Meet Deborah Young | Blogger/Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Deborah Young and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Deborah, how do you think about risk?
First of all, I just want to say I really think this question is super cool. It’s so different from some of the other questions I’ve had in the past, so this one really stands out. When I think about taking risks, especially over the last four years as a blogger, it’s definitely been about writing on topics that are different. Initially, I was a beauty blogger, writing about that, and I also had some book-related content that I had written very early on. Back in 2016, I had written about TV shows, movies, and collaborated on blog posts. But then, I started to get more personal. Writing blog posts that are personal to you comes with risks, and I’ve learned from that experience. There were times when I had to retract and apologize for some of the language I used. I also learned to share only certain things. But for some reason, my personal lifestyle blog posts—where I talk about unfortunate events I went through or something that happened—have been really successful. A lot of people have connected with those posts, but it was a risk. After so many years of worrying about my online reputation, I decided to build a community that I truly wanted, not just a generic, SEO-driven blog. I wanted my blogs to be about community, for the people who follow me to feel seen and connected. It was very risky to take that approach, but at the same time, I’ve grown and learned from it, and I’m still growing and learning.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
When introducing myself, I say: “My name is Deborah Young, and I am the blogger and owner of the blog *HeadphonesThoughts*. I started this blog in 2020 during the pandemic, mainly to keep myself occupied and to grow as a writer during that challenging time. As someone with a bachelor’s degree in English, I also wanted to practice my writing skills, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to do so while being a blogger.” Over the last four years, I’ve grown immensely, and that growth has shaped my career as a blogger and writer. Was it easy? No, it wasn’t. Honestly, blogging has many fun aspects, and I don’t want to discourage anyone. Being creative and writing is a lot of fun, but it’s not easy. There have been times when I’ve made numerous grammar mistakes or posted impulsively without proper editing. I’ve written blog posts that offended people, and I had to retract my words and edit them to be more thoughtful. I’ve had to publicly apologize multiple times. It’s not easy when you’re growing, learning, and posting on the worldwide web, where you don’t know the audience and where people have different opinions and thoughts. Growth and learning are part of the process. My advice is to not be impulsive—slow down, fully process everything before publishing or posting anything online, because you never know how people will react. What I want the world to know about me is that I am human. I make mistakes, and I’m growing and learning just like everyone else. Unfortunately, I’ve been through a lot in my life that has affected me. As someone trying to learn how to process and grow from those experiences, I have different opinions, which is why my blog is called *Headphone Thoughts*—because it’s a collection of my thoughts and how I see the world. I hope you’ll join me on this journey as I write about my pain and my thoughts on the world. Thank you to everyone who has supported me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is such a fun question, I love it! If someone were coming to hang out, I’d tell them I live in the Orlando, Florida area. For safety reasons, I won’t specify exactly where, but I can definitely recommend some great places. First and foremost, Orlando has a ton of amazing food spots. A great place to visit is Disney Springs, where there are plenty of restaurant options. If my friend wanted to try different types of food, Disney Springs has many fantastic options. Universal Studios also has great places to eat, so it’s worth checking out as well. Personally, I love Mediterranean food, and there are several wonderful places in the area that I really enjoy. For fun, I love miniature golf! It’s something I’ve always enjoyed, and it’s just as fun as an adult. Since I also write about movies, I would definitely recommend going to the X Theater. It’s an interactive theater—one of the few in the U.S.—and it offers a very unique movie experience. It’s such a cool place and a lot of fun if you’re looking for something different. There are so many great places to explore, eat, and have fun in the Orlando area!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, I want to give a shoutout to my family. For privacy, I won’t mention their names, but I definitely want to thank them for encouraging me to become a blogger. For the longest time, I doubted myself. I didn’t feel like I was worth it, didn’t think anyone would read my work, and didn’t even feel good enough as a writer. I’m so thankful to my family for encouraging me to pursue blogging. Without them, I really wouldn’t be blogging or writing today. They’ve been such a source of encouragement for me, so they are definitely people I want to acknowledge.I also want to give a shoutout to the blogging community for supporting me, teaching me, helping me grow, and being so forgiving. They’ve supported me in so many ways, and I’m incredibly thankful for that. I also want to say thank you to all the writers out there who are building community and creating safe spaces to write.To anyone who wants to be a writer or blogger: go for it! Follow your dreams—you’re worth it, and it’s definitely worth the effort.

Website: https://headphonesthoughts.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/headphonesthoughts/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeadphonesTblog

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/headphonesthoughts

Image Credits
All Image Credit goes to Deborah Young (Headphonesthoughts.com)