Tap, Tap, is this on? 🎤

I’d like to take a moment to welcome myself back to this space. It’s been a hot minute. I have missed this little corner of the internet that I carved out for myself years ago. 17 to be exact. Wow, that feels completely foreign to say. This space started as a haven or a sanctuary, if you will, when our daughter was born. It’s brought joy, laughter, and community, but it has also left some scar tissue.

Do you remember the old days of What I Wore Wednesdays and Friday Coffee Dates?

Writing for me has always been therapeutic. A way for me to connect with people out there all over the world. To connect with all of you. All of us, doing our best to walk through life on this side of heaven. Someone once said to be, “build bigger tables, not taller fences” and it’s always stuck with me. How do we build big tables in this online world?

Somewhere along the line I found myself fatigued, burnt out. And this place that used to feel like home, began to feel too much. Honestly, I think it started in 2014 when I wrote a blog post that unintentionally went viral. I’d love to say it was a positive experience, but honestly, it left a huge mark on my heart. One I think I’ve been running from ever since.

I felt as though it tried to steal my voice. To make me second guess everything I did or said. It made me fear saying or doing the wrong thing.

Have you ever been there?

I’ve been creating content online since 2007. Joined Instagram in 2010, three days after it launched. Create content, post content, promote content. Wash, rinse, repeat. That’s how it all felt. When the world shut down in 2020 my life came to a startling, but beautiful halt. In the months that followed, I was smacked with the realization that my entire identity was this online space. I was living for everyone else, yet somewhere along the way I had lost myself.

How was COVID for you? Maybe it brought up some of those same feelings…

I’m not even sure if it happened all at once or a little at a time. Algorithms began changing and at the same time the Lord began working in my heart. I was burnt out. It was time to make some changes.

So I did the work. Little by little. I devoured my Bible. Wrote in my journal constantly. I began to find new rhythms with the Lord that I had lost somewhere along the way. Or maybe, if I’m being honest, maybe I never really had them in place to begin with.

I think I hit a point where I didn’t know how to show up in this space. Looking back, I realize how hard it is to show up anywhere when you’ve lost sight of who you are?

So I stopped writing here.

I let the Lord work on my heart. Chose to do the work to point myself back to Him. It was hard and painful, but so worth it. Out of the beautiful work the Lord did came my first book, or I should say Bible study workbook.

(Be)Known was written for the woman looking to find herself again. Somewhere along the way she lost sight of who God created her to be. The study re-ignites a love for Jesus, and an understanding of who He created you to be. It teaches you how you can live out the calling on your life, using the gifts He’s given you. Not just in your current season but in every season of your life.

And even though I rediscovered my identity in Jesus, I still didn’t know how to show up in this space. I think I’m still working on pinpointing why.

Then suddenly this week, I began to feel a deep yearning to be reconnected to this space again. I missed you all. I missed this part of who I am. Excitedly, I went to log in yesterday and something in my backend broke! It wouldn’t let me log in. I could have taken it as a sign that maybe I wasn’t meant to come back. But it only made the desire to write stronger. With the help of my amazing hosting company, I managed to restore an old backup and bring this baby back to life.

Bare with me

I’m dusting off my keyboard

I’m deciding to show up again in this little corner of the internet that I’ve loved so much for so long

I really hope you’ll stick with me

I have so much to share with you about what’s been going on.

And I want to hear from you too. So, old friends and new friends, if you happen to stumble upon this post, welcome back. I’m so glad you’re here. I can’t wait to get re-acquainted.

I’m excited for this new journey we’re about to embark on together. You and Me!

If you have a minute to connect, I’d love to know what are you most grateful for this week?

Till Next time!

xo, Alissa