Unexpected Lessons in Unexpected Places
When things in my life change, I feel nervous AND excited. Today I'm officially changing my Instagram username to match this blog.
Until a couple of years ago, I never had an Instagram account. I was almost 50 and figured it was for "younger" people. A friend encouraged me to start an account to share my daily outfits; I had no clue what #ootd even meant. So I logged on, and after doing lots of scrolling, I noticed a unique community within this black hole of social media. People that were avid readers like me were posting about their favorite books on something called #bookstagram. At that point, my understanding and appreciation of Instagram changed.
I started my account @booklowdown and began posting about all the fantastic books I was reading and connecting with other readers. The account began to morph over time, and I started sharing different things I loved, like outfits that I put together, my house plant collection, and my random musings on life as an "older" woman. All of this eventually led to creating this blog as an extension of my Instagram account because I have more to say about the things that matter to me.
As I reflected on this change, I realized I learned a few things about myself in this unexpected place.
It's All About the People
I've met some of the most incredible people on Instagram. The news feed has a magical ability to put the right people in front of you to offer a bit of needed advice or a push in the right direction on any given day. I've developed relationships with people who share a passion for life, inspire me with their achievements, and support each other. These relationships have been the most unexpected reward for all my hard work.
lesson: Surround yourself with people you inspire, motivate and support you.
I Need a Creative Outlet
I always considered myself a creative person, but I was blown away by what I saw on Instagram. The photographs with the color combinations, the lighting, and the setups were beautiful and soothing. Connecting with my creative side allows me to recognize my uniqueness, draws out hidden talents and my inner capacities.
Eventually, my Instagram account and this blog allowed me to nurture and develop my creativity. They are platforms that will enable me to share my unique perspective with the world.
lesson: Being creative can connect us to ourselves and others.
Invest in Yourself
Most of us learn the value of hard work at an early age. When we were younger, we learned to work hard in school for good grades. As we got older, we were encouraged to work hard at our job to impress our employers. Hopefully, we feel the satisfaction of a job well done.
When you invest in yourself, you recognize your value and potential. You understand that you are important enough to give the energy, space, and time to grow and create results. Creating my Instagram page and this blog is the first time I have worked for myself. Doing this has required having confidence in my abilities and believing that I am capable of more. I opened a world of new opportunities and new experiences by investing in myself.
lesson: Instead of just dreaming, invest in yourself to make your dreams a reality.
Take Action
All it takes to get started with a new project in your life is to make that initial leap of faith. Don't let fear hold you back from accomplishing your dreams. Once you've resolved to do it, you can jump right in. The progress will be gradual, but you can grow and improve if you are driven and committed. Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.
My Instagram account is now an extension of this blog, where I emphasize an authentic lifestyle, ageless style, and offer a little bit of advice. I hope we can continue to connect and grow together!
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