.com to acquire over twenty thousand reads of my poetry, and I have had thousands of great comments. So a blog was the next step. I was energised and inspired by everyone. I set up my blog before tackling the book, and now the ezine. Through blogging, I have learned more about the online writing process, and the online publishing industry, which is an information minefield. Honestly, blogging has opened my eyes to so many things, and blogging connects me to many amazing wonderful people, including you.

 

Does the ritual of daily/weekly blogging give you motivation to pursue things you are passionate about?  
Yes the ritual is important because writing is a habit and a reflex. If I can’t write, nothing is right or working in my life. If I am not writing, I am miserable. Only Fehl and Cassy can rouse me out of my lethargy, two amazing beautiful friends of mine. I have the discipline to write and the creativity to push ideas and thoughts into action. I take blogging serious, just as I take writing serious. They say blogging is kind of becoming less relevant and yet people like you, and Maria Popova and Bella Andre and Brian Mc Donald – you all have so many interesting things to say. Blogging shows us what we are missing. Books can entertain and enthral us, but words from great bloggers will never lose their relevance. The secret is in what they have to say as writers and bloggers.

 

Brian has inspired Pixar animators and directors, and helped unblock Oscar winning Director-writers. Maria has confounded bloggers who could not earn without advertising on their blogs, as she has a unique way of blogging. It helps that she is an ardent lover of books. Your blog has shown and proved that a talented writer with a great and likeable writing voice, and amicable, inclusive reflection on life can liberate and empower you to be more. You say the things you say and you bring people to you. Your blog “A Novel Quest” is your journey as a writer, and we get to share it with you, Monique. It is elegant and professional and very you. It’s you who makes it worthwhile. My poetry blog has helped reaffirm my sense of who I am as a woman, it invokes more of the senses, and allows me to connect to more people. People ask me are there downsides to blogging or writing and I am like…”what? Are you kidding?”

 

Bella is just amazing in every way as a writer and blogger, and has so many bestsellers to her credit. She is a made woman, and yet she pushes outwards even more. New writing and blogging apps like Over Blog and Ghost prove that blogging is still very cool and interesting. WordPress and the other platforms for bloggers have re-invigorated blogging so much. And mobile-friendly is the new way to go. Blogs on an iPad? Yes please.

 

I feel very motivated as a writer. Poetry to me is akin to medication for my mind and my heart. It connects my feelings to my imagination so much more. I love the power that words have, that they can make things so very possible. They have the power to transform. I think I have known that since I was a girl at school. There is room enough in the world for writers, poets, bloggers, creative people and books to all be around each other, and not have a war going on between them. They do what people do best. They reconcile their differences and they adjust and accommodate for one another. They all have a place here.

 

I have had help in my journey, from close friends like Fehl and Cassy, both writers and bloggers. And yes, there are others who inspire me a lot. Blogging can be a great community, and it can help to push and to cross boundaries. When you give writing and blogging a purpose, you give more to the world. The world notices and sees it. If it doesn’t, then we just have to share and promote our words a bit more, until it does. It’s at that moment, at that contact that everyone counts their blessings.

 

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This post is part of a series on bloggers who have found direction or passion through blogging. If you would like to be featured in the Passion Series, please contact me through this form with responses to the above questions, and share your passions. Thanks! See all Passion Series posts >>

 

September 25, 2013

Ellory Headshot 2 black logo

 

This post is part of a weekly feature called the Passion Series…enjoy!

 

Every day we are in constant evolution, trying to, as Erika Napoletano often says, become the next better version of ourselves. Ellory Wells understands this all too well, as he is constantly in a state of personal growth and development.

 

Titled Empowering the 80 Percent, Ellory’s blog revolves around empowering people to bridge the gap between their current leadership capabilities and their leadership potential. He focuses on encouraging people to see themselves as valuable, and on how to build better teams and successful partnerships in business. He is doing extremely well for himself considering he was laid off a few short years ago in 2009. He ‘rose from the ashes’ so to speak, tapped into his passion, was able to land a job doing what he loved, and is now building a personal brand for himself and assisting others in the community he has built around his blog.

 

I personally feel like I learn so much every time I visit his blog. He has put so much effort into helping people shine, I’m so happy I get to share his blog with my audience as well. Here’s what he had to say.

 

Has blogging helped you in any emotional or creative way?   

Blogging has definitely pushed me to become more creative. As I look at branding myself and my blog, I have to find new and creative ways to do that. Additionally, as most bloggers do, I am continually trying to find new and creative ways to build and draw traffic.

 

Has blogging daily/weekly helped you achieve any personal goals?  

I typically blog twice a week, sometimes three times. I write about leadership, personal development and developing a leadership mindset. With those three topics, I’m constantly having to learn and grow, not only for myself but to help others who have started coming to me for coaching. I read about a book a month and share what I’ve learned. My goal is to continue on this path of personal development.

 

Does the ritual of daily/weekly blogging give you motivation to pursue things you are passionate about?  

I know that building a community takes time. The ritual of weekly blogging provides a rhythm and helps me gain momentum.

 

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This post is part of a series on bloggers who have found direction or passion through blogging. If you would like to be featured in the Passion Series, please contact me through this form with responses to the above questions, and share your passions. Thanks! See all Passion Series posts >>

 

September 18, 2013

Lo Rain 750X750 (1)

 

This post is part of a weekly feature called the Passion Series…enjoy!

 

Lo Rain is a twenty-something blogging about her misadventures in the dating scene. I love the idea behind her blog, so aptly named Misadventures in Dating, because dating is one of those horrible things that seem to always need some kind of strategic game plan before starting. I appreciate when a blogger takes the time to provide food for thought on a topic that people find valuable, for all those twenty, thirty, forty, or fifty somethings who are also having trouble getting back into the dating scene.

 

Having ended an 8-year relationship, Lo Rain knows about heartbreak,and also about what it’s like to have to ease back into the game. Not only that, but she also sheds light on long-distance relationships, sharing useful tips that can keep expenses low when trying to communicate from thousands of miles away.

 

Blogging about her dating misadventures makes the experience of finding ‘the right one’ bearable because there will always be someone who can relate. There are hordes of single people out there struggling to find their perfect match, and I think having a place to share and openly communicate personal experiences on the subject of dating is an awesome idea! And because she’s also a writer (woo-hoo!) blogging helps her tap into her creative juices as well.

 

Here’s what she had to say.

 

Has blogging helped you in any emotional or creative way?  

Blogging has helped me in an emotional way. In 2010 I ended an almost 8 year relationship, and began dating later in the year. I had been out of the dating world for so long, and was completely shocked at how awful dating can be. I eventually met a traveling business man that I, for lack of a better term, had a “thing” with. He didn’t think it would be fair to either of us to have a relationship, because he was shortly headed back to his home state. He told me that I was a beautiful woman and would have no problem finding someone else. Uh, wrong. I started blogging to vent about my terrible dating experiences because of this man. Blogging about the crazy things that happened made me feel better, and it also helped knowing that I am not the only person going through these things.

 

Has blogging daily/weekly helped you achieve any personal goals?  

Friends have always come to me asking for relationship advice. I wanted to help
more people, and blogging has paved the way for me to provide insight and advice to a much larger audience.

 

Does the ritual of daily/weekly blogging give you motivation to pursue things you are passionate about?  

I’m passionate about writing. Blogging has given me a weekly topic to adhere to. It
keeps my creative juices flowing and has inspired me to begin various short stories or expand on ideas I’ve had for novels.

 

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This post is part of a series on bloggers who have found direction or passion through blogging. If you would like to be featured in the Passion Series, please contact me through this form with responses to the above questions, and share your passions. Thanks! See all Passion Series posts >>

 

September 11, 2013

lady-silhouette-pose (3)

This post is part of a weekly feature called the Passion Series…enjoy!

 

Through this series I’ve had the opportunity to meet such a diverse group of bloggers, I couldn’t be happier to introduce to you yet another kind of blogger who has discovered her passion through blogging: the blogger without a name.

 

The internet is rife with anonymity, and where blogging is concerned, I haven’t yet met a blogger who wasn’t racing to get their name and face out there–until now.

 

Blogging under the pseudonym Missy Oh So, this lady blogger hails from London, where she works as a journalist. I don’t know her name, or what she looks like, but she’s here to tell us a little bit about her passion for blogging.

 

Out of a great love for the city, Missy decided to start blogging anonymously about London fashion, food, restaurants, healthy living, and culture, to see if she could create a sustainable business out of it. By publishing anonymously, she is able to share with her readers her rendezvous in the city completely objectively, which I think is a great angle to have on a blog, especially as it grows in popularity. There’s nothing better than being able to publish your feelings for the world to see, without anyone tracing it back to you. Why do you think Post Secret was so successful?

 

Her blog can be found at Oh So London, where you won’t find a single picture of her face, but you’ll fall in love with her journeys. After reading a few of her posts, I’ve discovered the luxury of cruises, at-home spas, as well as revisited my sheer adoration for the heaven that is Five Guys. (Did you even know they had a Five Guys in London?) I need to visit ASAP.

 

Here’s what she had to say.

 

Has blogging helped you in any emotional or creative way? 

 

As a journalist, it has given me an additional outlet to write creatively about what I love most, lifestyle, London and food. Missy OhSo is obviously not my real name (I run my blog anonymously) so it’s also great to see objectively how people react to my blog.

 

Has blogging daily/weekly helped you achieve any personal goals?  

 

It has helped me test whether this could one day be a successful business. I believe that blogs grow organically and while it might take a few years to become successful enough to be my full time career, it’s also the journey to this that counts!

 

Does the ritual of daily/weekly blogging give you motivation to pursue things you are passionate about?  

 

As a freelance journalist it does motivate me to juggle my workload in an organised manner but also encourages me to try out restaurants/events in London which I might otherwise not get up and do. So it’s great all round!

 

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This post is part of a series on bloggers who have found direction or passion through blogging. If you would like to be featured in the Passion Series, please contact me through this form with responses to the above questions, and share your passions. Thanks! See all Passion Series posts >>

 

 

me and claire

This post is part of a weekly feature called the Passion Series…enjoy!

You’re in for a treat tonight, and I don’t just mean because I’m featuring another passionate blogger–I’m featuring a FOOD blogger. FOOD. My very first! And I’m very happy to have her.

Introducing, Jennifer von Ebers, picky eater turned food blogger extraordinaire. Jennifer started out being about as picky about food as can be, and I can certainly relate. As someone who has just BARELY started liking guacamole and MILD salsa, I can sympathize with her initial hesitance to eat foods with peppers or any kind of spice. In Jennifer’s case, it took her awhile to start slowly but surely trying new things, but once she started she was unstoppable–she started experimenting with different foods and recipes, and before she knew it, she’d been blogging for 5 years about all kinds of different foods, not to mention healthy foods at that. She also has a section called Weight Loss Rockstars where she features women who have lost hundreds of pounds, pretty inspiring stuff.

Her blog is called Slim-Shoppin, and like most bloggers, she’s branched out into more than just food blogging–on her blog she also brandishes skills like social media marketing and blogging help. Being a blogger is like being an entrepreneur these days, and pretty much anyone can do it. And once you do it, you can start sharing how you did it with other novice bloggers, and the gift of learning just keeps on spreading!

Okay, enough on my blogging philosophies. Here’s what she had to say.

Has blogging helped you in any emotional or creative way? 

I think blogging has helped me get out of my comfort zone more and be more daring.  I am a food blogger, so I’ve volunteered at different food events, met famous chefs and networked with many people in the food industry.  I’ve also gotten out of my comfort zone as a picky eater, trying new foods and finding out I like a ton of stuff that I didn’t think I did, which opens up so many different recipes I never would have tried before.

 Has blogging daily/weekly helped you achieve any personal goals? 

I think since I have been blogging regularly for the past 5 years on the same topic, it’s something that I can do long term, I’ve never run out of ideas or things to say.  I’ve been able to help others with their blogs, learned more about food photography, photo editing, social media which I never knew before.

Does the ritual of daily/weekly blogging give you motivation to pursue things you are passionate about? 

I do think of my blog when I am choosing to do things which makes me challenge myself to try new things and see what happens.  I would say the best part about blogging for me is the friends around the country I’ve gotten to know pretty well and  without it, I never would have met them!

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This post is part of a series on bloggers who have found direction or passion through blogging. If you would like to be featured in the Passion Series, please contact me through this form with responses to the above questions, and share your passions. Thanks! See all Passion Series posts >>

Jon Harrison

This post is part of a weekly feature called the Passion Series…enjoy!

One day, I hope to write blog posts as inspirational, informational, and motivational as Jon Harrison’s. His main goal is to help people succeed, but not just career-wise. His blog encompasses a lot of wonderful bits of wisdom and knowledge on how to be a better person in general, on how to absorb the ‘now’, on how to slow down, how to remember yourself, and become a better business leader.

Right now, Jon is participating in a challenge on his blog on slowing down, something I think we’re all guilty of not doing. I found it inspirational to say the least, and I love reading about new challenges that bloggers are exploring to savor the beautiful gift that is life.

Here’s what he had to say.

Has blogging helped you in any emotional or creative way? 

It was just over two years ago: I was sitting across the table from a friend of mine, eating Chinese take out and sushi for lunch. I was not sure how to answer the question I was just asked. It caught me off guard. In fact, before this moment, I never really stopped to think about having my own personal mission statement. But then it hit me. I did not even need to give it much thought at all: “Helping others succeed.” 

I wondered: did it need to be more specific? Should I focus on who the “others” were? My friend looked at me, smiled, and said:

“That’s pretty good.” 

Since that day, I have given a lot of thought as to how I can best help others succeed. Just this April I finally got around to what I knew in the back of my mind all along: “I’m a blogger. I need a blog of my own.” 

Before starting my blog, I felt stuck. Stuck in a way that is difficult to describe. I spent too much time making excuses, or looking to place blame on situations that prevented me from doing…I don’t know what. 

I am now creating. I am now cultivating. I am now putting energy into something of value, creating value for others and providing ideas, practical application, and life changing stories that can help others succeed.

 Has blogging daily/weekly helped you achieve any personal goals? 

One of my personal goals has been reaching a bigger audience, and doing whatever I can to help others in pursuit of their own passions. The experience has led me to making some great friendships and deepening existing ones. I have encountered a level of personal growth in a world I never knew existed before embarking on this journey. 

I am amazed at the stories I am blessed to have a platform to share. This has led me to the concept of “Life Changers.” I know that all of us have many life changing moments – something happens, we change our thinking or habits – and we are never the same. Look at the power of just one example: that of George Marriner Maull, Artistic Director of the Discovery Orchestra. Imagine the power of collecting these experiences and harnessing the life changing potential every week for an entire year! How might your life be different from when this journey started? 

The process of blogging has also provided the motivation, structure, and creative energy to begin writing a book (several decades before I imagined I would write one, no doubt).

Does the ritual of daily/weekly blogging give you motivation to pursue things you are passionate about? 

One of the best parts about blogging has been the discovery of a new passion. The concept of building a platform to share ideas, and the potential that online communications have to offer in the future is fascinating. I enjoy my self imposed structure of publishing new content on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This passion has allowed me to engage others in developing their own platforms, with my own experience as a guide to getting them started. I explain how easy it can be: only 20 minutes to set up a self hosted WordPress blog. You don’t even need a full weekend for that! This is just one more way that I have been able to live out my own personal mission of “Helping You Succeed.”

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This post is part of a series on bloggers who have found direction or passion through blogging. If you would like to be featured in the Passion Series, please contact me through this form with responses to the above questions, and share your passions. Thanks! See all Passion Series posts >>