This Is Your Sign! Do it

Do what you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life. But why is it so hard to find this? Why do I have to settle for one of my talents and not use them all?

From a very young age, I always had a creative outlet.

When I was just a toddler, my mom put me in dance class. I continued dance, taking up to 15-20 hours a week in classes, including ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, point and competitive teams. This stopped when I was 13 years old because I moved to North Carolina and did not rejoin a dance studio. Then in high school, my friend signed me up for a chorus audition without telling me. I am very thankful she did this because it changed my whole high school career. I thrived in chorus, and went on to participate in every musical. This gave me the opportunity to dance again. I also joined a barbershop quartet, In Treble Again (haha)

Being creative… having an outlet.. it was always MY thing. I didn’t know who I was without it. I never experienced life without some form of creative expression.

And then in college, it all stopped. No more creative outlet. Just staying up late to write papers, stressing out about grades. Just work, on work, on work. After college I got a job that allowed some creativity but it is driven in a format that’s very specific in content, with a lot of restrictions. In the beginning I absolutely loved my job. I woke up in the morning feeling as if I finally had a purpose again. However, after the excitement wore off of having a new job (it being my first real adult job,) I began to feel empty again, longing for something more, just like before.

For a long time I felt like something was missing. My anxiety got to a place that I had never experienced before. I felt nervous and anxious about everything. I became really lazy. The repetition in life was monotonous and draining. My happiness began to feel dependent on other people inviting me out to do something. I spoke with my husband privately, and told him that I needed to change something. I needed to find excitement and start creating opportunities for myself, instead of being dependent on others.

For a long time I played with the idea of starting a blog. I had actually came up with my first blog idea in middle school. I pitched it to my sister and everything but I was too young to know where to begin, and never thought about it again until college. But putting yourself out there can be very intimidating. I decided that if I was to do this, I needed to do it well. So about 4 months ago I began planning my blog. I started doing research about what I needed to do and know in order to be successful.

But the same insecure questions racked my brain. “Will people make fun of me?” “Will I be able to keep up with it?” “Am I interesting enough?”

All of these worries plagued my brain for awhile. I only spoke about the blog idea to very close friends, and my family. I kept it a secret with the fear that someone would say something negative but the feedback I got was the same.

“Desiree, stop talking about it and do it already!”

And that was the truth. You never know what will happen unless you go for it. Worst-case scenario… I just stop doing it.

My husband provided me with the support I needed, like he always has. He said he’d learn how to use a camera and everything. In his eyes, I’ve never had a bad idea and that foundation has always given me the extra push I need in life. My sister has also been great support as well. She tells me like it is and fixes my writing. She also gives me ideas for content and is always there when I need her.

It has been a little more than a month since I started Modern Vanity Style and I have never felt happier. I am able to create topics, come up with ideas, learn new skills and stay busy. I feel fulfilled and in charge of my future. My options are limitless. Blogging has pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way possible. I have made new friends and networked with local businesses in only a little over a month.

If you have been looking for a sign to go after that IDEA that has been floating around in your head..