Level Up Challenge: Eclectic Chic’s Mission

Challenge Accepted

Happy Sunday Eclectic Chic family! So this blog post is going to be a bit different than most that I’ve written in the past. Eclectic Chic is a member of the Style Collective group, which is a blogging community for fashion and lifestyle bloggers. The Style Collective CEO, Annie Spano, proposed a challenge for all of the SC sisters…the SC Visibility Challenge! I cannot emphasize how excited I am for this challenge. The SC Visibility Challenge reviews topics like online branding, values, and crafting the perfect mission statement. Challenge accepted! I have gone to great depths to describe the Who, What, Where, When and How of Eclectic Chic®, LLC….but not the why. That’s what I’m sharing with you now. What brought me to begin blogging and sharing my journey and why Eclectic Chic was started.

About 4 years ago, I applied to a private practice group in my hometown of Birmingham, Michigan. I had wanted to work for this practice ever since finishing grad school. I emailed my CV to the owner of the practice, but never heard back from her. No problem. That didn’t deter me. I just kept working in other settings and locations and gaining more experience. Almost 3 years later, I applied again. I was pleasantly surprised and shocked to hear back from her. Her email stated that she was impressed by my background, credentials and experience. She extended an invitation to meet in person and talked about how she would like to have me join her practice. As I continued to read her email, however, my excitement quickly vanished and I felt my stomach drop.

The owner told me that she noticed that I had a lot of “hobbies” and that she would only consider me contingent upon the agreement that I give up blogging, modeling, traveling, and all of my other pursuits that did not relate to therapy or the field of psychology. I felt a sea of emotions overwhelm me. Embarrassment, anger, disappointment. I felt so completely offended at her audacity to make such a request. Who does she think she is? Then the thoughts just kept pouring in from there. How could someone be so controlling? How could someone be so small-minded? Is she questioning my ability to balance more than one thing at a time? How dare she?…and on and on. You get the picture.

Good Riddance….Onward and Upward

Anyways, getting back to the plot of my story. I think you know what happened next. Needless to say that I declined her offer. “Thanks, but no thanks, sister! You may be able to only focus your attention on one thing at a time, but that is not the life that I want to live”. Of course that is not the response I sent to her. I would like to think that once I composed myself, I was able to decline her “oh-so-enticing” offer in a respectful and eloquent manner…but what now? What should I do now? Perhaps begin my own private practice? The sky is the limit. Onward and upward!

Where Is Your Place In Life?

So this leads me to my why. When I was a little girl, my mom called me into her room to talk to me. She asked me, “Lia, where is your place in life?” This was the most confusing question my mom has ever asked me. I don’t know. Is this a trick question? “I’m not sure” I replied. “Well, you go into your room and think about it for awhile, and come back once you’ve thought about it”. When I came back into my mom’s room, she asked again, “Where is your place in life? As a Black female, people will spend their entire life trying to put you in your place, so you need to know where it is”. My mom paused, and then said in a serious tone, “your place is anywhere you damn well please, now go and live your life”. Sounds good to me. That is exactly what I’ve done. Lived my life how I please, doing what I love.

Choosing My Own Path

In 2018, I feel so honored to be a Black female who has so many opportunities at her fingertips and is able to live my life doing what I enjoy. As a child and teenager growing up, I loved immersing myself in every club, sport and activity that my schedule would allow me to. Violinist in orchestra; Powder Puff football defense player; Track and Field sprinter; newspaper editor; National Honor Society (NHS); dancer on the Pom Team; Forensics Team Poetry division….you name it, I did it. I enjoyed my school years and the people I met and activities I tried, all while staying on the honor roll.

Only One Way?

That trend continued on into adulthood. At the young age of 27 years old, not only did I complete my undergraduate and graduate degree, but I also acquired the 3,000 hours, 100 supervision hours, and passed the national exam required to become a licensed and national board certified counselor in the mental health field. I was the first individual in my cohort to become licensed and board certified…and oh yes, I did this while blogging, modeling, traveling the world and living my life like it’s platinum.

Live Your Life Like It’s Platinum

A couple of years ago, one of my dear co-workers once told me, “Lia, you don’t live your life like it’s golden. You live your life like it’s platinum”. This statement has always stuck with me. This is the biggest compliment anyone could give me. My co-workers, friends and family will often ask, “When do you sleep? How can you do everything that you do?”. My biggest fear is looking back on my life and having regret about chances that I did not take. I hope that I never have that feeling. Ever.

Eclectic Chic®, LLC, is a Limited Liability Company and blog that focuses on fashion, travel, therapy, beauty, interiors, and lifestyle. Eclectic Chic presents posts on a diverse collection of topics to encourage people to live a life outside of the box. To live a multi-faceted, colorful life. To live a life where you pursue an eclectic assortment of dreams and goals. To confirm that “no, you do not have to give up your modeling, blogging or the travel bug in order to be an effective therapist”. It is 2018. There are 365 days in a year; 24 hours in a day; and when you put your heart into your hustle, you will have the courage to pursue all of your dreams.

Eclectic Chic’s Mission Statement

Eclectic Chic’s mission is to inspire and encourage individuals with eclectic interests and passions by signifying that it is possible to live an enriched and balanced life while maintaining a diverse range of pursuits. This is why I do what I do. This is why I share my story under the themed “Makeup and Beauty Mondays”, “Travel Tuesdays”, “Whatever You Would Like To Know Wednesdays”, “Therapy Thursdays”, “Fashion Fridays”, and “Self-Care Saturdays”. What are your eclectic passions and endeavors? I would love to hear them in the comments below so I can cheer you on!

Level Up

As I write this blog post, I am sitting on an airplane flying back home to Michigan from an almost week long workcation in Anaheim, California with the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). Yes, I did go to Mickey’s Halloween Party dressed up as Cruella De Vil (cue evil laugh). I also fit in some time to take care of insurance provider enrollment paperwork for my private practice, Dayspring Vision Counseling, PLLC; take a water aerobics class (shout out to Miss Chris for the awesome exercise routines); and spend some quality time out dancing with friends in downtown Fullerton. I had a fantastic time!

This is what Eclectic Chic is all about. So, I’m going to leave all of you with these words. Eclectic Chic lovelies, your place in life is anywhere you damn well please. Now go live your life, and live it like it’s platinum.