I met Angie Mizzell a couple of years ago as I meandered through the blogosphere one evening. I was immediately taken with her fresh voice, her positive outlook, and her enthusiasm for sharing life stories. We’ve been blogging buddies ever since, and have even shared “real” conversations by telephone on occasion. I’m thrilled to introduce Angie to All Things Girl readers, and hope you’ll enjoy getting to know her as much as I have.
Tell us about Angie as if every five years (or thereabouts) of your life you had a Theme Song. We want to know the good, the bad, and the ugly, so this is your chance to spill it all!
I am constantly selecting theme songs to carry me through situations! I’ve provided some context for the ones I’ve chosen below
Age 1-5: You’re In My Heart, Rod Stewart. I loved this song and my mom gave me the 45 record for Valentine’s Day when I was three.
Age 5-10: Morning, Al Jarreau. This song reminds me of riding to school with my dad.
Age 10-15 : There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, The Smiths. My lifelong best friend declared this “our song”, back when we were kids. The lyrics are a little morbid but “the light that never goes out” represents the power of friendship. It has saved me time and time again.
Age 15-20: Girl, Tori Amos. “She’s been everybody else’s girl. Maybe one day she’ll be her own.”
Age 20-25: These Are Days, 10,000 Maniacs. This song always makes me think of my college years and early adulthood.
Age 25-30: You Gotta Be, Des’ree. “Listen as your day unfolds, challenge what the future holds. Try and keep your head up to the sky.”
Age 30-35: Strength, Courage and Wisdom, India Arie “it’s been inside of me all along”
Age 35-38 Alright, Darius Rucker, As I write this, I’m staring at my 38th birthday, and it’s definitely alright by me.
A few years ago you chose to leave a successful career in television news. What led you to that decision, and, looking back, would you do anything differently?
It’s sometimes difficult for me to believe that it’s been almost a decade. I was 29 when I left TV news. I ultimately decided to change directions because I found it more and more difficult to emotionally separate from the “hard” news, the murders and the controversy. I could interview people and talk to the camera with ease, but I had not yet found my voice. The one thing I would do differently? Listen to myself and trust what my heart was telling me. But that’s hindsight talking. Maya Angelou has said, “When you know better, you do better,” and as soon as I realized that my career did not define me, I did something about it. I walked away, reinvented myself, and gravitated towards the things I loved about my work and shed things that dragged me down and dimmed my internal light.
You’ve written a memoir about your experiences in television and your decision to change careers. What message do you hope to convey to other women with your story?
Women in my generation have more choices than ever before, and there’s no “right” way to be a woman. This memoir takes the myth of having it all and turns it on its ear. It’s about how I found my own identity in my career and in my marriage and learned to let go of all the false or misleading ideas about what I “should” do with my life. By taking readers along on my personal journey, I hope they will be inspired to be courageous with their own lives: heal old wounds, make their own choices and be okay with wherever those choices lead them.
You also write a blog and maintain a social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. What do you like most about social media? What’s your least favorite aspect of it?
I love making connections. Blogging has helped me discover my writing voice and my “real life” voice. I’ve made a conscious choice to be as authentic as possible on social media, but also be the best version of myself. Making conscious decisions about what I broadcast publicly on the internet has had a positive impact on my life in general.
My least favorite aspect of social media is how it feeds my deep-seated insecurity that I have to be constantly available and constantly producing to stay relevant. So I force myself to challenge that feeling. I tell myself I CAN take a break and I CAN disappear from the social media world for a bit, if I am going through a bad or stressful time and have nothing helpful to say. There’s value in learning to step back and take a breath.
The tag line of your blog is “Set Yourself Free.” What does that expression mean to you, and how do you “set yourself free?”
It is a daily practice of identifying what thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and actions are holding me back and weighing me down, hurting and not helping. It’s identifying what I can do to bring a sense of relief, or lightness, back into my life. It’s the Serenity Prayer: accepting the things I can’t change and having the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.
You and your husband have two adorable sons, and just a few months ago welcomed your first daughter into the family. How do you find time for yourself in the midst of married life and motherhood? How do you pamper yourself when you get some time to relax?
Right now, I have less time for myself than ever before. So, I steal moments. If I’m in the car, alone, I sing out loud. I’m typing this in my “Panera Bread” office on a Saturday. I bought myself a full-fat mocha and said yes to the whip. I have a gym membership with childcare, and I try to go a couple of times a week. I recently started bike riding with some women who live on my cul-de-sac. We go at 5:30am. There’s no pressure. Just turn on your porch light if you’re riding that day. Recently, I attended a networking event and won a one hour massage! I’m going to schedule it for a weekday, when the kids are at the sitter and I should be working. That will be fun and rebellious.
Share your Five Favorites:
Favorite Meal: Homemade southern style macaroni and cheese
Favorite Book: Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert
Favorite Movie: When Harry Met Sally
Favorite Song: September by Earth Wind and Fire
Favorite Place: Charleston, South Carolina. The “Holy City” is home and my favorite place on earth.
Give us your Elevator Speech.
Oh my goodness, how tall is the building? I’m not sure I’ve ever mastered the elevator speech. But for you, Becca, I’m going to give it my best try: I am a writer and a blogger. I write about my life in hopes of telling stories that entertain and inspire others and give them the feeling of “Oh yeah, I’ve been there!” As a consultant, I help my clients tell their stories, too. I love discovering what makes them so special and sharing their stories with the world.
Get Social With Angie:
Angie has a great blog and I enjoy reading her insights. Thanks Becca; it was nice to learn more about her here.
Thanks for stopping by, Mark. I love Angie’s blog, and hope to read her book someday soon!
I love the various social media too but agree it’s good to duck out of it every so often. Enjoyed reading this ‘Conversation over coffee’.
Sometimes it’s good to “set yourself free” from all the social media distractions – It’s hard to let go, however!
Angie is a dear friend of mine. She truly is a bright light! So happy to read about her here! Thanks Becca!
It was an honor to be featured over here, Becca. You asked some wonderful questions that really made me think. I love turning inward… there’s always something new to discover and learn!