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2. On a similar point to the one above… I am starting to feel that social media (blogging, Facebook, twitter, instagram) are all just one giant humble brag. Is it fun? Yes. Is it a platform to share exciting things in your life? Absolutely. But how much is too much?
3. I can be selfish but even worse… I am ok with it. I am a strong believer that in order to be truly happy in your life, you need to make it a priority to put yourself and your needs first. You cannot have a happy partner if you aren’t happy yourself. And same goes for kids, family and friends.
4. I cry. A lot. I am just a crier to my core. Always have been. I cry during sweet commercials, when I am tired, hungry, happy, overwhelmed or sad. The tears just flow. If this redeems anything at all, just know that usually I am in private. Its rare that its in public (but I can’t say it doesn’t happen).
5. Now that this blog is so closely tied to my business (I would say 75% of my clients come from it) I second guess every single word, of every single post. Even now I am thinking to myself, will my clients think I am going to cry if I don’t like their sofa?? (see #4).
Cassie: Coco + Kelley / Christine: Court & Hudson / Caitlin: Sacramento Street / Roxy: My Cup of Te / Crystal: Blog / Meg: MIMI+MEG / Ashlina: The Decorista / Katie: Modern Eve / Erin: Apartment 34 / Erica: Design Blahg / Victoria: Vmac & Cheese / Christine: Miles to Style / Franki: Life in a Venti Cup / Sue: The Zhush / Erika: Radiant Republic / Gabrielle: Savvy Home / Monika: The Doctor’s Closet / Naomi: Design Manifest /Tobe: Because It’s Awesome / Becca: {extra}ordinary wonders / Lynzy: Sparkling Footsteps / Hitha: Hitha On The Go / Sarah: Note To Self / Liz: So Much To Smile About / Sarah: Blogstar / Alissa: The Goods Design / Jessie: Style & Pepper / Erika: Small Shop Studio / AV: Long Distance Loving / Maggie: Maggie Rose Blog / Nicole: The City Girl In Me / Priscilla: The Best Laid Plans / Jen: Concrete Jungle DC / Janelle: Food Fashion Fitness / Natalie: East Coast Chic
Here are the bloggers that participated in Ez’s Wave No. 1 of Things I’m Afraid To Tell You:
Design for Mankind | Little Brown Pen | Beautiful Hello | Curating Style | Sweet Fine Day | The Jealous Curator | Happy Days | Sage & Berries | Really Handmade | Peck Life | Satsuma Press | Rena Tom | For the Easily Distracted | The Hemborg Wife | Vitamini Handmade | Courtney Khail Stationery and Design | Meg in Progress | Dando Photography Blog | Widdershins22 | Alison Citron | Pink Moon Daily | Just Pretty Things | From China Village | Tea with Me | The Darling Ewe | Not Your Average Ordinary | The Electric Typewriter | Elleby Design | Parsimonia {Secondhand With Style} | Life as an Artistpreneur | Hello Cupcake | Dellie | The A & B Stories | Pretty Little Things | Feistyelle | Nib & Zed | Well and Cheaply | I Ripple. I Dance. | Whitfield Awesome Blog | Foxtrot Press | Dry As Toast | The List of Now | Apple Blue | For the Love of | Four Flights of Fancy | Miss Modish | Snapshots & Secrets | Dirty Laundry | Bubby & Bean | Penelope’s Press | Little Nostalgia | Vale Design | Pikaland | Fleurishing | Print Pretty | Vespa Tales | Hazel & Agnes | Amanda’s Musings | Mo’ Funk Designs | Ordinary Mommy | Camp 1899 | In Honor of Design | Liberty’s Yarn | Love, Life & Pictures | Stacey Winters | Owl in the Rain | Living Life Creatively | Emma Elizabeth Clease | I Live in Vacouver Now | British Cream Tea
I love this series! I can completely relate to everything above! Sometimes the blogging world can get overwhelming, but it is so much fun to participate!
This series is really challenging. I love your honesty and bravery. I also cry ALL the time, can be really selfish and get annoyed at the brag. I completely understand what you are referring to and think that it was gutsy to put it out there. xo
So proud of you!
alex, i cry all the time too! manu calls me a “tear factory” because i can cry at the drop of a hat. and i totally feel you on the humble brag. is there any way to be like, “look at my post” without seeming so though? we need to find out. great post!
So happy you participated! It’s hard to put yourself out there, but I think it feels good in the end.
I have to say I was shocked how many bloggers listed 1 – I truly thought I was the only one with that struggle. And very inspiring words about being a little selfish!
I fully give you permission to cry over a sofa
http://itsthelittlethingsblog.blogspot.com/
I think that was the biggest surprise to my husband, how much I really cry! Glad to know I am not the only one!
i really like this post. crying is okay (at least i hope so since i do it all the time). and, i’ve been feeling the exact same way about social media. it truly is a place for people to post their own accomplishments, which can be a good thing- but sometimes a little much. love this honest and real post. xox
Loved this post Alex! I really like what you said about being selfish. I was raised by a single mom to be very independent, which sometimes can be interpreted as selfish, and don’t apologize for it.
I love your honesty. And to be honest, I agree with every single thing you said. Especially #2. It’s exhausting trying to keep up with everything. Thanks for sharing!
I’m a big crier too and can be selfish quite often- its good to be honest!
Great post Alex and thanks for sharing. I get sick of looking for pretty pictures too and try hard to strike a balance between real life and pretties but it is hard. Love your blog and you! xoxo
loved reading your things i’m afraid to tell you. i think the one about being selfish is really great- and i don’t even think it’s being selfish! i think it’s just keeping yourself healthy and sane by making sure you take care of yourself in order to properly take care of others- which is a good thing! also love #2- sometimes when you see posts/pictures etc it makes you wonder if the base is really sharing creative ideas or simply bragging about the clothes/jewels/etc people have.
so glad you participated!
I enjoyed reading this post, so very interesting.
Nice to know that some things I’m afraid to let people know,
other people feel and act the same way too.
Oh I’m a crier too. I bet people don’t know it too.
Thanks for sharing this Alex. I feel you on the blog too and the social media explosion. I wonder if it’s going to create a whole generation of “me” type personalities.
I’m a crier too! Mostly in private or when I’m really frustrated. But crying in private is good for the soul.
I totally agree about social media being one giant humble brag, or in the opposite direction, a place for everyone to dump their own problems on to other people. No one is perfect and the fact that everyone always writes about the positives in their lives, leaving out some of the less glamourous aspects, sometimes makes people (at least me, at times) feel almost inadequate like i’m not living the right life for myself. Needless to say, i’ve really have enjoyed this series – its inspiring! Thanks!
I know… thinking about how often I comment on, post, and find “pretty” pictures, it’s pretty scary! I spend so much time doing that when it’s really a “fantasy” world. You’re really not doing anything productive, you’re just dreaming. But it’s special because those “pretty” pictures fill you with such joy and inspiration, that it’s worth it (to me at least). But there is a line, like you said. Thanks for taking the time to share this with us!
xoxo
Couldn’t agree more about the “humble brag”. I try to dip a toe in the whole social media world without plunging in head first. Hope you have a fab time at Blogfest!
Ah, the humble brag. It’s definitely gone past sharing your life to a very controlled take on your reality. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and keep up the good work.
Thanks for your honesty….its great to know more about you. I can cry easily too, yes think we are all addicted to the pretty pictures…but they make us happy and keep lots of people dreaming, aspiring and inspired so consider it a public service..lol. Enjoy blogfest!
Wonderful post Alex. Thank you for sharing and I agree with everything you wrote. Especially what you said about the humble brag.. it’s so true and it’s a perfect way of wording it.
Hello. First time here at your blog. So I don’t “know” you but all I can say is that anybody who does the “things I am afraid to tell you” post is cool in my book, because it means just putting yourself out there that little bit more!
I really love this series, but I have to admit, I’m too freaked out to participate at this moment. I can totally relate though to so many of these points. Thanks for sharing Alex!
i agree 1000% with points 1 and 2 and it’s nice to hear i’m not alone! a big reason i cut back on blogging was because it felt like a never-ending list of pretty pictures and things to buy. now i find myself consciously trying to steer toward blogs that are sharing more interesting personal stories and advice and projects to find inspiration, rather than just pretty! stuff! all. the. time. (for the record, i think you do a great job of striking a balance, i’m always excited to see the projects you’re working on!)
thanks for sharing this post
I’m so glad you did this! I really related to a lot that you wrote… I’m such a crier too!
I think that being on all platforms of social media can be so overwelming! I guess we have to be careful on how much we use it otherwise we’ll end up sharing, sharing, and sharing and not fully enjoying every single moment. Great post Alex, it is nice to know you a little bit more
Thanks for opening up like this – I agree it’s difficult to justify spending soooooo much time blogging but at the end of the day so much good comes from it. Love that you’re a crier too and hilarious comment about your clients being afraid now
hahaha
I just adore you Alex. Glad I got to read this after having met you. I’m right there with on #1,2,3,4 and oh 5. xoxoxo
It was so great to meet you! You are as genuine and stylish and bright as I had imagined. You know I totally agree with these points, and am trying to find the balance as well. It’s all about maintaining your brand but putting clients first.
If you have not any opportunity to share ur emotions with somebody – blogs are for u (like for me). So we all (bloggers) can help each other)
I’m glad to know I’m not the only crier out there. This post was great.
wish we’d had time to actually talk in NYC, Alex. i definitely agree with many of these…which is half of the reason for my break. it’s just so much to maintain, especially for people that don’t enjoy being “on” all the time. we ARE missing out by trying to document it all! i don’t know how you guys do it as a function of your business. you do a great job here.