“Hurry up, hurry up, ain’t you had enough of this stuff? Ashtray floors, dirty clothes, and filthy jokes.”
– Can’t Hardly Wait, The Replacements
I am of the mindset that it takes a courageous person to be completely vulnerable. The idea of baring your soul to an online audience of strangers might seem unappealing, maybe even nightmarish for a great deal of people, but there are some individuals who are up for the challenge. Melanie Douglas belongs to that category of people who are willing to open up about her personal experiences. When the goal is sharing your own story in the hopes that others will be able to relate, feel connected and a little less lonely, it’s hard to argue against the act of vulnerability.
Melanie Douglas is a YouTuber who goes by the name Melanie Eilidh. She does not shy away from tough topics but confronts them in a genuine manner. From alcoholism and chronic pain to community activism and the journey that is life as a mature student, Melanie offers up slices of her life with a disarming presence that puts you at ease even in the face of subject matter that isn’t exactly light and fluffy. As much as she has a healthy appreciation for honesty, she also appreciates her surroundings. Subscribers to Melanie’s channel will notice the presence of videos that provide gorgeous glimpses of Canadian scenery.
An early supporter of my YouTube channel, Melanie reached out with the offer of a collaboration. I took her up on the offer and what resulted was hours of conversation and a budding friendship. Hooray for introverts making new friends in adulthood! Inspired by Melanie’s past videos, events in my own life and the lives of those around me, I suggested we tackle the topic of habits.
Melanie also produces content focused on her knowledge of Myers-Briggs personality typology. An INFP according to Myers-Briggs typology (MBTI), Melanie and I connected in the comments section of another MBTI YouTuber’s channel. What stood out to me immediately was her level of creativity. She expressed how she sometimes misheard lyrics and created poetry based on those misheard lyrics. I was impressed by this unique take on poetry and remembered her comment for quite a while although I didn’t remember that it was Melanie who authored it. Many months and comments later, I was sure I’d never be able to connect with the poet again. I’m glad I was wrong.