I’M TAKING BACK THE INTERNET ON MY TERMS
Can you even FREAKING imagine how excited a 2006 Alison was when she realized she could talk to the WORLD WIDE WEB via a…what’s that crazy, fun, word again? A blob? A blurb? Oh yes. A blog! A BLOG!
I guess if you don’t know me, it might be hard to imagine. So to quickly set the scene: I’m the middle child of 5, have incredibly high-achieving parents and siblings, have a large personality that seems to confuse most of the conventional, ambitious “normal” southern Californians and Utahns where I reside. And I have an undying love for clever naughty humor, HUMANS (like all of them) and being a STAR!
Finding out that I was allowed to talk to EVERYONE, with NO GATEKEEPER was akin to winning the lottery. The fact I could write, share nonsense, love, zingers and make myself laugh with my own absurdity just felt too good to be true. Not to mention, has anyone noticed I like talking to people?
I started a blog, called SHE BLOGS SHE BLOGS–but I still felt like a narcissist for doing it (was my neurosis ahead of the trend or what?!), so I told myself I was allowed to blog IF and only if my intention was to put love in the world.
Nearly 20 years later, a top 100 iTunes podcast, a nationally published book, 100 + keynotes, dozens of events serving thousands and thousands of people and the uprise of social media AS WE KNOW it, and officially in 2021 THE FUN HAD LEFT THE BUILDING.
But I’m happy to report that after a FULL and V. PAINFUL shift of life, relationships, work, priorities, healing, healing, and more healing, as well as letting go of everything I ever knew and counted on to affirm and validate me, I WANT TO TALK TO THE WORLD AGAIN!
And because deep in my little anarchist, chaos-loving, raccoon-identifying heart, I cannot STAND to be forced into conventions I find inefficient and counterproductive to the enlightenment of the SPECIES, I vote for decentralization of my time. AKA SOCIAL MEDIA AND ITS ALGORITHMS!
Here are the top 3 difference between 2006 Alison and 2025 Alison:
- I DON’T NEED YOU, BUT BABY, OH BABY I WANT YOU
- I’M NOT LOOKING FOR ANYONE OR ANYTHING TO GIVE ME PERMISSION
- I’M AT HOME IN MY BODY, I KNOW MY POWER, I KNOW MY TRUTH
MY INTENTIONS:
- SHARING IS CARING
- I think I stopped believing this for a minute. Not because it’s NOT true, but because it wasn’t “caring” for myself to be “sharing” for everyone else. But now I see it more like: sharing and connecting to people is an integral part of what brings me true joy. We are a social species, and I have been so inspired, saved, and elevated by the words, art and attention from others. Because I have been given much, I too must give. But more importantly, I WANT to.
- I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
- I live in Provo Utah. On the day Charlie Kirk was shot, I (who am SUPER cautious to over-consume news) learned about the shooting from an email from my child’s elementary school confirming that none of the students were on UVU campus during the time of the shooting. I was sitting on my pink velvet chaise lounge, trying to cobble together this very site, feeling defeated, irrelevant and frustrated. But after allowing myself a moment to cry, shout at God, and pause, I had this FULL BODY feeling and the thought:
“It’s time to stop pretending like you are not of service Alison. People are suffering, the world is divided, and YOU know you can help. It’s time to show up.”
- I WANT TO BE OF SERVICE
- Maybe I feel like it’s TIME because the shooting was literally 10 minutes away from my house. Maybe because I FINALLY HAVE THE CAPACITY again. Maybe it’s time because I needed to stop fretting about myself and my insecurities. Maybe it’s time because I’ve tried the alternative, meaning, I told myself, “You do not need to be ONLINE, and PUBLIC to be of service!” THIS IS SOOOO TRUE. I’ve been volunteering and showing up in my community. Active on boards and in schools, serving at funerals, bringing people meals and having fun with teenagers. It is good, it is great. But in my heart I KNOW I need to be building and creating on a larger scale to feel fulfilled. BECAUSE IT IS FUN FOR ME! I want to use and develop my gifts, and allow myself to go and do what I know is part of my path. To share words, art, and what I’ve learned about being truly, fully, ALIVE AND WELL.
TO BE CLEAR THIS IS V. MUCH SELF-SERVING
I do not need to delude myself, or excuse myself or explain myself for wanting to share online. I’m not giving myself permission to show up ONLY because I’m sharing love. I got to a point where I thought I had to completely rid myself of the need for outside validation. Super great, right? How noble! How wise!
MEH. It’s true that NO ONE, no success, no amount of money praise or validation was or will ever be ENOUGH to make me feel whole and “good.” Needing the validation of others to feel worthy to be alive and have needs = a lot of suffering.
BUT, as a wise friend and coach said to me a month ago, “You’re allowed to want it, Alison. To want praise and compliments and validation! It’s your love language, your gift. You love talking to people. You love being helpful. It makes you SO HAPPY, of course you want to connect and have fun with them. You’re allowed to like validation.”
In other words, it’s not the validation I miss, it’s the CONNECTION.
I know the best way for I, Alison Faulkner, to be of service AND find joy is to start talking.
WHY??? Because MY history has shown me: if I get a conversation going, and listen to the needs, questions and ideas of those who are interested in the conversation, I can then create offerings, events, courses or workshops to help meet the needs of the people I’m lucky enough to find and be found by.
I painted this picture to remind me:
Here’s my heart, here’s my horse, LET’S GO.
xoxo,
ALISON
This is an example of a comment. I know, maybe it’s been a year or 10 since you left one ON A BLOG! But TRY IT! I want to talk to YOUUUUUU
Yay!!!!! Welcome back!!! I’m so happy to see you in this space…you are SO gifted and talented and we all need what you bring into the world! Ilysm! Can’t wait to watch this next chapter unfold for you!
Xoxo
ringo’s girl!
THANK YOU love! I feel that way ABOUT YOU! I adore how you live so big and beautiful. You’ve been an inspiration to me always but esp over these past years I love seeing all you do, it has made me want to share! so THANK YOU
Hello! Welcome back! I’m loving the blog so far. 🌞👑 I hope you have a wonderful weekend 🙂
Aw THANK YOU!!
Oh how I have missed you and needed your honesty and words. You don’t know it, but in some of my darker times, your words have really pulled me through because I couldn’t resonate with them, and with some of the struggles you’re going through. I’d really love to hear more about your journey with rescuing yourself in the hardest moments of the day, not needing validation from others, and dealing with chronic illness which contributes so huge to my mental health. Your words of wisdom are so appreciated.
Thank you so much. I love the suggestions !!!! and I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to be there with you and I’m so grateful that you’re here sending you so much love.❤️❤️❤️
Welcome back friend.
AHHHHHHHHHHH MY FIRST COMMENT!! THANK YOU!!! all the love
This is wonderful. Welcome back & cheering you on!
MY LOVE!!! What an honor. You have always been an inspiration and one of the first blogs I ever and still LOVE!! aw love you friend! Thank you
I am super excited for your new journey. I always love seeing your emails pop into my inbox. Life is life and I so appreciate your honesty and willing to share the realness of this life we all go through. YOU are a star, always relevant, a joy and you have so much love to share! Can’t wait to receive!
this is so kind! an honor to be received! thank you so much for being here!
Yes…I love and miss a good old fashioned blog post!! I had a blog back in the olden days and it brought me life. It was all about connection. When things started to morph into money making and sponsors and “success”, it became something stressful and sucked all the joy right out of it for me. Kudos to you for finding your JOY again!
YES!!! I think that’s what I miss so much about the old IG days! I loved the micro connections that built to real connection, it’s a lot harder to get on there these days! so i’m so grateful you’re here!
Yessss!!! I’m so here for this! That art 😍😍 I resonate with this so much. I have such a similar personality—constantly dancing between “do big things for the community” and “stay private and simple.” Both bring me joy, but I haven’t quite figured out how to hold both yet. I told someone today, that’s exactly what I’m trying to navigate. Thank you for sharing this and reminding me it’s okay to hold both. 💛
I love how you worded this! I try to tell myself that I’m meant to be seasonal, like everything else on the earth, and that I’ll have seasons of BIG and seasons of small, but also I WANT IT ALL RIGHT NOW! HAHA so much love to you! thank you so much for being here!
I’ve wanted to start posting again on my terms and my anxiety has prevented me from taking the leap. Thanks for showing up and reminding us we can also.
aw so happy to be of help and THANK YOU For being here! Yeah there’s good in all the hard! but for sure you can’t rush yourself right?
YES. YES TO ALL OF THIS. Yes to you coming back (you are SO needed!), and YES TO FREAKING BLOGGING AGAIN! I miss 2007-2015(ish) and think it should ALL come back – the fashion, the blogs, the DIYs (like making everything out of stretched out strips of old t-shirts)
HAH YES! so much stretch fabric!! knits for life! HA! So grateful you’re here and thank you!
💪🏻So great to see you choose YOU and for YOU to commit to show up in your authentic self for US! From the moment I heard your first live, I was hooked on you! Your realness, wit, humor, and great moves always INSPIRE me!
Aw thank you Jen! And thank you for always SHOWING UP! ALL THE LOVE! XO
What a wonderful surprise and my goodness, this is so resonant. I’m in the process of dusting off the “cobwebs of sharing” myself and leaning into what I used to love about the internet. It’s honestly very refreshing! Cheering you on, glad to see you back in my inbox and blogging!! Sending so much love.
AW thank you! Yes! COBWEBS galore, but I gotta tell you, screaming “I GOT A COMMENT!!” when i saw the email was SO FREAKING FUN hahaha! it took me back!
YESSSS haha I bet that was a fun email! It’s time for the blog comeback arc!! *carlton dance*
Yay!!! I miss blogs and i love everything you do, so this is wonderful xxx
AW THANK YOU LOVE!
Thank you for once again inviting us along on your epic journey *dingggg* through life. It’s been a blessing to meet you and learn from you, cry with you, laugh too hard and almost throw up rolling down the hills of life (IYKYK) with you! So excited to enjoy what you are happy and willing to share with the world. Truth is…. WE LOVE IT! and WE LOVE YOU!
Enjoy your new adventure, you marvelous magical unicorn, you sparkly queen, you dark and twisty dragoness, you clairvoyant grasshopper beaming out whimsy and delight!! Thanks lady! Only you can be you!!!! (AYAAAAAYNTB) Lol just noticed this looks like a warrior cry and how has it not been noticed before!
Okay byeee 😆
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!!!! should we ice block?? haha no no injuries abound! But legit this is so beautiful I feel so seen in SUCH a poetic way! THANK YOU LOVE!!! SO GRATEFUL YOU’RE HERE!
I loved reading this! I love you! BLOG>algorithm any day of the week. I’m sooo here for a rebellious on-your-own-terms re-entry!!
I WISH THIS FOR YOUUUUU!!! I ADORE YOU FRIEND!
It’s the perfect time. <3 Hope to see more of this.
THANK YOU!
Yaaaaaas I am absolutely thrilled to see you blogging!!! In a world of algorithms, suggested posts, swipe, swipe, swipe, I just want MORE OF THIS. Thank you for coming back to blogland… I can’t wait to follow along!
Aw! thank you for the warm reception! i am so glad you are here!!!
Oh, my! Lions, and Tigers and Blogs! Yes, 2025 needs more of the Alison Show on the interwebs sans algorithms. I can’t even remember when I met you, but you’ve come a long way, Baby! Can’t wait to see that Orange horse in the race of adding good in the world. All the best to you and yours, KB
THANK YOU! so grateful you have stuck around! It’s so funny but the blog feels SO LIBERATING! hah xo
It’s bird, it’s a plane, it’s a BLOG!!!!!! 😂 Bring it back, baby!! So happy you are back!! ❤️
AHHH!!! Hello my love! I bet you know a thing or two about blogs😂😂