I’ve only been blogging for a few months now and there is so much about it I love, but I have made some realizations as well. Read my full post to see what I mean –>

What I’ve Loved:

1. I have loved connecting and meeting new people in person and via social media. Connecting with more people is why I started my blog in the first place.
2. I have loved creating an even longer travel bucket list from following more and more incredible fellow travel bloggers.
3. I have loved getting personal messages from new followers, friends and family when they truly enjoy something I post about (shout out if this is you!)

All of these things have been amazing and more than I could have expected, but as mentioned – I have also realized how now more than ever in this big world of social media it can be more difficult to Be Your True Self.

I have always taken so much pride in being my true authentic self and never apologizing for being exactly who I am. Raise your hand if you know this to be true about me…WOW look at all those hands?! Lol, but really it’s true y’all.

Tonight as I was thinking about what I wanted to write/post about, I took a creative break to do some online shopping – totally normal am I right? I came across this bag for a really awesome price – only $69! (here)

It is a version of the Cult Gaia Ark Bag which retails for $150-$170 depending on the size you purchase (here)

If you’re on Instagram and follow any bloggers, there is no way you haven’t seen this bag. If you hop on your feed right now I feel pretty confident you would scroll through and see a photo of someone carrying this bag.

Anywayyyyyyy, I clicked on the bag to add it to my cart and then I stopped myself. I thought, do I really like this bag? Am I buying it because I really like it and want to have it for myself, or am I buying it so I can take pictures of myself with it for social media? Am I buying it because as a blogger “I should have this bag”?

Well, as of now I’m not sure if I want it. Maybe I will end up buying it, maybe I won’t. But I can tell you this – if I do buy it, it will be because I really want it.

It sounds silly and I know this is like the whole part of building a strong brand and having phenomenal marketing (way to go Cult Gaia), but it also made me take a moment to remember how important it is for me to stay true to myself.

So, this is me – the real me. 

Walking on the beach, candid, no filters, no cool bag – just my shoes (from KOHL’s lol)

I hope y’all liked this post. I know it was a little different, but it was on my mind and heart. I know being your true self isn’t easy for everyone. If it was easy, there wouldn’t be so many encouraging quotes about it lol. So below I will leave you with some quotes, starting with my all time favorite one. This first quote is in my work bio (here)

“Always be your authentic self and you have no competition” – Scott Stratten

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“This above all: to thine own self be true” – W. Shakespeare

“Am I now trying to win the approval of man or God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” Galatians 1:10 (Ironically this was the bible verse on my letter man jacket in high school)