2014... Did You Sneak Up on Me?

I don't know about you, but for me, 2013 went by very quickly. Not only that, but my life changed a lot, yet again, in 2013. I moved out of the house I lived in for 3 years, I got sued, I got 2 new jobs (as a promotional model and as a teacher at a daycare), I had a lot of health problems, and I made a lot of progress on 2 of my books and some music too. 

But unfortunately, with all these happenings and changes and medical issues, I haven't been able to devote as much time to my online writing work. It makes me sad. 

My online work is still making me a little money, so that obviously is not why I am sad. I'm sad because there is a huge community of writers, readers, fans, and friends who I share my work with and whose work I read and enjoy. I'm sad because I LOVE to write, and I feel like I have very little time to do so, so I have to be incredibly selective. And I'm sad because I truly thought that this would be the year that I would finally be making a full time living off of my online writing work. Alas... life does not always work the way we want it to though...

Had I had the time to devote to my online work in 2013, I think perhaps 2014 WOULD have been my great year as an online writer making money doing something I love, maybe even full time. But unfortunately, with having to pay for a new apartment, pay off my landlord, pay for medical services, and deal with the debt that comes with being sued (thanks credit cards...) I had to consistently work in the "real world" and not devote time to writing. I didn't even do a Hippie/Bohemian Gift Guide for the holidays! That's insane!

But even as I'm writing this, I feel I am being too negative...

Alright, so I had some financial and medical problems...

Okay, I had to work a lot and not write much...

And yeah, I didn't get as much accomplished as I would have liked...

But that DOES NOT MEAN THAT 2014 IS A BUST! It just started, after all. :)

So I guess what I'm saying is... even though 2013 flew by and I now have to spend too much time in the "real world," 2014 could still totally be my year to shine and thrive online! (And maybe even make enough money to be full time. You know, if I wanted to.)

Because I can work hard. I can make changes. I can shake things up and make things happen and create magic! I can dream and strive and live and thrive - and I can succeed.

Because I'm already kinda famous. ;)

See?

A quote of mine got a rather nice treatment from meetville.com:

And I DO still want that you know... ;)

One more highlight from 2013 before I sign off:

 I got to be a part of a worldwide art project when I attended Artprize 2013 in Grand Rapids, MI.  So that's pretty awesome too. :)

Here I am (top left) holding up what "Family" means to me:

Visit www.amwayprojectstory.com to learn more about this artwork.

And have a GREAT 2014 my friends!

Peace and Love,

Meagan

My Hippie, Bohemian, Free-Spirit Life in 2013... a modern "La Boheme," "Rent," "American-poverty" (anti-) sob story about WRITING...

I don't do as much writing as I should. I say this, not because I'm not bringing in enough money writing (which I'm not) but more because I feel happier when I express myself and put it out there for the world to consume through their eyes, and I haven't been doing that as much lately!

But part of the reason I don't do as much writing as I should is because I live a very busy, sometimes chaotic existence between working odd jobs, nannying, singing, acting, modeling, doing promotional work, making art and arts and crafts, public speaking, and things going wrong left and right. I do seem to get kicked when I am down about 99% of the time, and I have to work harder and longer hours at more jobs to make less money than I would at one "GOOD" or "NORMAL" job. Ugghh...

Some say I bring it on myself, and that is slightly true.  I am a hippie, bohemian, free-spirit after all; I am a freelancer, an artist, a creative-type. I am not a 9-5, cubicle sitting, paper-pushing, follow someone else's orders all the time kind of person. Never have been, (pretty sure I) never will be. Not that I can't work for/with others. I can. I am just a person who needs a lot of flexibility, creative freedom, and honestly, the ability to do more than one thing. I have way too many ideas swirling around in my head to be tied down to one profession.

I am a hard worker (which seems to surprise some people who believe that all hippies are dirty and lazy) and I DO push myself to do a lot in a day. It's just that... where I am now, even what I AM doing isn't enough. It's not enough to feel satisfied, it is not enough to pay the bills... it's just not enough.

I look back at when I was a teacher and I cannot believe how different things are now. I was bringing in $1800 every two weeks at my first teaching job. Plus I had benefits, insurance, investments... My medical issues could be managed, if my car broke down, I could fix it, I never had a problem paying RENT... NOW, I am lucky to bring in $475-$575 a MONTH!! I'm not less of a hard worker, I am not less smart than I was (if anything I am wiser) and I always do quality work. But because I am a freelance creative spirit - a writer, actress, musician, model, artist, odd job Queen - I struggle. Because I am a hippie, bohemian, free-spirit below the poverty line - I struggle. Because I am a girl who grew up below the poverty line, "bettered herself" by going to college, and racked up over $30,000 in debt - I struggle. Because I am young and have EDS-hypermobility, CFS, Fibro., cysts, anxiety, bipolar, chronic UTIs, allergies, and a gluten-intolerance but "look fine" and have no insurance - I struggle.

I struggle! And when I struggle, I often end up making myself struggle more. I become my own worst enemy. I get bogged down by all the bad, and I work HARDER, not SMARTER... burning myself up from all ends. I take too much on, I extend the hours that I keep, I do way more reading and research than actual writing and I make list upon list of things to do, most of which I never even get to. I waste a lot of time and energy. But then, somehow, I BURST THROUGH!!! Like a beacon of light on the foggiest night, I will emerge victorious!!! And for that brief moment - whether it is actually writing something and getting it out there, paying a bill, getting a new job, getting booked for a movie, etc. - I feel as though the possibilities are endless; like I can do anything.

And the truth is, WE CAN do just about anything. We humans are AMAZING creatures. We just cannot be our own worst enemies. We have to live with a sense of purpose and drive and work hard to achieve our dreams. We have to believe that we can make it through anything. I mean, really... what's the other option? Give up, lay down, and die? No thanks.

I push and I fight. I do. Hence why I am writing this now. I remind myself what all this means to me; the blog, the people I've met, the people I've helped, the writing, the freedom, the creativity, the art, the rewarding hard work, the joy... and so when I am not writing as much as I should (as I have been doing...) I come here, back to the beginning, to the MAIN BLOG, my roots... and I remind myself. And I write, and the words fly from my fingers as they move across the keys and I reboot, revitalize, and am reborn yet again into my ever crazy hippie, bohemian, free-spirit world!

And so it won't matter that I don't make what I made as a teacher, or that my rent is 2 months behind, or that I don't eat every day...

WHY?

Because money doesn't fuel my life, a secure job doesn't do it for me either, and I don't care if I eat everyday or get regular sleep. I am an ARTIST! A creative soul! A HIPPIE, BOHEMIAN, FREE-SPIRIT who just needs to be revitalized from time to time and reminded that THIS is what matters - the creativity, the love, the peace, the helping of others, the release, the feeling of really knowing who you are...

So hopefully this means I will be writing more again. I'm definitely ready for another rebirth. ;)

Peace and Love,
Meagan

Updates on this Crazy Bohemian Life of Mine

It's been awhile since I've posted here on the main blog! The one that started it all! haha I've just been so busy elsewhere. For example, check out what I've been doing in the world on online writing and making money online:

How I Make Money Online: A Bohemian's Journey

PonchoMeg's Bubblews Profile

And just how active I've been on Twitter:

@ponchomeg on Twitter

Not to mention all I've been up to on Facebook:

PonchoMeg: The Modern Bohemian on Facebook

And that's just online. In the "real world" I've been watching (practically raising) my friends' kids, working at Qdoba as a line server, trying to make music, and finish my 2nd poetry book, my sci-fi novel, and my musical version of "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen.  Not to mention that I TRY to see people from time to time.

But here I am, here to give at least a little update.

So... here are some things I have been obsessed with lately...

-My nephew (as always)

-Cry Baby and Blazing Saddles

-Writing on Bubblews

-The idea of ditching cable for a Roku

-Making money to get out of this hole I'm in

-Old episodes of "The Cosby Show," "M*A*S*H" (as always), "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys," and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"

-Season 8 of Weeds (Hooray for Netflix!!)

-Singing along to Adam Lambert in my car at the top of my lungs

-"Bad Boy" by The Jive Bombers

-American marches

-Peace and Love (as always)

Some crazy things that have happened:

-Had our water shut off for a few days (ick)

-Furnace broke. So... we were without heat for 3 days and nights. I am very grateful for blankets. And very happy that I am a bit of a blanket hoarder. 

-My brakes went out on my car WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT! All was well though... I avoided an accident and my daddy fixed it all for me. I'm one lucky gal!

-Our basement flooded. A lot. Ruined a bunch of stuff. But what can you do but move on?

Awesome stuff:

My first book of poetry is now available as a Kindle ebook! Yay!

The Beauty of the Bohemian Life (The Poetry of PonchoMeg: The Modern Bohemian)-Kindle Edition

Finally...

I am once again raising money for The March of Dimes March for Babies.

Every little bit helps, so if you can, PLEASE donate to this amazing cause that helps BABIES! 

PonchoMeg's March for Babies Profile

Peace and Love,

Meagan