New Leaps! Who Dis?
August 1, 2017 was the day. My fresh start! A new leap and an exciting transition. That ever popular “new month, new goals” declaration where I’d finally reveal the product of all my planning and preparation over the summer. The business marketing, the content creation sessions and the photos for rebranding, were just a few of the steps I had taken to make this move. I was laying the groundwork and ready to “werk.” It was the day that I would put all of my hard work to action with the click of a button. The day that I would launch my new blog!
But …
My launch didn’t happen.
Prior to my anticipated launch date, much of my preparation was overshadowed by fear, excuses and plenty of failed attempts at self-coaching. Day after day, I woke up motivated and excited to publish my first blog post, but negative self-talk got in the way. Eventually, the excitement transitioned to a “not today girl” mindset. I told myself that my content wasn’t good enough or that it wasn’t parallel to that of a style blogger. I questioned whether I needed to be more creative or more unique in my approach. My anxiousness with taking this new leap was hindering me and life was happening at the same time. Unexpected life occurrences began … losing my father on August 4th, two consecutive Cat 5 hurricanes devastating my hometown in September, hurricane relief efforts the months thereafter … among other things. It was a true “WTH!” season. Punch after punch. Blow after blow.
By December, I was ready to just get 2017 over with. I wanted a “fresh start.” But with the holiday season, came more unexpected changes and hiccups, new responsibilities, and grim reminders of my darkest days in 2017. As if this wasn’t enough, I suddenly realized just how I had been coping with everything over the past few months – through food. Not solely concerned with the actual weight I had gained, I was more concerned about the way I was feeling. Nothing like myself and completely unmotivated to pursue anything new. Hell, I was hardly maintaining my online business at that time. It just wasn’t the right time and I told myself that blogging wasn’t going to happen. So I put this aspiration and desire aside, and dropped everything concerning my blog.
It was the week before Christmas and I came across a random Instragram quote that said: “The only thing that’s stopping you, is you.” Later on, I saw another that exclaimed: “Get your —- together. Get to work. Get it done!” These words were stepping all over my toes because I know I had allowed doubt and fear to stop me. Then I saw one more that stated: “Start the business. Take the trip. Apply for the position. Start the blog. Register for the class. Eat the cupcake? Quit planning. Start doing.”
Toes crushed. Pedicure please.
You know that moment … when you’re scrolling through social media and some deep, thought-provoking mind allots a few minutes of their time to create a meme or post that not only steps on your toes … but reaches into your soul like a T.D. Jakes prayer, inspires you like an Oprah interview, empowers you like a Michelle Obama speech and wakes and shakes you up like a Beyonce concert? Well this was it. It was a quick wakeup call for me, from the Man above. Cliche maybe. But my fire was back!
No more room for self-pity or self-doubt.
I initially wanted to start a blog to share my personal style and my love for fashion. However, during my haitus, Instagram provided a niche for me to do this, through “instablogging.” It became my platform to share my personal style and about life’s happenings, while building new business relationships and further establishing my professional network. But, more recently, journaling was serving a much deeper purpose … healing and recovering from grief loss.
What I realized was that my desire to blog was innate and there was a need to take my journaling (which proved to be very therapeutic) and intertwine it with my love for fashion, style, travel, etc. A lifestyle blog.
As rocky as it’s been, my journey to this point has entailed so many great lessons. I’m still a work in progress (as we all are) but my sense of clarity and sense of direction, as it pertains to what I hope to accomplish through my blog, is precise.
Here we are approaching mid-March, and I couldn’t be more proud of myself for finally sharing my blog with you. I’ve tuned out the distractions, blocked out the noise, checked fear and self-doubt at the front door and kindly escorted them out to the backyard.
The transition from instablogging to blogging has been a very long one, but I’m here! Hesitant, yet excited. Nervous, yet motivated. Learning as I go, yet eager to keeping learning from my mentors. I am present — and humbly channeling the fearlessness of the bold creatives who continue to inspire me, so that I may create and inspire others. I’m ready friends. It’s go-time.
Allow me to re-introduce myself. My name is Marú. I am a lawyer, fashion lover, entrepreneur and lifestyle blogger.
Thank you for joining me on this path!
Ru’
xoxo 💗
x
Shop My Look
Camo jacket: Sold out but similar one here
Graphic tee: here
Pink Sequins Dress: sold out but I love these alternatives here and here
Camo clutch & all jewelry: here
Pumps (Steve Madden): here
Photography: KSheree Photography
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