What began as a way to cope with the isolation of heart surgery has transformed into a thriving online community and a major personal achievement: becoming a YouTube Partner.

Alone in a hospital bed after heart surgery, I realized I needed a way to connect with others—something to channel my energy into and to give my life a renewed sense of purpose. This realization marked the beginning of my journey into live streaming, which has now led me to become a Twitch Affiliate and, most recently, a YouTube Partner.

Setting ambitious goals—like reaching 500 subscribers and then 3,000 watch hours—was my way of pushing through challenges, and just yesterday, August 9th, 2024, I accomplished the latest of these milestones, solidifying my place as a YouTube Partner.

In this post, I'll share the lessons I've learned along the way—how embracing the journey rather than fixating on the destination has led to both personal fulfillment and professional success.

Along this journey, I had learned from my previous endeavors and didn’t wait for destination happiness to enjoy what I was doing. I did this when getting close to publishing my novels, I was so determined in getting it published that I failed to just enjoy the process. I had worked on those novels for 11 years, and had grown impatient in the last couple of years, I just wanted to get them out, but that robbed me of present happiness, the flow state I was hitting while writing, getting lost in that world I had built, falling in love with the characters I created to the point they each started to annoy me, looking back I miss it. But, I learned from that mistake, and have held no expectations of this journey, have wanted to get to no destination in order to start appreciating, or waiting for some outside validation.

I love creating these videos as they relieve stress for me, they allow me to get lost in creating them, away from the business of reality. Creating these videos is my refuge—a way to escape the demands of reality and immerse myself in a space of creativity and peace. It’s more than just a hobby; it’s an art form that brings me a deep sense of stillness. This commitment to being fully present in the moment, along with my desire to elevate my emotional intelligence, has made this journey deeply personal. I believe this authenticity is what allows my videos to resonate with viewers on a universal level.

I am forever grateful to everyone who has taken the time to watch these videos, who have liked and subscribed, reaching this milestone wouldn’t have happened without you. Another aspect of this journey has been my recitation of positive affirmations, of visualizing a goal that I had not initially intended to hit, but wanted to prove to myself that through loving and enjoying the journey great things can happen, further proving to myself that grit and discipline are greater than external motivating factors such as reaching this milestone. That no matter if others watch these videos or not, I am being intentional with the energy that I am putting out into the world. 

Reflecting in moments like this to acknowledge all of the dedication and devotion it took to accomplish such a milestone. Knowing there is still more ahead. There will still be more obstacles to overcome, computer crashes, power outages, program crashes, monitors malfunctioning, but maintaining this growth mindset through it all. 

Through this journey, I've discovered that staying grounded in the present and finding meaning in daily actions are crucial for both creativity and well-being. But it’s not always easy to maintain this mindset, especially when faced with challenges or feelings of stagnation. To help myself stay focused and resilient, I’ve turned to positive affirmations—simple yet powerful reminders that keep me aligned with my goals and intentions. These affirmations have been a source of strength for me, and I believe they can offer the same support to anyone pursuing their own path. Here are some of the affirmations I keep close to heart:

"My videos add value to viewers' lives, leading to increased watch hours and engagement." 

"I create content that resonates with my audience, ensuring each video moves me closer to the Partner Program."

"I am thankful for every new subscriber and viewer, as they are part of my journey to success on YouTube."

"I have the grit to get up each day and move confidently towards my dreams."

"Challenges only strengthen my resolve and dedication to my goals."

"I am resilient, persistent, and unwavering in my pursuit."

"I possess an unstoppable energy and enthusiasm that propels me forward each day." 

Let’s Continue to Go Further Together, One Step at a Time.

Every Day at 1:23 my Daily Gratitude Alarm goes off and I make it a point to say out loud what I am grateful for in that moment. I try to make it as immediate in my surrounding, whether it be objects like my mouse, my keyboard, microphone, or people like viewers, or readers, like you, Karol who has supported this journey every step of the way including becoming my first member on YouTube, and my Grandmother who is celebrating her 80^th Birthday today, born August 10, 1944.