Enterprenuer
Meggie Tran is the founder of Mindful Meggie Travel, a blog that helps relives after travel stress and how to be mindful.
She was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder in August 2018.
After undergoing therapy, she realized how important it was to normalize the discussion on mental health.
Her Mindful Meggie travel blog was created two years after her diagnosis.
She also visited a therapist to learn more about her anxiety and mental health concerns related to immigrant experiences in Asia (she is a second-generation Vietnamese American).
Meggie is a long-time travel enthusiast and mental health advocate.
She helps to de-stigmatize mental illness through travel.
She writes inspirational stories on her Mindful Meggie blog about her mental health and provides practical resources for people with mental illness.
With her humorous storytelling and bubbly personality, she aims to normalize mental health topics.
Her writing has been published in Fodor’s Travel, Canyon Voices, and an Arizona State University publication.
The Mindful Meggie blog encourages readers to share their mental health issues with Meggie.
She is open to hearing their stories and learning from them.
She also emphasizes her mental health resources, even though she isn’t mental healthcare professional.
What is the story of The Mindful Meggie Travel Blog get its idea?
I was diagnosed in 2018 with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
I received therapy, which taught me how to cope with this mental illness and live a happy and fulfilled life.
Although mental health is becoming more common, a stigma still makes it seem scary and brave to open up about your mental health.
Fear of shame can make it difficult for people to tell their friends and family about their mental health openly.
Unfortunately, many people avoid seeking professional mental health services because of this.
It doesn’t have to stay this way. It is easier to talk openly about mental illness and show our mental health that we are willing to share them with others.
Being an avid traveler, it is natural for me to relate mental health topics to traveling.
Mindful Meggie is a blog and writing business that de-stigmatizes mental illness through travel.
Here, you will find inspiring stories and practical resources to help anyone with a mental illness.
My stories about mental health are openly shared to help others.
How do you stay productive?
I must get into the writing zone! Mindful Meggie, university work, family, and personal time are balanced.
Because it is the most distraction-free time of the day, I write my blog in the mornings.
I will be working on various blog obligations and homework in the afternoon.
I also like to spend some time on correspondence, particularly email.
My family and I watch TV together while I play the guitar together in the evenings.
I end the night with a good book by my bedside.
How do you bring ideas to life?
My leisure time gets my creative juices going and often leads to new ideas.
This is most evident when I’m reading a book.
Perhaps an author had an interesting idea that I could develop further based on this travel or a mental health topic.
Before I forget, I write down my thoughts on paper or my computer.
What’s your favorite trend?
Our society is promoting mental health and reducing stigma more than ever.
I am grateful to anyone who shares their stories about mental health, whether they share them with me privately or make them public on social media.
What habits make you productive?
Stephen King would agree that writers should immerse themselves in the world of writing and not in the real world. This is also true for entrepreneurs.
I created a work environment for me to be isolated from the rest.
My windows are closed, my earbuds rest in my ears, and I listen to my favorite songs.
What’s your advice for the Noob?
Flexibility is key. Because of how straightforward and rigid the path was to a computer science job, I didn’t consider changing my major in computer science when I entered college.
However, I already had reservations about the computer science field.
Not because of the work but because I didn’t see myself doing it in the future.
I felt that some people were made to be computer scientists, but not me.
After realizing that I didn’t want computer science, I went to a hackathon.
I changed my major to English and started a blog about travel and mental health.
What is one thing we can all agree on?
Our time is our responsibility. Scheduling and sticking to the most critical tasks are essential.
It is common to underestimate the amount of time we have awake each day.
If someone claims that they don’t have enough hours to do something, then I believe they should be more selective and schedule their activities within a week.
What do you recommend as an entrepreneur?
Books about personal and business development offer so many lessons.
The spines of their books inspire me. When I’m done with them, I place them on a visible bookshelf to easily see them while I’m in my bedroom.
What’s your rich strategy?
My character has been reflected in everything I’ve done.
It’s not difficult if you’re honest. This has allowed me to stand out and attracted attention to my work.
I have incorporated my love of comics and graphic novels by placing comic text bubbles onto my social media images and blog posts.
Many readers told me they had never seen such funny photos from a blogger before.
How do you overcome Failure?
I wish I had taken travel blogging seriously earlier in my life.
While I was already blogging as a hobby, I knew that I wanted to make the jump and start a blog deep inside.
I was afraid of not being noticed. This is why I hesitated.
It was an early morning epiphany that I had one day, and I didn’t want to go back to bed.
What if I combined my favorite topics, travel, and mental well-being? I took the blogging business seriously.
Instead of trying to blog with my limited knowledge, I signed up for a blogging course. Here I am today!
Can you share a business idea?
A non-profit organization that offers outdoor camping programs specifically for those who have completed therapy for mental health issues.
Of course, the program facilitators would also include therapists.
What’s your recent best buy?
There are many books to choose from, including personal development, business, travel stories, and graphic novels.
It’s so fun to be informed and entertained by so many different topics.
They’ve helped me recharge my creative batteries in some way.
What are your favorite Softwares or Apps?
Because I need to clear the line between my business and all other obligations, I have two Google Calendars.
Each day, I look at both calendars to determine what is due for the week and day.
Which book would you recommend?
Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl.
Many business and personal development books have recommended Frankl’s text.
It is a great book, and I have just finished reading it.
I have gained so many insights into how to live a meaningful life while going through difficult times.
These insights can easily be applied to my personal and professional success.
What’s your favorite quote?
The true mind can endure all lies and illusions without becoming lost.
True love can withstand the poisonous hatred without being hurt.
“Darkness thrives in the void, but always yields the purifying light.”
The Lion Turtle from Avatar
TL;DR by Meggie Tran
Continue to read books and find new titles.
There are many books that you can read, not just business books.
You can learn from many genres and formats.
You will be entertained and informed.
You can turn your weaknesses into strengths by facing your problems.
Your most significant potential for positive change is in your struggles.
Whatever happens in your life, you will ultimately be responsible for your well-being and time.
External circumstances or other people do not control your life. You are responsible for it.
You will be successful if you accept this responsibility and take action.
