Today we’d like to introduce you to Meagan Farris.
Hi Meagan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I was seventeen when I found out I was pregnant. With that, I knew two things: 1) My life was going to be a lot more terrifying than I thought it would be, and 2) It was going to be significantly more beautiful. From the day I found out I was pregnant, my only objective was to be the best and most holistic version of myself that I could be. Before becoming pregnant, I had fallen off the trajectory outlined in front of me – I had dropped out of my early college high school, was in a very dark state, and wasn’t making the best decisions. I knew that we both deserved more. The moment I found out I was pregnant, I changed everything. I took every parenting course I could find, got my GED, became a licensed insurance professional, and wrote for the first time in years. I began journaling – writing to her every day during my pregnancy.
Then, I felt her kick, and it’s narrowly an exaggeration when I say it felt like God was clearing His throat, and I couldn’t help but jot down what later became “Fetus in the Womb” in my book, Piece de Resistance: The Art of Depression. You see, I’ve always had this sadness inside me – this darkness I ran from on the playground in my adolescence. I didn’t naturally see the beauty in life, even as a child, but at that moment, I felt this peace that was so dauntingly unfamiliar it was almost hair-raising. It was the first poem I had written in over a decade, tearing open this levy in my heart. It was here I started my journey as a mother and a real poet. The thing about people, though, is we’re all sorts of things. I’m also an avid art-lover and an entrepreneur at heart; with that, my story severs itself into two. As a creative, I’ve always enjoyed the study of the artist. I am not a painter, but I adore the story being told in each piece.
As I continued to write, I wanted to share that love with people who may also be struggling with their mental health to let them know that they aren’t alone and I’m not alone – some of the greatest minds had felt the way you do right now 100 years before you existed. This is life, and it’s so beautiful when you allow it to be. That’s when I had the idea to integrate art history into my chapbook. I spent years Googling art pieces, the accompanying artist, any interesting facts about the art, etc. I’d get home from work and channel all my energy into research and writing after my daughter was asleep. Each poem in my book addresses real trauma that I’ve experienced or have witnessed people in my life experience. Every poem was done with care, and I was sure to interview people and receive permission to tell their stories from their perspective if it wasn’t about me.
Almost five years ago, I got to be this vessel to tell 100s of stories – mine, the artists, and people in my community – and I’m so thankful for that. Inside my book, you’ll also find all my resource material and citations for my work and some resources if you are experiencing any of the hardships described in my book. During 2020, I donated approximately $800 to Black Lives Matter by donating all of my proceeds from the year. We raised about $200, but I committed to matching it and then was able to submit it for company matching in December of that year. I’m working on my 5-year anniversary edition and plan to share updates for my second and third books in the series soon.
This brings me to part two: I have always been an entrepreneur. My father is a successful businessman who spent most of his career in sales – I practically knew how to negotiate before I could walk. I was good in sales, but I’ve always been fascinated with the Tech industry. Not so much the being in tech but the People side of the Tech Industry. About 4 months before my book was ready to publish, I stumbled upon a news article: “[Streaming Company] comes to Texas.” I immediately applied and spent the night scouring the internet for someone to contact. I found the Director on LinkedIn, and I messaged her, and to my surprise, it resonated with her, and she got me in contact with the Recruiter. During my interview loop, I met who would later become my Manager on a team called “Workplace Experience.” Now, when I say that, I came in with a highlighted article on whatever-the-heck “Workplace Experience” was that is no joke. I couldn’t believe they offered me a job. Now, it’s five years later, and I’m leading a team of 10 in one of our largest regional offices serving our employees. My job is to make sure our team of 500+ love their job, and I’m so honored to have this role. I’ve also started moonlighting for a California-based AI company and have some tech projects in my back pocket.
As with us all, life has continued to come at full speed. I’ve gotten engaged, had another daughter, and found my faith. I’ve also gone through many hard things over the last few years, most of which I’ve kept very private. But all of it is so important – these little things—all of the little miracles that happen along the way. I have had a lot of privilege in my life, but I’ve also had a lot of trauma. I went from a very sheltered and naïve kid to a trouble-making teenager, to a new mom, to what I’d consider a successful professional, an impactful writer, and a good person. For a long time, I was resentful, but now I see how much beauty came from the hard. All I can say is to have faith, take slim chances, and do good. You’ll be surprised how far those three things can take you.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It definitely could have been a smoother road. I joke a lot about how I live in this soap opera-style alternate reality where the only law that exists is Murphy’s Law; a more light-hearted example is that in 2020, my AC went out, and my roof caved in the same week I had COVID. When the roof caved, with it came a raccoon my team later named in loving memory “Bandit.” The thing about roads is that the bumpiest ones will take you to the most beautiful places. I cover this in more depth in my book, but I can attest to experiencing some roads less traveled. On those roads, however, I met the people who have become so painstakingly important.
When you are on a dark road, and it’s raining, and you can’t see before you, it’s so easy to feel lost. But when you zoom out, you know you’re still on a city grid. Everything is still connected. A great example is that my old insurance boss connected me with the AI company I’m moonlighting for.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I wear so many hats depending on what circle you are in. At school, I’m the mom passing out lemonade at the dance. I’m building out 100,000s of square feet of office space at work. As a poet, I’m known for being vulnerable. In my free time, I’m known as the residential fun-fact knower. We’re all so many different things all at once. My favorite thing about people is that we aren’t monolithic. In the words of Aristotle, “The whole is greater than the sum of our parts.”
We all have different ways of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I love this question. Are you happy? Are you good to the stranger at the gas station? Are you making time for the things that bring you joy? Success is unique to every person, and I don’t have any right to dictate a uniform definition. Writing, working, and being a mother fill up three separate cups (albeit the mother one is the largest and most important). But I wouldn’t be me without all those cups, the “friend” cup, the “partner” cup, etc. I’m successful in various ways, each to their caliber, and I hope that everyone finds the strength to define success for themselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://themodernworkspace.blogspot.com/
- Instagram: @meaganthepoet
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meaganf/
