Happy Birthday to Me? NJIB Gets Personal
Today I celebrate my “Golden” birthday. The term “golden birthday” refers to when you turn the age of your birth date. For example, today on May 30th I turned 30 years old. That also means I have been living in New Jersey for 30 years.
I have been told by a few people that they find it odd that despite having a blog/website, I am not the face of it. So when people do meet me in person, they do not know who expect. In fact, because I have featured pictures of my husband on my Instagram account, some people think that he is me (he is not, in case that isn’t clear). That is one of the issues of having a unisex name like Cyd. (In this picture I am on the RIGHT, not the left)
So here’s a little history on me…
I was born at a hospital in New Brunswick, and was raised in Monmouth County in the town of Manalapan, where I lived with my parents and brother.I lived in that house for most of my life, before moving out with my husband to a town in Middlesex County. I consider where I live to be “Central Jersey”, and you can disagree with me all you want but everything has a center, and I live in the center part of the state. It’s why I can say “hoagie” or “sub” and not care what the “real” term is. So many South vs North issues I don’t have time for (or care). Being from Central Jersey is awesome because I never have to travel more than 2 hours to get to anywhere in the state. And I LOVE this state, North, Central, South…it’s all good. (PS. I don’t care if you call it pork roll or Taylor ham, but I will fight you on the ingredients of disco fries).
Moving on…
If you follow me on Instagram, you will know I also have two dogs, Frankie and Holly, who are part of my family. I adopted them both, and I am very supportive of animal adoption in general. One of my favorite things to do on Instagram is repost animals from adoption agencies all over the state in the hopes that they will be seen. I also volunteer with a shelter that does amazing things, and it has made my life better. Animals make life better.
A photo posted by New Jersey Isn’t Boring (@newjerseyisntboring) on
I started New Jersey Isn’t Boring as a side hobby for a certificate training at Seton Hall. I had been working with social media for long time, and was looking for a career that would focus on social media rather than being an administrative assistant who also does ALL the social media for a company (without being recognized or paid for it). In the class, we were being taught how to start a website and how to use social media effectively. Since I knew the basics of the course, I went rogue and started working on a new idea that literally came to mind while I was sitting in the class…called….New Jersey Isn’t Boring.
The concept of the website was to be an easy resource for someone like me who is always looking for something to do. I wanted it to be easy to navigate, have a list of resources of things I’m interested in (food, wine, beer, day trips, events) etc. I basically made the website for me, not thinking that anyone else would really ever look at it. I gave myself a “diner challenge”, I instituted an “Etsy Store of the Week”, and worked on the website semi regularly as a side hobby. What I did not realize two years later was where I would be with it now.
The website has grown more than I ever anticipated. I work on the website full time! I spend my weeknights and weekends going to events and locations to write about, and I usually drag my husband along as a photographer. It is now a licensed LLC, I offer advertising, and I even have interns. “I” is not really an “I” anymore, it is more of a “we” since people actually want to help me grow the NJIB business. Plus, I have gotten amazing experiences from the website whether is be connecting with other bloggers, being invited to restaurants, covering various events…and of course, finding new things to do in New Jersey and writing about them.
But with all the positive things that came from starting my website, there can also be a negative side to it. Like 40 million other people, I suffer from depression and anxiety. Although I manage it pretty well, dealing with negative people on social media can sometimes make me feel like a failure. Every time someone insults my page, I take it personally. In fact, the main reason you don’t see my picture on the website or instagram is because I’m insecure and don’t want anyone critiquing my appearance. I know I shouldn’t feel this way, but I do.
Despite having a decent following on Facebook, and having a Instagram account that somehow became extremely popular (humble brag…25,000 new followers in 1 year), I often feel like sometimes I am a small fish in a big pond of New Jersey writers and bloggers. I sometimes feel like things I write or do may never be seen. Every time someone does not return an email regarding a potential story for me to cover, it makes me feel like I’m not important.
Having said that…
I wanted to state that if you are currently reading this post and have been following and supporting NJIB…I honestly can’t thank you enough. Every time I get discouraged and want to quit, there is someone who happens to “like” a post or provide a positive comment, and basically that is all that I really need to keep me going. Starting a business has been an incredibly amazing experience, and I have to keep reminding myself that even with all the BS, there are amazing, supportive kind souls who are sometimes friends and sometimes strangers who will lift me up in times of darkness. I’ve grown so much in the last 2 years, and it has a lot to do with putting myself out there for this website.
So here’s some advice coming from a somewhat older and wiser person; if you want to do something or make something…do it! Ask for help! Ask for advice! Know that when you can discouraged it will pass! Know that for every negative experience there will be plenty of positive ones! Don’t let a pity party stop you from persuing things you’re actually passionate about! Get out of your comfort zone so you can stop being uncomfortable! You’re never too old to start or try something new! It’s okay not to work 24/7! Don’t be afraid to use too many explanation points!
Keep in mind that humans have feelings! Stop trolling the internet spreading negativity. That is DUMB, and a waste of time. Being positive and nice, smiling, giving someone a compliment, liking or sharing something that someone is proud of…it costs you NOTHING. The more positive energy the world has the better, there’s enough crazy shit to worry about.
This blog post was not coming from a place of wanting attention, it was just to be honest about how starting this website has changed me. It has obviously been more good than bad, but if someone was reading this and felt similar, than I’m glad I put it out there. I’m 30 now, and I guess I’m starting to feel like a real adult who is in charge of my destiny. Expect to find more of “me” in NJIB, even though I’m reluctant.
As I enter my “golden year” I’m excited to continue my journey with “New Jersey Isn’t Boring”. I hope that this website has inspired you to explore of NJ. That is really, truly, all I ever wanted from it.
-Cyd
Below: Recent photo of me with my cousin’s baby. New Jersey t-shirt, New Jersey necklace…pretty much my every day style. Although I can’t say you’ll always be seeing me holding a baby…
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