We were lucky to catch up with Rachel Grayson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rachel, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was one of the most important lessons you learned in school? Why did that lesson stick with you?

The most important lesson that I learned in school came in the form of poetry. I believe I was in 2nd or 3rd grade and I had to memorize a poem for our annual spring event. I was super nervous when I was assigned this poem because I was so afraid of messing up in front of people. When I was practicing at home, I read the poem stanza by stanza and made it into a little song in my head so I could remember it.

The name of the poem was “Be The Best Of Whatever You Are” by Douglas Malloch.

My teacher broke down the meaning to me since I was so young. The lesson stuck with me because the poem gives such a positive perspective on life. It was all about making the best of your situation or role in life. No matter where you are in life and no matter what you are doing, be the best at it. The poem is also a message of gratitude. Where is my room of complaints when I’m striving to be the best at whatever stage of life I am in? This stuck with me and became super important to my journey through life. Not every stage in your life will feel like the “best”; however if you find a little bright side to things, you can change your mindset.

Rachel, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an elementary school educator and lifestyle blogger. I have a passion for educating our future and I also love helping people stay positive in this crazy world. I was born in Los Angeles, California and raised in Delaware. After graduating from University of Delaware in 2012 and then completing my first year of teaching, I decided to move back to California for a fresh start. I worked for an insurance company while also dipping into the entertainment industry and participating in various award shows, red carpet events and backstage production. Even though I had a wonderful time exploring new career paths, I really ended up missing teaching children. So, I decided to go back to teaching in California. I’ve always loved to write. I was one of those students that would go above and beyond what the teacher asked when it came to writing essays. I also am in love with film and screenplays. I love the power of telling a story and how this form of art can touch people. I’ve been journaling and writing stories, screenplays, and scripts since I was a pre-teen up until now so I wanted to showcase my talent in a fun way. So, in December of 2021, I launched a new website called www.rachwrotethat.com. Here is where I would express my writing in the form of blog posts and share my interests while helping people at the same time. I recently also launched my own merchandise store so readers can show their support with Rach Merch!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think the most rewarding aspect of being a creative writer is putting life moments onto a page. I believe that writing helps us understand our experiences. It’s a form of communication and it puts words behind feelings. My voice feels heard and I feel like I learn more about myself. Most importantly, I can make connections with people that may have shared the same experiences as me or make them open to a new perspective. Writing develops learning and I feel free to learn. One of my favorite sources to study were historical primary sources. I loved these types of sources because they were raw and authentic. Since I wasn’t there during those times, I was able to visualize those experiences through writing.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Something that strongly impacts us is social media. Most people get their news, outfit ideas, memes, humor, etc. from social media. Then it comes down to followers and verified accounts. Let’s be real. If you don’t see that blue verified check mark for that person or a business has under 1,000 followers, do they seem legit to you? Would you trust them enough to work with them? I think that the whole followers and verification aspect comes off as that person not trying hard enough which is such a false reality. I love looking back at celebrities who just started their social media accounts without a verified check mark and not a lot of likes on their posts. Fast forward some years later and they are at a point where they can’t count their followers on their fingers anymore. The enemy of creativity is fear. “Will people like this?” “I’m going to be broke if I invest my all into this”. Taking risks is being a creative. Making mistakes is being a creative. When we take these risks and fail, we should look at the experience as “What can I learn from this”? instead of giving up. If you know in your heart that you are what you say you are, that confidence is going to come out in your gifts. Whatever you share with the world will be authentic because you were the first one that believes in you. It’s a process.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rachwrotethat.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachwrotethat/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076624099056
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/rachwrotethat_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyxZVEf3ERh4NYKlErnV9nw
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachwrotethat_ https://www.zazzle.com/store/rachwrotethat/products http://voyagemia.com/interview/life-work-with-rachel-grayson-of-miami/