When the glass slipper fits...

When social media no longer felt safe, I've finally found a platform I can thrive on

Welcome to what feels like home

I wrote my first blog post in 2015 and have been writing ever since. Partnering with, and writing for, brands and agencies around the world, and even winning a blogging award a couple of years later. But in 2021, right when I was really making a name for myself, the internet and social media no longer felt like a safe space for me to create and share in the real and authentic way I’m known for.

It’s the reason why I just seemed to fade away and disappear and have struggled so many times to make a come back. I’ve had so much to say and so much I’ve wanted to share, but just haven’t felt safe enough to do so (until now…) By the time Summer 2022 came around, I crumbled. I fell to pieces and couldn’t even speak about the real reason why, outside a very small circle of close friends and some family members who knew what was really going on.

As a result of trying to act normal, like nothing was happening and nothing was wrong, all that stress and energy had to go somewhere. And because I literally was not able to talk about it, to speak my truth, and therefore live authentically. I had to play pretend, instead of honouring what I was living through and how I was feeling. So I internalised it all, and ultimately my body and my health paid the price.

Speaking my truth

I remember reading Fearne Cotton’s book, Speak Your Truth - which is currently 50% off and less than a fiver on Amazon if you want to read it. At the point where Fearne encourages the reader to speak their truth, I screamed out loud, “I don’t wanna be on social media anymore!” as unexpected tears filled my eyes. I couldn’t take the relentless noise of trending music, memes and what felt like mindless, meaningless content any longer.

Were you ever made to do a sport or hobby as a child, that you really didn’t enjoy? You hated every second of it, everything about it, but your parents made you go anyway. Pointing out your friends, peers or family who went, and they enjoyed it, so why couldn’t you? That’s how social media has felt for me for the past few years.

Writing is something I truly love, enjoy and have always been good at. And despite everything, it’s the one thing I’ve stayed consistent with. Writing articles on my website for wavy and curly hair, or anyone who wants to take a holistic approach to their healthy hair journey.

But I've been sharing the only part of me that felt safe to share. The reason I grew such an incredible community and built a six figure business that I’m still so incredibly proud of and passionate about. But that was all, nothing more, just “business.” No other parts of me, who I am, what else I’m passionate about or how I live my life.

When the glass slipper fits

But there was so much more that I wanted to say, that I wanted to create and share. I’m not always great at jumping on new tech, apps or trends. I don’t want to create viral content or live by the ever-changing rules of an algorithm I have no control over. I want to connect with people, write about and share real life stuff. And do it in a way that feels authentic and meaningful, with people that want and appreciate that kind of stuff too.

Substack feels like the glass slipper of social media to me. When all the other ones just haven’t been the right fit. It feels like a platform that was made for me, to do what I love, in a way that feels genuine and authentic - and most of all, safe. You know when you’re looking at houses or apartments, and you can’t explain why… but you just know you’ve found the right one, you feel it. That’s how I feel about Substack. It offers me the safety I need to share the other parts of my life.

Re-Introducing Maven Musings

Maven Musings actually started as a monthly newsletter for my Curl Maven subscribers. But I felt like it really needed to be it’s own thing, with it’s own space to grow, evolve and become. So this will be where I share my holistic approach to personal growth, health + wellbeing. And how I weave together astrology + spirituality to navigate life. Especially when life is hard and you’re trying to be the person you want to be, despite the circumstances around you or the cards you’ve been dealt.

I don’t know it all, unlike the type of content I write for Curl Maven, this isn’t coming from a place of expertise. It’s very much a musing, I’m still figuring it out. Sharing what I’ve found has worked for me, in the hope that maybe it works for you too or it helps in some way. I hope you’ll join me in building a community together where we all feel safe to share with, and learn from, each other.

Substack Sundays

You can expect a new Maven Musings article every Sunday. My first article will be called The Deconstructed Blended Family, about what happens to the bonds and ties of a blended family when it falls apart. And how one three letter word brought me to tears.

If all of this feels like something you would like to be part of, type your email address and hit the subscribe button below. I’ve finally found a platform I’m excited to create content on again and hope you’ll join me on this journey.

Gabriella xo

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