I can’t believe it has been
exactly three months since I moved back to Florida from Los Angeles. I wrote about the transition just two
months ago (read that post here: http://stand-uplibrarian.blogspot.com/2012/02/floridian-of-month.html) and now I know that it was one of the best decisions I have made in
years. In
leaving, I not only found what really makes me happy, but I also have the
support that helps my talents grow in the right direction. You can have all the talent in the
world but without the right team of people lifting you up, it is meaningless.
It is never easy creating
something that nobody has ever done before and while my goal for
StandUpLibrarian.com was always to educate and entertain people about
libraries, I forgot how difficult it was going to be to educate people about
who I was!!! Yes, I am a librarian
with a Master’s degree. Yes, I am
a comedian too. Hence the name: Stand-Up Comedian + Librarian = Stand-Up
Librarian.
I am also, as everybody
should know by now, unemployed! I
created StandUpLibrarian.com to have something positive to do while looking for
jobs. What people don’t know is
that everything you see on here I have done myself and I have done it all for
free. FOR FREE! I might not have money, but I do have
time and I think being an advocate for libraries is just as important as
working at one (‘Stand-Up’ in my name also refers to standing up for libraries
by taking action.)
So you can only imagine how
truly joyful and excited I feel at finally seeing all of my work take flight at
the Florida Library Association’s 2012 Annual Conference last week. Two years ago, there was no
StandUpLibrarian.com. I was just a
student at FLA about to graduate with my Masters degree from USF. But this year, thanks to one woman’s
kind heart, I was able to come back and perform as the Stand-Up Librarian. Just her support in that one decision
changed everything for me.
In performing, I got the
chance to thank the people who have inspired me all these years. I also got to see and hear a roomful of
librarians laughing at my literary jokes.
More importantly, I was able to show those students about to graduate
that if I can survive without a library job for two years and still have a
smile on my face, anything is possible…you just have to believe it & maybe
even create it.
Finally, over at my display
table in between hugs and photos, I learned that people loved my literary
purses as much as I did…and I SOLD OUT OF THEM! Today, in addition to writing this blog post, I am sewing more
bags for all the online orders (to order one, visit my Etsy shop here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MeredithMyersDesigns.) Plus I am responding to emails about possible jobs and fielding phone
calls about future performances.
And why? Because one woman
believed in me and gave me a chance. Thanks Linda.
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| With Linda Goff, my hero. |
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| Showcasing my talents at my display table. I would later sell all these bags. |
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| With my two mentors - Gene & Maggie. Their support over the past two years has been incredible. |
