I had the great pleasure of sharing my story with the founders of The Cnnekt, Emily and Chary. These brilliant women have created a platform for women that not only shares their stories online, but also creates opportunities for women to "connect" IRL and make friends. A company founded by two incredible women who are dedicated to fueling female friendship. No surprise why we at Fred and Far are such big fans. They're headquartered in NYC, so if you're local to them, make sure to join their newsletter and attend their events. I'll be there in spirit until they branch out to LA (hopefully soon).
Below you'll find an excerpt from my interview, and you can read the whole piece here!
Melody, what did you dream of becoming as a young girl?
As a young girl, music was my air. From the age of 4, I was playing the piano and singing, and by 7, I was composing my own music. I dreamed of being a singer/songwriter when I grew up, so I could share my voice with the world. It’s interesting now to see the parallels between that original dream, and what I am doing now. Sharing my voice through Fred and Far (albeit through words and not song just yet) has been one of the most fulfilling and inspiring experiences of my life.
You experienced two very powerful “ah-ha” moments in your life. One, regarding your career, and the only in your personal life. Can you describe these moments and how it lead you to create the Self Love Pinky Ring?
Somewhere between the clarity I had in my youth, when I knew I was destined to be a creator, and the mounting pressures of adulthood, I lost myself a bit. It was during this time that I retreated away from my heart into my brain and let my intellect lead. I went to law school (because it was the right thing for a bright girl like me to do) and then secured a dream job in big law as soon as I graduated. My first major “ah-ha” moment was realizing that despite being good at a job, it wasn’t necessarily the right job for me. Being an attorney was all about competition and following rules (and lots of paperwork - no one mentions how much paper there is in law), and I soon realized that for me, I needed a job that focused on collaboration and creativity. Transitioning out of law was a big, brave move, as the perks of being an attorney are ample, but I knew it was something I had to do. My personal “ah-ha” moment came a few years later, as a newly minted twin mother who also happened to run her own business. I was spending every hour of every day in service to the people in my life, and had no connection with myself, my passions, my dreams. I had to find that 4-year-old girl again who knew exactly what it was that made her happy. The alignment of my personal and professional ah-ha moments is what led to the creation of Fred and Far, my Self Love Movement.
Whether its our home lives, the political climate, or even our health and wellness, many tend to feel “stuck.” Can you share some advice or best practices for those who are yearning for something bigger within themselves?
Self-exploration is a gift we stop giving ourselves as the responsibilities of adulthood mount. When we’re children, we’re allowed to ask questions, to explore different paths, to be creative and open and unstructured. As we grow up, the path narrows, and we stop asking ourselves questions. We go down the path. The problem with this approach is that the path we choose at 18 may not be the path we need or crave at 35. The trick to remaining unstuck at every stage of life is to continue to engage in self discovery. I’ve found that a daily and weekly commitment to self care is a simple but groundbreaking method for getting to know yourself. How can you discover and care for yourself today? Whether it is writing in a gratitude journal, reading a book in the bath while trying out the latest Korean sheet mask, or schedule a culture day at a museum with friends, all these little acts of self care are acts of resistance against the stuck feeling. I’ve found that for me, writing is the best way for me to unlock my creativity and find the bigger parts of myself that need exploring. For one of my friends, yoga is what unlocks her inner world. For each and every person, there is a path towards knowing yourself that starts with asking questions and committing to self care. And from self discovery and self care comes self love, which is the most sustaining energy in the world. Self love is what allows you to be whole, and wholeness is what gives you the courage to tackle whatever the world presents you with.
Click here to read more.