Welcome to This Is Me Thursdays! To read other posts in this series, click here. If you want to be involved, please email me for more details! Today, learn more about Anna Larson, someone I used to work with years ago and have since connected with more on social media.
I can’t remember exactly when we first connected with each other, but she’s become such a bright light on my Facebook and Instagram feeds. She takes really beautiful photos, but she’s very real and honest about her life and the things she’s going through. She’s so stylish, beautiful, vulnerable and transparent, and I really honor and respect that.
This Is Me: Anna Larson
Share a little about yourself and what you’re up to these days.
Nice to meet you, I’m Anna! I live in Fargo, N.D., with my boyfriend, his dog, Dobby, and my cat, Eva. I work in marketing. I’m known for my red hair with bangs and love of cats, Paris, coffee, and style. I’m passionate about helping people and advocating for mental health.
The year is off to a fresh start for me. In January, I joined Flint Group as a social media and content strategist. I’m elated to be working with such smart, kind people at a progressive agency. The “agency life” suits me.
What does life purpose mean to you? Does it really exist for you/all of us, or is it just some pipe dream?
We all have a purpose. It’s the thing or things that really light us up! It’s different for everyone. Your purpose could be to advocate for others, to be a dad or a mom, to bring a different voice to your profession, to make art, to share yourself with the world, to be an example of authenticity, anything.
We talk a lot about “finding” our purpose, and I think it’s more of “being open to” our purpose. It’s already in us, we just need to allow it to thrive in us.
What motivates and inspires you in your life?
I want to know that I’ve made things better for people. Helping others motivates me, and people inspire me. I admire my parents, so wanting to make them proud is also a constant motivator. They sacrificed and worked hard so my siblings and I could have every opportunity. I want them to know I recognize that, and I’m not taking it for granted.
Is what you do now what you always imagined doing? Why or why not, and what have you learned because of that?
I feel like I’m in my element again at Flint. Thinking back to younger me, she would be so proud. I dreamed of being in a creative career, an artist of some kind. I’m doing that in lots of ways. So, yea, this is what I imagined, just not exactly how I imagined it.
Life doesn’t follow directions. Our paths are windy and unpredictable. That’s the beauty of living. I’m learning to embrace the unknown while soaking up the present.
What’s something you desperately want other people to know or realize that may help them in their lives?
You are the only you, and this is the only now. Life is short—it’s been a mantra in my family since I was a child. My family’s been through a lot, and I’ve been a caretaker to a very sick friend. Going through all of that has made me grateful for my health and support system. My boyfriend encourages me to be present—he truly grounds me and reminds me of what’s important in life. I feel like the luckiest woman.
How do you define belonging and connection, and how have your definitions changed over time?
We all have a purpose. It’s the thing or things that really light us up! It’s different for everyone. Your purpose could be to advocate for others, to be a dad or a mom, to bring a different voice to your profession, to make art, to share yourself with the world, to be an example of authenticity, anything.
We talk a lot about “finding” our purpose, and I think it’s more of “being open to” our purpose. It’s already in us, we just need to allow it to thrive in us.
What’s something you make sure to do every day/week/month that helps you practice self-care and self-love?
I see a counselor pretty regularly to keep my mind growing. I experience anxiety daily, and it can spiral quickly. By seeing a professional, I’m able to work through my thinking and understand why I might think how I do, what I can do to change unhealthy ways of thinking, etc. It gives me the tools I need to live a better life.
How do you define success in your life and/or business?
For me, success means alignment. It means that I’m living my purpose, and my desires align with my actions. It means I’m being the best me I can possibly be. It might sound a little “woo woo” but I think it’s important to be aligned. Typically, people talk about money and success. Does money matter? Sure, it does. It can make life easier. But when I’m old and looking back on my life, I won’t give a shit about money. I’ll care about my relationships, how I treated people, and the mark I left on the world.
Photo courtesy of Anna Larson
