Posting my first online video was challenging. I filmed it at least 15 times and while editing it I criticized every little piece of it. My hair, my voice, my thought process. I was afraid to be judged, hated or, even worse, ignored. To put myself out there and hope for success only to be met with failure was a very real possibility. I also saw a chance to speak out, to help others, to share adventures and courage with other women who felt like me. I couldn’t let the fear of failure stop me from achieving what I wanted to achieve. To create a space for women, and people of all types, to connect and share a passion and love for all things art and travel. As I sit here to today I’m so glad that I didn’t let that fear stop me, and while I haven’t achieved the success I would like, I still feel successful. I’ve learned feeling successful comes from your own personal definition of what success means to you.
It’s hard to believe it but I’ve reached my 100th Youtube video. I’ve pushed myself to keep making content even when I hated myself, even when I was discouraged, even when it felt I would never get anywhere. I struggled as I watched others start making content after me and soar to success, but I kept on making my own content. When depression sets in it is still a struggle for me to keep going, keep working. Making every effort to improve with each video produced. But there are moments like this. Moments like this milestone that give me the motivation to keep trying. There are people (you!) who read my content. Who share my bullet journal ideas (over 35,000 re-pins on Pinterest!) and use them to create their own. Who follow along with my travels and learn about places they haven’t visited. Or to remember places they’ve also been and share with me their experience. My Youtube channel has been a massive creative outlet that I have poured a ton of my passion into, and at moments like this it’s great to step back and be very happy with the results. Even if a video doesn’t do well in views, or comments. Even if a few weeks later I find an mistake or learn something that would have made it even better- I am learning. I am here, and I am creating. I am sharing stories, art advice, and travel tips to any who is willing to listen, and for now, that is more than enough.
My 100th video, featuring my 100 favorite moments from the last 2 1/2 years:
All the moments featured in this video are listed below. As additional content becomes available for each moment I’ll link it here.
- Building Artist Explores the World Business – (aka this website! 😀 )
- Getting Married to cory- video or Blog: Natasha & Cory Get Married
- Holding an Asian golden eagle – Blog: Eagle Hunting 101
- Spending time living with elephants – Blog post or video
- Starting a bullet journal – video
- Creating my first plan with me – video (or watch my latest plan with me! I’m so much better now.)
- Learning how to scuba dive – Blog: Getting Open Water Certified
- Chilling with deer in Nara Japan
- Seeing a wild sea turtle – Video: Diving the Similan Islands
- Visiting the super bloom at death valley – Video or Blog:
- Hitting 1000 subscribers – Video
- Cutting off all my hair –
- Watching the sunset at the grand canyon – Video
- Visiting Angkor archaeological park –
- Cherry Blossoms in Japan –
- Seeing a wild horse in Mongolia
- Learning to cook in Bangkok, Thailand
- Attending my first travel blogging conference – Blog: Thoughts on TBEX Asia 2015
- Hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park
- Seeing the Winter Illumination Festival in Japan – Blog: Stunning Japanese Winter Illumination or on Trip101
- Visiting friends in Savannah GA
- Visiting the Scarborough Renaissance Fair in Texas with Kara
- Attending the Massachusetts Steampunk Fair with my mom
- Capturing the Floating Tori gate in Japan – Video: Three Minutes in Miyajima
- Hiking a mountain with my friend Heather – Video: Hike Like a Girl
- Climbing waterfalls in Chiang Mai
- Learning to Surf in Panama –
- Visiting the redwoods of California – Video:
- Finishing my first short film (that I’m proud of) – Video
- Attending the Lotus Lantern Festival in Busan South Korea –
- Celebrating at the Eagle Festival of Mongolia
- Hiking in Arches National Park – Video: Hiking Devil’s Garden
- Diving with wild Sharks in Panama
- Battling waves at Lotte Water Park with Cory
- Getting plastered with mud at Boryeong Mud Festival – Video: Boryeong Mud Festival
- Creating my first successful night time lapse in Mongolia
- Life in Color in Seoul, South Korea – Video: Korea’s Life in Color
- Learning to Backpack solo
- Repelling a 150ft waterfall in Costa Rica
- Learning how chocolate is farmed in Costa Rica
- Climbing a waterfall in Cambodia
- Exploring North Adams with Becca – Video: The Cascades of North Adams
- Sliding down a hill on my back – Video: Madame Sherri’s Castle
- Attending a Military ball with Cory
- Watching the International Fireworks festival of Busan with Cory – Video: Fireworks Festival
- Trying a traditional Japanese breakfast in Nagoya, Japan
- Learning to book bind in Seoul, South Korea
- Attending a ball game in Busan, South Korea
- Visiting Zamami Island, Okinawa – Video: Three Minutes Okinawa
- Meeting awesome people from around the world
- Learning about Mongolian song and dance –
- Visiting a cat café – Video: Cat Cafe Busan
- Feeding pigeons in chiang mai
- Feeding Coati, my favorite animal, in Busan, South Korea – (see below)
- Busan Zoo on my birthday – Video: Busan Zoo
- Playing in snow of NH
- Attending the NH Renaissance Faire with my parents
- Rollerskating at my cousins birthday! – Video: Rollerskating Party
- Hiking to a waterfall in Utah with Cory and Amber
- Starting a wreck this journal – Videos: Wreck This Journal Playlist
- Jumping off cliffs in Costa Rica
- Seeing the panama canal in Panama
- Attending the Savannah St Pattys Parade with Missy and Dawson
- Visiting a seaside temple in Korea
- Attending my first gaming conference PAX East
- Finally getting my wand at Harry Potter Universal Studios
- Mini Golfing with Cory and Daniel
- Camping with family at Lake Nacimiento CA
- Watching the Boston Pops live
- Celebrating the 4th of July with heather – Video: Lake House Fun
- Photoshoot at the Rapeseed blossom festival in Busan South Korea – Blog Post: Busan’s Rapeseed Blossom Festival
- Receiving my first Pusheen box – Video: Winter Pusheen Unboxing
- Starting the Geek fuel series with Cory – Videos: Geek Fuel Playlist
- Unboxing my first Tokyo treat box – Video: Tokyo Treat Box
- Pumpkin carving competition against Cory – Video: Husband vs. Wife
- Having fun with Cory at the Deerfield Fair
- Seeing The Bund in Shanghai, China Video: 24hours in Shanghai
- Watching the sunset at Ubehebe Crater in Death Valley – Video: Ubehebe Crater
- Visiting the lowest point in North America (The Salt Flats at Death Valley) – Video: Super Bloom
- Creating my first H and Icons Video – Videos: Header and Icons Playlist
- Painting more dog portraits – Video: German Shepherd portrait
- Painting travel inspired illustrations – Videos – Watercolor Playlist
- Hiking the Quechee Natural Gorge, New Hampshire
- Walking Through Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Japan
- Live aboard in the Similian Islands – Video: Similan Islands See also: Extended Dive Guide
- Beautiful snow day in NH
- Street Art of San Jose
- Lotus Lantern Parade
- Watching the Seals in California – Video:Pacific Coast Highway
- Lighting a floating candle in Thailand
- Visiting Lake Lawtonka –
- Las Vegas night with Cory
- Road Tripping with Cory
- Jade museum in Costa Rica
- Poppies of Ulsan, South Korea – Blog Post: A Day Among Poppies
- Cory coming home – Video
- Visiting Rio Celeste
- Visiting the temples of Thailand
- Visiting St Louis Arch
- Train and Andy Grammer Concert
In closing:
Thank you to everyone who has helped me to make it to this point. All of the subscribers, comments and likes have given me more amazing feels and motivation then words can ever express. You all are amazing. Now I want to hear from all of you: What are some of your favorite moments you’ve experienced in the last two years? Do you enjoy to travel as much as I do? What have been some of your favorite destinations? Chat with me in the comments!
Thank you for taking the time and making this! congrats on the milestone! It seems like you’ve had quite a fun journey so far!
I do not travel, but I hope to one day. My favorite moments within the past two years of my life have got to be watching my husband blossom, and watching my children grow each day. I’m all about my family…my favorite moments are my every day life with them!
Well done Natasha, I’m still trying to get over my own fear of making my first video. I have had all the tools I need for a couple of days now but I still haven’t touched them. Reading this definitely helped. Thank you! You will be celebrating your 200th video in no time!
What a great list. Thanks for sharing
Wow! Congrats on the milestone! What a fun way to look back at the last 2 1/2 years. 🙂
wow these are wonderful moments, congrats on this fabulous milestone. a great way to look back at everything you have accomplished.
Wow! 100 videos that’s amazing! Congratulations!
Congrats and such an awesome video! You have accomplished so much!
Congratulations! This is a huge monument and a wonderful overview.
Congratulations on your milestone!!
I loved this idea. You did a GREAT JOB.
Congratulations! So many videos. I still can’t overcome my fear over making my first video. Looks I need to go ahead with it after reading your write up.. Thank you 🙂
Congratulations on the landmark! I’ve played out with the idea of making and posting videos but haven’t gone very far with it. Maybe some day soon. Again, congrats!
Yes, I love travel as much as you do! You’ve done some great work building amazing content. I love how this list helps us follow along on your journey 🙂
Gennifer Rose | http://www.GenniferRose.com
Congratulations! What an awesome list of videos you’ve made!
What a milestone and what a journey! Congrats!!