We recently connected with Erica Calhoun and have shared our conversation below.
Erica, sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
A year ago I was struggling to keep my mind from sliding into a low point that would have been hard for me to get out of. I have had many episodes of depression and anxiety over the years, so I saw it coming. Fortunately, I found an outlet that kept me from completely losing myself. That outlet was creating an online platform for myself to focus my attention elsewhere and to be able to express my feelings through writing. Being creative – whether it’s drawing, making music, or journaling – has always been a tool for me to use in those dark moments.
There has always been a journal or diary on my nightstand, but I haven’t written in one everyday. It is only in those extremely emotional states that it becomes necessary to break out a new notebook and write down what’s truly going on in my mind. It was normal for me to keep it to myself, but I’ve realized that making my struggles known to others may help someone else who can relate.
Depression and anxiety have been a part of my life for a long time. The one thing I’ve learned over the years is that it isn’t the end of the world, and for me, those low moments don’t last forever. I just have to hang on to the rollercoaster that is my life until I reach the calm and peaceful breaks which I cherish. Life isn’t supposed to be without challenges, and they only make us stronger.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Loveletterslattes.com is the blog that I created to share my life, unwanted advice, favorite books, ventures and more with the world. The goal is to attract likeminded individuals who grew up reading blogs like I did and who can relate to what I have to say. It’s a platform with all of my various interests, so there is something for everyone to read about!
I have been excited about the new opportunities popping up for me as I continue growing the blog. My recent partnership with The Feminist Book Club has been a great opportunity to learn more about this craft and to share the values of a brand that I love. I hope to create more partnerships like it in the future.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
While everyone has different skills and knowledgeable experiences, my particular life experiences prepared me for the journey to becoming an online content creator. Everyone knows what their strengths and weaknesses are. My advice would be to focus on your own personal strengths and everything will fall into place after that. However, the three qualities that got me here are…
1. Just do it. As Nike would say. Fear and doubt will often prevent people from acting on their dreams and ambitions. Before fear can stop you from being great, just start what you have planned. You will never know if you are capable if you don’t try. What’s the worst that can happen? For months, doubt held me back from making my blog until I finally decided to just create something, even with it’s imperfections and my lack of knowledge.
2. Have a passion. I’m an Aries so we are ruled by passion, but I believe people are only experts at what they are passionate about. Passion is what kept me up all night for months doing research on the field of blogging and then creating my vision.
3. Discipline. This is probably the most important skill anyone can have. My training as a classical pianist for 15 years definitely gave me this valuable quality. Without discipline and determination, your passions will remain visions and not become reality.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Yes! I am always looking to network and collaborate with other creators, business owners, entrepreneurs, and brands. Anyone with a similar platform and with interests that relate to topics on my blog – beauty, fashion, books, food, life advice – are more than welcome to reach out for partnerships. I love networking with small businesses and new creators to promote their brands as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.loveletterslattes.com
- Instagram: @diariesoferica
- Other: Pinterest: @loveletterslattes2022
Image Credits
Image credits: Erica Calhoun
