Happy September!! (Crazy, right?!) I'm heading to Bhakti Fest this week, but in the tradition of Mercury Retrograde, I wanted to tell you a story! ;)
Back in 2009, I was living in Atlanta, GA. I had a Weekly Raw Food Delivery Service, Vibrance, + was asked to be featured as a Cover Food story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta's major newspaper.
Which happened through a friend of a friend, as did most of the clients + catering gigs I came upon.
And the same thing, when I was invited to participate in EvolverFest Atlanta. Someone contacted me because I was, what some friends lovingly called me, "Local-Famous." Aka. I had been around the Holistic Community in Atlanta, enough years, that I could walk into Sevananda (the food co-op) + get lots of hugs. ;)
For me, this was right around the time I finally gave in + joined Social Media for the first time:: Facebook.
I could never really understand my friends who spent tons of time on MySpace "making new friends."
"I have enough trouble keeping up with the friends I have," I would say, as I tried to keep track of everyone's birthday + rotate our one-hour heart-to-heart catch-ups on my SARK wall calendar. ;) (hee hee)
Cut to now, where many of us are in front of a computer screen, or on our phones, or tablets, way more than we've ever known.
In fact, I'm writing this newsletter right now from one of my favorite coffee shops in Long Beach, drinking a local kombucha. ;) 12 out of 12 customers in the room are on a laptop or on their phone.
Something funny happened back at EvolverFest '09. The folks who invited me showed up the day of the festival, + I had never met any of them before! I asked, "Do you live in Atlanta?" They all said "Yes!" They worked for Evolver, an online platform, + had major roles in the company. They were, what you could call, "Online Famous." And it was foreign to me!
Since then, I've come to join in the online world. I've taken B-School with Marie Forleo, + am part of two online classes right now, one on Racial Healing + one called The Art of Money. My website is a work in progress, + I am interested in making friends + meeting clients online.
But too much online time, + I miss being "Local-Famous." I have to remember + push myself to do local events, groups, + activities.
That's one of the reasons I love being at Ecstatic Dance LA, + making food at Retreats. In fact, food is not something you can make on a computer. ;) Yes you can look up recipes, but when it comes time to cook/ prepare food, you have to touch the earth or something that came from the earth. And hopefully, you get to share or dine with other people, too!
The more I network into the "Online Famous" Community, the more respect I have for "Local Famous" People.
>>If you are "Online Famous," consider holding an event to teach your wisdom in the actual community where you live. It could be quite amazing, + empowering!
To me, there is nothing better than sharing physical space with those I love.
But, there is also a place for wanting "Online Fame."
Are you ready to spread your message to a bigger audience? Then maybe it's time to take the caravan, online. It can be scary, but also amazing, to "Go Bigger."
It also doesn't make you any better than the "Local Famous" person doing activist work in their community every day, who may never be on Oprah (or isn't trying to be, anyway) ;) .
If you are "Online Famous," how do you keep balance in your life? What do you do to stay grounded + connected in a world full of devices? Do you make friend-dates? Do you get your hands in the dirt in a community garden, or in your backyard? How do you stay embodied? Yoga/ Dance/ Hiking/ Outdoor Adventures?
If you are "Local Famous," take a moment to celebrate yourself! The world needs you + you are SOOO much more important than you know! I honor you! <3
Connection is so important, for the #EcovillageWorld :: my vision for a World where everyone is living their dreams, with respect for difference, one another + the earth!
Let's remember to be humble, + real. Let's remember when someone asks how we are, to tell the truth, or to give a long answer. Let's breathe + take a moment to listen to a long answer from someone you just met, or someone you love.
Breathing in Self-Love/ Breathing out Love for Others, in this beautiful Mercury Retrograde! (No, it doesn't have to be bad! ;) Go do something you've been wanting to do for awhile! ;))
Love to You All!
xoxoxo
Debra.
P.S.
>>Do you need support in living your most Authentic Life? Or in balancing Online + Local Fame??
I recently lowered the prices on my Life Coaching page on my website! Also there's a new Holistic Health Coaching page up! (Yes, I've been professionally trained in both + empowering amazing clients for the past 5 years!)
>>If you are interested, don't be shy!
>>Email wakingdreamcafe@gmail.com, or comment below, + let's do a FREE 15-minute consultation over the phone!