Category: R&R

R&R

The Love We Deserve

by AlexaLeave a Comment on The Love We Deserve

Last week, my boyfriend shared someone’s tweet on his Instagram story that asked people to stop telling others that they have to love themselves in order to be worthy of love in return. We all know the saying that if you do not love yourself, how can you love someone else? It has gained increasing criticism as people realize there is a negative element that can be tied to this saying. It can suggest that you have to unpack all of your baggage and trauma before anyone can love you. But it’s scenarios like this that always remind me that studying communication will always be relevant and interesting. Intent, interpretation, and impact can completely obscure a message. In my experience, this saying has impacted me the opposite way and I will explain why.

Recently, I did a video as part of my Lex Behind the Lens series on my YouTube channel about knowing your worth. It surprisingly gained a lot of traction compared to the performance of my previous videos, but it was the first thing I thought of when I was reading this on his story. Another recent occurrence was that I ended a friendship after discovering this person was inherently not someone I wanted to continue befriending. To protect this post from derailing from the point, I will not express further why that friendship ended (if you know, you know), but I would not have been able to do that or feel confident enough to create a video about knowing my worth had I not been on a self-love journey for the last three years.

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R&R

Feeling SAD

by Alexa3 Comments on Feeling SAD

Disclaimer: I am not a psychiatrist. You should always seek professional help before self-/misdiagnosing.

Today is Daylight Saving (excluding Hawaii and most of Arizona) which is usually the first sign of reality that we are entering the dark and cold months of the year. Though many states have already been experiencing winter-like weather, the addition of early sunsets makes the transition that much more ‘real.’ Even here in Texas, we have spent this past week mostly in the 40s with rain. I have to say, personally, this is my favorite time of the year and I look forward to that extra hour of sleep this day allots. However, I know that many people dread this time of year and even experience seasonal affective disorder, or SAD–aptly named.

According to Psychology Today, “Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of recurrent major depressive disorder in which episodes of depression occur during the same season each year. This condition is sometimes called the “winter blues,” because the most common seasonal pattern is for depressive episodes to appear in the fall or winter and remit in the spring.” On the surface, it appears SAD can affect most people as we receive less daylight in the fall and winter and we all know Vitamin D plays a major role with our energy levels. Even during daylight hours, there are a lot more days of gray skies and unpleasant weather. Despite SAD affecting 10 million Americans, more commonly in women, “to be diagnosed with SAD, an individual must meet criteria for major depression coinciding with specific seasons for at least two years.” Still, many people can have the symptoms or have a mild version of SAD.

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Lex Files, R&R

Thank You!

by Alexa4 Comments on Thank You!

Hi, everyone!! If you are following my Instagram or the official Lex in the City Facebook page, you will have seen that I reached 100 follows on my blog on Monday!! It’s not ground-breaking per se, but that’s not going to stop me from celebrating this win. 🙂

Last week, I wrote a post about how I have felt stuck creatively and more specifically on the blog. It has of course prompted me to confront the ever-looming question of “Should I keep doing this,” or “Am I wasting my time? Who even reads blogs anymore?” But seeing that there are at least 100 of you with WordPress accounts that officially follow me, and at least a couple more that take the time to visit my page to read my new posts, these are reminders that I DO have an audience and I SHOULD keep posting.

Since getting back on a regular posting schedule in July of one to two posts per week, I have gained roughly 30 followers, so that shows me consistency definitely makes a difference. I would love to maintain the biweekly (twice per week) posts which is why I am so eager to claw my way out of this creative rut. My insights also show that the majority of my readers come from Facebook and Internet searches. Since recently learning a little more about SEO, I have definitely been trying to optimize my posts, and now I have my sights set on reaching even more people. I figure, “Why limit myself?”

I really just want to reiterate that you all have no idea how much it means to me when I receive messages or comments complimenting my writing. When I say, “thank you,” I mean it with every fiber of my being. Though I have been doing this for nearly six years, it really doesn’t feel like it has been that long. I still feel strange accepting these compliments as though I don’t consider myself a real writer. As if I am a fraud. But if I learned anything from my own video about overcoming impostor syndrome, I am a writer. Accolades, degree, portfolio or not, I have had a pen to paper (or cursor to document) since I was eight years old and I don’t intend on stopping. So, this one is for all of you.
Thank you, thank you, and if I haven’t said it enough, thank you! ♥️
xx, AE

R&R

Hitting a Wall

by Alexa6 Comments on Hitting a Wall
Hitting a Wall

Serious question for my readers: what do you all do when you hit a wall? More specifically, a wall with creativity.

I feel I have hit a bit of a plateau on the writing front. I can’t tell if it’s because I have genuinely run out of things to write about or if there’s a voice telling me not to waste time because people don’t read blogs anymore. My gut reaction is that I am just struggling to find compelling things to write about during this time. Although, it certainly doesn’t help that blogging isn’t that *hot* anymore. It is obviously a stagnant time, but even the content I am filming on my YouTube channel–ideas which seem to be continuously flowing–don’t seem to translate here. While before I was struggling with finding travel-related content, I am now at a stand-still with all content! I guess considering I have had this blog for over five and a half years, this lull is a natural state. So I turn to you: as readers of my blog, what do you want to read?

This isn’t the first time I have prompted this question to my audience, but I am asking for a genuine response. As much as I write for my own enjoyment, the momentum comes from what you enjoy as well. Please, please let me know what you would like me to write about! It doesn’t have to be travel-related necessarily, just topics that you think are relevant and are reflective of the person you have come to know on this site for the last five and a half years. If you don’t have specific topic suggestions, I’m open to suggestions on how to rekindle creativity when you feel stuck. You can also DM me on my Instagram or my Facebook page. I look forward to reading your comments!
xx, AE