Warning: Long post ahead 😉 Every so often I go through a mental battle and I suspect other people might be as well, so I hope this helps someone!
Yesterday someone made a comment to me about my blog and it kind of did a number on me. It wasn’t meant to be malicious from this person. They have known me for a while and what they said was coming from them knowing me when I was younger, and in that aspect, I get it. But here I am today and I’ve worked very hard on this blog, and the person that I am today heard that and it affected me. Initially it stung, and then I actually agreed with them, and now it’s motivating me.
I had just come out of a church service, that quite frankly rocked my world. He had some gold nuggets in his sermon and I was so pumped walking out of the service and then BOOM. Which is how it normally goes, doesn’t it?! That’s kind of life. You’re doing great and then WAM, a setback. Sometimes it’s something so small that does such a big number on us. This comment was very small and I wasn’t offended, but it really made me think and start to feel “silly” about blogging.
I have never had a clear direction on what I wanted to do with my life. I never had that definite direction, like most people do. I knew I wanted to be a wife and mother, and my only consistent interest was fashion. It is so true. I used to plaster pictures torn out of magazines on my walls and I would get so inspired from the fashion. I would dream of all the outfits I would create if we had the money. My shopping consisted of Goodwill clothes and my style became “vintage chic” I’ll call it haha. Mostly it was just weird to people. But I loved it and I loved making new outfits. It came time to graduate from high school and I still had no clue what to do, so I decided on the medical field and landed there for 10+ years. It was never my passion, it was a paycheck. I am so grateful that I did though because I worked with the best people and had so much fun with them! I never found my passion though. Throw a couple kids in the mix and I TOTALLY lost myself and any passion I had. I barely got dressed after my first baby. My outfits consisted of 15 yr old workout gear. Not the cute kind either lol.
I would always get fashion magazines and specifically loved People Style Watch because I loved seeing real people wear the clothes, not models. To me, that was more attainable. I mean, they were actors, but it was still more realistic than models. Then I started checking out bloggers on Instagram and would draw so much inspiration from them. I craved getting myself back and started wanting to dress cute again and feel like myself. Fast forward to after having my second baby, we were living in Dallas and I was craving that creative aspect again and that’s when I started my blog. I had so many outfit ideas but I had nowhere to wear them. My days consisted of going to Starbucks and Kroger. So, I decided to create a blog and would post all the outfits I came up with, even if I had nowhere to wear them. It’s strange, but once I started my blog, I felt like I came alive. I have always loved photography, always loved pretty images, and putting clothes in the mix was the icing on the cake. It honestly awakened something in me, and it felt amazing.
Fast forward a year and a half and I still have that feeling. I love doing this. It is SO much work, for not that great pay, but it’s a passion project and I feel like there’s huge potential. I have no idea what it will lead to, or what my blog will turn into, if anything. But God knows and I just have to trust Him.
Bottom line: We ALL have a unique calling. What I am called to do is totally different than what you are called to do. I may not understand your calling, but that’s ok because we all have something unique in us. That’s what makes this world a great place! I am called to be a wife, a mother, a friend etc. but that’s not it. I have so much more in me and I’m not going to be only those things. God knows the desires of our hearts and He takes pride in fulfilling those for us. He wants us to be doing what we love! The comment made me feel silly at first because fashion blogging is silly. I mean, it really is! However, It’s taking a step of faith and trusting that there is something bigger ahead. That’s truly what I believe. It has opened so many doors for me and I’ve made so many connections that I’m grateful for, and none of that would’ve happened if I didn’t start this.
Don’t let other people dampen your flame. Whatever you’re passionate about, it’s for a reason. We are destined to do great things and that requires courage! It requires thick skin and also the ability to hear something negative and turn it into a positive. I love that person that said this, and I am thankful for them saying it because it’s helped renew my spark. Fashion blogging is a unique thing and I know not everyone is into it. I completely get it. I respect people’s opinion about it being silly. The great thing is though, my unique calling is one piece to the big grand puzzle. I don’t have to feel silly about it. God put it in me and that’s reason enough to keep going.
I hope and pray that whatever God puts in you, you keep going with it as well. It won’t be an easy road. There’s always speed bumps, but what’s up ahead is worth sticking it out for. You have no idea who you help along your path, as well. The Bible says that there are people attached to our obedience and that has always been so powerful to me. While what I’m doing may seem silly on the surface, God sees the full picture and who along the way will get touched because of my obedience. I mean, that gives me chills!
Keep doing you, and be YOU boldly and confidently! It’s so worth it 🙂
Happy Monday, friends! Thanks for reading ♥
XO,
Mary
Currently residing in St. Louis.
Wife to JW + Mama to Sophia Rose and Jade Monroe. Denim + Sweets addict and lover of Jesus + All things pretty ♥
I totally agree with you girl.
http://sugarcoatedbears.blogspot.com/
Thanks for reading, Courtney! ❤️❤️
I love this girl! I can relate to it in SO many ways! I love blogging and so happy that I do it, but I then get so embarrassed talking about it in “real life” when people ask what I do, so I end up telling them I’m just a SAHM. But I’m more than that and even my husband says I good at it and need to own it. Ha
I know what you mean! No one gets what it is anyway so I end up having to explain it and feel so vain 🤣🤣
This is just what I needed to hear. I honestly do get those silly feelings about blogging. This is so new to me that what everyone else thinks still gets to me. I did start blogging simply for the fun of it and having a creative outlet for myself. Sometimes I get really caught up comparing myself and trying to keep up with the other bloggers which in the end gets me down and is a little discouraging. This post just reminded me to do it because I love it and I enjoy it. Thanks for the reminder! XOXO
You are killing it, Thuy, and I hope you stick with it! You’ve got great style and it shows through your posts that you really love it. I’m so glad we connected through this crazy blogging world! ❤️❤️
Love this!!!! I feel like i could have wrote this… you inspire me! Keep doing you!!
Likewise friend! I’m so excited for you and hope you stick with it! You’re a natural 🙌🏼 Plan that trip to Stl already! 🙂
You are beautiful & I love your blog. Thank you for sharing your heart. And your unique, impeccable style.
You are the sweetest! Thank you so much for reading and for your comment ☺️❤️
Mary thanks for sharing! Be so proud of how many people you reach with your style inspiration, your humor, and your caring heart! We totally get what you are saying and have not told anyone that we blog. But just like you it is the path that God is walking us down right now , and it has led us to some amazing people and opportunities. So, let us all keep walking down this path and enjoying the journey. XO – Katie & Lydia
I’m so thankful y’all started and that we connected!! I was so nervous about moving back to St. Louis because I thought I wouldn’t meet any new people and He connected me with some of the sweetest ladies and I’m so grateful! You guys rock at your blog and I KNOW big things are ahead for OhDarlingBlog! ❤️
Mary , dad and I think that your blog today is awesome, and we love you and are proud that you stepped out n faith to do what you are passionate about !
Thank you, Mom and Dad 🙂 ❤️
I LOVE your blog & posts and look forward to them. I feel like I’m living vicariously through you because I’m boring! I would love to blog, but it would be a snooze fest with like 2 followers…here’s another picture of my dog…look at my collection of old sweatpants. Boring.
You do you. You do it well. I enjoy it. Don’t listen to the negative Nancy’s. And, I’m dying to know, because I’m nosey AF, what that person said to ruffle your feathers. 😘🤗
Omg you’re hilarious 🤣🤣 I would totally follow that blog haha! Thanks so much for this and for following 🤗 Next time you’re in town let’s all get together and I’ll spill the beans for ya 😉
Omg I can totally relate. There will always be people who don’t get it but I agree to keep doing you. You have done amazing things and to be able to do something that is a passion makes all the hard work worthwhile. God has big things in store for you, patience is the hardest part. Xo
Agreed, Sarah!! Patience is definitely the hardest but so worth it. Thanks for reading, Friend! Hope to see you again soon!
I love this post Mary!! I can totally relate and I’ve been on the receiving end of similar comments from people who knew me pre-blog. So I know it stings but i love your positive spin on this! You always inspire me and keep me going too! Love having you as a friend in this! Keep doing you and sharing your amazing style! xo Bryn
You always inspire ME! Love ya lots, friend ❤️
The wealth of wisdom that is stored inside you is so vast…reading this as a total outsider who doesn’t know you – really – was like drinking in a chapter of Proverbs. You said so much here. I’m going to read it again…and probably again, and again. Any time someone removes the “just” from their description of what they love or what they do, it takes the effectivity to a whole notha level. I am so excited to be able to watch this journey…not quitting is one of the most powerful things in the world. 💚💚💚
Ah Whitney 😭 thank you so much for this. I feel like we need to be real life friends. Every little bit of interaction I have with you is A+ 💥Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment ❤️❤️
I really appreciated this! You have given me so much hope to staying focused on my path that God has for me im not quite sure what I’m supposed to be doing. I do know the season I’m in right now I’m embracing being a wife and mother and be ready when God opens a different door for me to start embracing. Thank you for being you!!
I’m so glad it resonated with you!! You will figure it out and when you do, you’ll rock it just like you’re rocking that Mom life and wife life 🙌🏼🙌🏼 Thanks so much for reading, Jamie ❤️❤️