This is valuable time ♡

maureen at home, lockdown April 2020

“If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.” ~Maya Angelou

Some day - after all this is over and we are running around again in our busy lives - we'll look back at this lockdown and see the importance of slowing down.

Being at home and having extra time on our hands can actually be seen as a gift. Even if we are stressing about bills to pay (as most of us are), try to use this time wisely.

This is a good time to recharge your body & mind.

You have time to prioritize your life choices - are you living your best life?

Or do more of the things you love, but never had time for. Today would be a good day to start.

This is valuable time.

And it will go on - no matter what you do.

How you use this time - how you look at this lockdown - it's all about your perspective.

So take a deep breath (or two) and remember, this too shall pass.

I hope you all will have a Good Friday and if you celebrate, Happy Easter weekend!

Stay Healthy.

Stay Creative.

Stay Positive.

Talk soon,

♡

Maureen

Blog
Change...
Change...
Read More →
Monday motivation
Monday motivation

Some early morning Monday motivation.

Read More →
Comparison
Comparison

They say, comparison is the thief of joy and this made me wonder...

Do you ever look at someone else's work and wonder why they are more successful than you? Do you think: How come she has more followers? Why is her body prettier or thinner than mine? Why is her work featured every time and mine is not? How much money does she make? She's just lucky...

Do you?

Read More →
Do you document your wins?
Do you document your wins?

“Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it's having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it's our greatest measure of courage.” ~ Brene Brown

Read More →
This is valuable time ♡
This is valuable time ♡

Some day - after all this is over and we are running around again in our busy lives - we'll look back at this lockdown and see the importance of slowing down.

Read More →
What kind of woman do you want to be? {part two}
What kind of woman do you want to be? {part two}

"For me, writing from the heart - the way I'm doing right now - is something I always did and will continue to do so. Because that's the kind of woman I intend to stay." ~ Maureen

I always say that living in New York City has thought me to Own My Story.

Well, the part of owning your story and sharing it with others online - to inspire or empower - also means that you need to be vulnerable. I'm okay with this part.

Read More →
Zoom Chat
Zoom Chat

"Cling to joy. Bold audacious joy, that looks for Light in everything - even when you're waiting" ~morgan harper nichols

Hello Everyone,

Tomorrow, Monday March 30th, I'm hosting a 40 minutes Zoom Chat for all of you, who want to talk about moving forward - whether in your business or personal development.

Read More →
Important Changes due to the Corona virus ♡
Important Changes due to the Corona virus ♡

"We are at our finest when we take care of each other"

As we all live in very uncertain times, due to the Corona virus spreading around the world, these last few days I've been thinking long and hard what to do regarding the Meetups…

Read More →
It's all about Branding - March Creative Meetup in Brighton
It's all about Branding - March Creative Meetup in Brighton

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

DUE TO THE SPREADING OF THE CORONA VIRUS,

THIS AND OTHER MC EVENTS, ARE CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

Read More →
Video: Brighton Meetup - Highlights 2019
Video: Brighton Meetup - Highlights 2019

“For many years I’ve moved from country to country and last year - when I moved from New York City to Brighton - I had this small idea of bringing women together.

To hold a space for each other, to connect and collaborate, to learn and to grow. That’s how the first Creative Meetup started.

And you know what happened? There was magic in the air. Because there’s something special about a group of women gathering together, making real connections with each other - face to face….”

Read More →
On Self Care ~ not if but when
On Self Care ~ not if but when

Do you know about the P-club?

The club of Procrastination. The one club we all have walked in and stayed too long. Maybe not always - only in the periods of our lives we wanted to avoid something. We probably were having a good time, while our brain was telling us “shouldn’t you be doing this or that?”. If there was a real P-club, I would definitely be a member. Honour medal and all.

But I also know when it’s time to come out of the P-club and focus on what really matters to keep me going - my body, mind and soul.

Read More →
Female Creative Meetup in Brighton * join our Self Care event at Art Republic Gallery
Female Creative Meetup in Brighton * join our Self Care event at Art Republic Gallery

It’s almost happening - our next Creative Meetup in Brighton will be on February 26th!

This time we are collaborating with Art Republic Gallery and the evening will take place in their beautiful gallery in the North Laines in Brighton. Art Republic is a great place to stimulate and inspire our minds for this event. Our guest speaker is the sweet and talented Rossella from Rossella Skincare and together with our two other guests, it’s going to be a mixed evening of learning, connecting and creating - all while you’re enjoying a drink and some nibbles from Luisa from Abeille Bakery.

Read More →
Starting a new year & some updates
Starting a new year & some updates

“How wonderfully you have grown since January of last year” ~Morgan Harper Nichols

Read More →
On imperfectly empowering
On imperfectly empowering

Could I inspire others or even empower them when I have doubts myself? I thought about this for awhile, but yes - yes I can! (“oh hello Fear, here you are - again… do have a seat in the back of my mind and I’ll continue with my day, okay?”)

Read More →
On supporting small businesses ~a give away
On supporting small businesses ~a give away

“When you buy from a small business, an actual person does a little happy dance.”

Showing support for any small business is huge and can be the connecting dots they need to either stay in business, or simply to be seen by more people. So I’m giving away the newest print edition of the 91 magazine - which I bought at our local specialized Magazine Shop in Brighton.

Read More →
Our October Brighton Meetup is starting soon
Our October Brighton Meetup is starting soon

This year is flying by so fast, I can’t believe we’re already preparing for our fourth Meetup!

If you are new here, at Moksi Collective we’re big on creating community, by empowering female creatives and entrepreneurs. Our Meetups are relaxed with drinks & nibbles while we talk about different topics - from creativity & wellbeing to business tools, social media and everything in between.

Each month has a different main topic and for October it’s “Creating Community”.

Read More →
Grow your creative business with Pinterest + a discount code from Curly Carrot
Grow your creative business with Pinterest + a discount code from Curly Carrot

We all love to look at pretty pictures, right? Whether it’s online, on tv, in magazines or in books - our imagination gets triggered and inspiration kicks in when we see visually inspiring photo’s or videos. That’s why so many of us love to be on Instagram. But what most people don't realize, is that Instagram, Facebook and Twitter are social media networks who are always in need of feeding new content.

Now ask yourself this; is it worth spending so much of your time, effort and energy into these apps? Enter Pinterest.

Read More →
What's in a name?
What's in a name?

Tonight, I couldn’t stop thinking about the meaning of names and titles and the importance we put on ourselves and others.

From the moment we are born, our name is attached to us. Perhaps we’ll change it later in life by marriage or preference - but still, we have that name. It’s not who we are.

And yet, when it comes to our titles at work or as a profession, we somehow tend to put more value on this part of our lives.

Read More →
September Meetup in Brighton - 'How to grow your creative business with Pinterest'
September Meetup in Brighton - 'How to grow your creative business with Pinterest'

Always wanted to connect with other like minded women?

Then come to our Brighton Meetups and bring a friend for free!

Here at Moksi Collective, we are big on creating a vibrant, diverse & kind community.

One way of doing this, is by creating monthly Meetups and September’s topic is ‘How to grow your creative business with Pinterest’. Join our introduction conversation with Pinterest experts Georgie & Dörte from Curly Carrot.

Read More →
Watch our first Meetup in Brighton - which sparked our monthly series
Watch our first Meetup in Brighton - which sparked our monthly series

Sometimes you have an idea and follow it, but you have no clue that it could be the start of something new…

Have a look at ‘Gathering’ - our first MC Brighton Meetup in June.

Read More →
Dream chaser - Are you happy how this year has gone so far?
Dream chaser - Are you happy how this year has gone so far?

Today I had a thought - what if I never had taken the first step towards my dreams? Or the first step to create our nomadic lifestyle? Time will go on and it’s up to you, how you want to look back on this season in your life.

So let me ask you this - Are you happy how this year has gone so far? Did you go after that specific goal? Are you chasing your dreams? Or is it still just that - a dream? And also let’s be honest - making a plan is great. But more importantly - take the action needed to step towards that dream.

Read More →
When women come together, amazing things happen - Brighton July Meetup
When women come together, amazing things happen - Brighton July Meetup

Do you believe in Community over Competition?

If you are in the area, join us & bring a free guest to our next meetup in Brighton!

Read More →
Moksi Collective is Growing - some updates
Moksi Collective is Growing - some updates

Moksi Collective is Growing & Changing and my smile is getting bigger with each day!

There is an African saying that perfectly captures a big part of my mission:

"If you want to go fast, go alone.
If you want to go far, Go Together."

And Together is the key word here indeed - Moksi Collective is Growing as a Community & Platform.

Read More →
What would you tell your younger self?
What would you tell your younger self?

If we could go back in time, for only one minute - what would you tell your younger self?

It could be written as a list that would serve you well growing up, even till this day.

A list of things written on a piece of paper for teenage You to read when needed - in times of self doubt, fears or worries. To make sure you stay focused and to keep you walking your own path.

A piece of paper that would bring You back to the future. What would you say?

I’ve made a list of 10 things I would write to my younger self, that would serve me - and I hope you too - even today.

Read More →
On finding courage
On finding courage

It’s a strange thing to experience - nerves while I’m in my home alone recording a message. What the heck is wrong with me? I’m the one who loves to talk and I’m the one nervous to talk? To my phone? But it’s the truth - I’m nervous and I have to deal with it. So finally I thought, this is the time to step into the arena.

Now, if you know Brene Brown and know what I just said, you are nodding your head, right?

For those of you who think - ‘arena? Wait, what…?’

Read More →
Following my intuition to change Moksi Collective
Following my intuition to change Moksi Collective

I promised myself to wait before I would start sharing this with you all. Wait till I’m ready to talk about my goals and what I’m working on. Where this will lead Moksi Collective in the near future. I promised not to put more pressure on myself - remember, I’m trying to be cool with my ‘done is better than perfect’ mission while being creative. But what I know for sure, is that whenever I have this feeling, that tingling feeling inside of my gut, I need to follow it…

Read More →
The question is: Who is not in the room?
The question is: Who is not in the room?

Let’s talk about the subject so many of us are talking about and so many are avoiding to talk about. Yet, it is right in front of us every single day - the lack of diversity and inclusivity in so many industries. I believe life in general would be much better, if we look at someone as a person, first and foremost. But I’ve experienced many forms of subtle and direct racism and direct exclusivity my whole life. Yet it does not stop me from doing what I want, or treating people differently, or claiming my seat at any table. I do this in my own way - by being myself, by being kind, but direct. I ask questions and set boundaries. My grandma and my parents raised me to be better than the person who wants to hurt me with their words or actions. And I’ve two girls who I’m teaching the same. I hope you will stop to think about what it means, to see no inclusivity in what you are reading or consuming. Six little words. Spread the question.

“Who is not in the room?”

Read More →
My 100 day project - 10 things I learned so far
My 100 day project - 10 things I learned so far

Today marks sixteen days that I started a new creative personal project for 100 days:

One embroidered word a day, to create. One quote, to inspire. 100 days, to remember that done is better than perfect. It was like a cue for Self-doubt to show up.

Read More →
Positive Vibes * I see you
Positive Vibes * I see you

I have been writing on my blog since 2010. Why do I share? Because I care and want to connect with my readers. I share because I know there are other women, just like me, who are thinking “Hey girl! there you are, I was hoping to meet someone like you”. That’s why I write these words all the time:

‘be yourself - you are enough - you are seen - don’t doubt yourself’

But what if the person who needs to read or hear these words the most, is the one that seems so perfect or so strong and so nobody will ask them - ‘are you okay?’

Read More →
On showing up for yourself
On showing up for yourself

“Perfectionism is just Fear in fancy shoes ”.

Perfectionism? Me? I’m not a Perfectionist… Really Maureen?

I had to admit to myself that actually I am, while at the same time I’m very ‘go with the flow’ as well…

Read More →