Madventures

11/22/22

“Who are you and why did I let the media’s algorithm use me like this?”, you may be wondering. 

Truth is, I really don’t know how to answer this question. 

“Who are you?”

This question is often asked throughout our life in many different ways and yet each time this question approaches, I stumble. Who am I? 

A question that is so “surface-level”, yet I take it so deeply. Sure, anyone can give a rundown of their name, where they are from, and how old they are but those are just questions that even a driver’s license can answer. Something about a “quick- rundown” does not settle right with me and that is why I am struggling to explain who I am. 

I can sit here and list off very basic surface level facts…

My name is Madyson, but I go by Mady.

I am from Southeastern Ohio.

I am a college student.

My favorite color is yellow. 

But in reality, we are much more than the surface level overviews that we often spit out when somebody asks us who we are. 

I feel as if we should rather change the, “Who are you?” questions and the, “tell me a bit about yourself” introductions to,

“What makes you, you?”

Notice how your answers change?

Here are some things that make me, ME: 

• I was born and raised in the Appalachian Region of Southeastern, Ohio. Experiencing the true Appalachian lifestyle sparked my interest to become a future social worker. I have witnessed and experienced many different things that allowed me to look at life from a different lens. Because I value education, I plan to work with education systems within poverty stricken areas to help break the ongoing cycles that poverty enhances. 

• I love to travel because it forces me to view the world in many different perspectives. It helps me notice global issues that we are often blinded to first-hand. Exploring God’s creation inspires me to become a better person and creates a spark in me to change the world. 

• I am a sucker for handwritten letters and postcards because they feel more personal and it also allows me to take a break from the media world. 

• I need at LEAST twelve hours of sleep to function. People have actually played ‘nose goes’ to decide on who was waking up the beast (me) once. 

• I am a GREAT cook, burning everything I touch :), I somehow managed to catch a bagel on fire once.

• I love deep talks. The uncomfortable conversations. I love learning weird and goofy facts about a person. I believe that everyone has layers to them that makes them who they are. I love slowly peeling those layers off and truly getting to know who people are deep down inside. 

• I often find myself getting carried away having solo dance parties in my bedroom like I am the next sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden when nobody is watching. 

You get the gist…

Anywho…. Now that I am thinking back on my solo dance parties, I cannot help but to both cringe and wonder why I close the curtains on people so that they cannot see me break out the best moves ever (not). But seriously, what am I afraid of? Why do we often do this in life settings as well? We close the curtains and mask who we are in public. What are we afraid of them seeing? You being human? YOU being, YOU? 

My blogs are written to allow not only myself, but my audience, to channel our inner goofy, authentic, and raw selves despite what society demands. 

With that being said, be the person dancing in your room with the curtains open. Be the light. Be the spark. Let people see you shine because one day they will dance with you too.

So I am going to leave you with a question. Who are you when society is not looking? 

I am Madyson Murphy, your personal flight attendant. So buckle in passengers and follow me on my wild adventures, experiences, thoughts, and ambitions. 

This is ME. This is who I am.