Misty Anderson

Yes, I admit that there's something narcissistic about sitting down to write about your own life and expecting others to dotingly lap it up (although, in my case, I'm much more likely to be shouting into the abyss) but I don't care. It hasn't been about that for me (okay, well only a little bit).

I love writing my thoughts down. And I've been writing my thoughts down for what feels like an eternity now. I'm lucky to have a place to go, a space that is entirely mine and out the contents of my brain and heart.

This blog is the rationalizing force when I feel so angry that I might never be able to string a coherent sentence together again. It is the first place I want to come when there is a joy to be shared or an adventure to re-live.

My writing is a feeling of home, of catharsis, of therapy, of relief… that's beautiful enough for me.

Today, I'm traveling home after being invited to give a lecture. I was asked to practically encourage young models to become gorgeous creatures and be creative. We should be about the fact and develop a voice and an image to be proud.

I spoke to young people who are hoping to make exciting careers out of self-development and modeling and who is so far on the right track that I felt inspired by how much they already know. Me! I did those things.

I was a girl with no experience in social media, hack there was no social media or anything when I made my success. All just based on being so passionate about something that I felt the need to learn and develop and try to be better continually.

That's why I feel ridiculously lucky in saying that this isn't all blogging has brought me.

Oh, and that 'lecture" I just spoke about? Those young people will not be a stranger in the years to come not for this vast online world which we now inhabit an adventure together, trying to weave a destiny that involves a supportive network for anybody who needs it and creating content and events that inspire and empower people.

I'm a small fry, and it's unlikely that I'm ever going to earn millions from blogging alone. I don't work with brands; I don't have things to sell, I like writing things down. So, while I'm not going to pretend that I don't care about numbers and followers (I DO, FOLLOW ME NOW), I've learned that, for me, blogging has somewhat transcended all of that.

I've outgrown the modeling business. I'd be lost if it weren't for my blogging. Thanks to social media, which has snowballed into something that I may make a career out of one day. What on earth! That an excellent opportunity has presented itself to me merely because I have a hobby that I love fills me with delight.

There's no real point to this post except, I guess, to remind myself to take stock of the beautiful things the simple act of tapping away at my keyboard has brought me.

There will always be numbers to chase, followers to gain or lose, and strategies to learn (and get bored of). But, at this moment, I'm just grateful for what is here in front of me, and I'm excited to see where it all goes.

Instead, it's about the simple act of sitting down at my computer to write and the feeling of fire that gives me.

It's the genuinely incredible and inspiring people I've met along the way who support my endless love of sloths and who continue to buy me fox related merchandise for every special occasion.

It's the life experiences I've been afforded like the lecture yesterday or winning awards I had no business winning.

It's all of the things that I couldn't have possibly foreseen when I innocently sat down to begin a brand new hobby in 2012.

These are not easy things to take in without feeling like I want to burst with gratitude.

Please go to Amazon and write a book review.

Thank -You

Misty