How I Rewrote My Story And So Can You

Do you know the song Bitch? In case your answer is no, (what!), it goes like this, “I’m a bitch. I’m a lover. I’m a child. I’m a mother. I’m a sinner. I’m a saint. And I do not feel ashamed.” I should analyze with my therapist why this is the first thing I thought of when trying to describe myself. But I feel I indeed sit on many chairs. I’m an employee, part-time freelancer, and a person of many hobbies. One thing to unite all this is that I look for purpose in the things I do. I have a passion for community and diversity, and those elements were at the beginning of my story about how I jumped into the storytelling waters.

We all love stories as kids, don’t we? Everything in childhood is story-based. That’s how we learn and socialize. Some people, over time, lose their child-like curiosity and playfulness. But I’m happy it stuck with me. And I have the same interest in hearing great tales as I’m passionate about sharing them. They inspire us and give us the courage to return to our lives and believe that we can do it too. 

Storytelling on and off

When I was seven, I started writing a travel journal, which I then read to my family. I also frequently presented them with exclusive editions of my own newspaper with accounts of what my turtle ate that day and other critical reports. At twelve, I launched a class magazine. And until I was eighteen, I aspired to a writing career.

I passed an audition for an intern at a news agency. But the more experience I gained, the less I believed I could succeed in the competitive world of journalism. Journalism and I just didn’t seem like the right fit. And as my press card expired, I began to turn my attention to what I could do with other things I cared about – community, inclusivity, and personal growth. I enrolled in an andragogy and HR studying program at Charles University and embarked on a professional path in leadership advisory.

Writing the Princess Unipony Diaries

…Years later, I was lying on a sofa with my feet up and head hanging down. I was engaged in our many existential talks with my friend S. “You should totally start a blog,” she concluded. “I should totally start a blog!” I exclaimed. How did that appear like such an obvious idea? Err, I don’t remember. But I seemed pretty convinced, so I got to work, and within a week, the blog, The Princess Unipony Diaries, was born. 

You can guess from the original title that I had a lot of specific ideas and a crystal-clear direction. 

In the end, it played in my favor that my life felt like a rollercoaster ride at that time. My romantic life was a mess, I resented my job, I just quit smoking and began healing from an eating disorder. I clearly needed a new project, anything to keep me busy and prevent me from hurting myself. It didn’t seem that important to know where I was going with the blog as long as I was heading forward. 

So for the lack of better ideas, I kicked it off by sharing the fuck-up stories of my life.

From Unicorns to Prague Actually

Over time, as I put my life together, I had fewer embarrassing anecdotes and more ambitions to cultivate my passion for storytelling while contributing even more to the English-speaking community in Prague. 

Why don’t I interview and share inspiring stories of some remarkable English-speaking Praguers? 

Why not indeed. I got to work again and later added to my repertoire practical and fun guides and tips on life in Prague and voilá! Princess Unipony turned into Prague Actually, an expat-friendly blog about life and people in Prague. 

At the beginning of last year, I initiated cooperation with news platforms such as Prague Morning and Prague Monitor and got my first big writing gig with the English College in Prague. All this led me last December to get my own storytelling side hustle rolling.

Rewrite Your Story 

This could have been a story of my failure to become a journalist. Instead, I choose to tell it as a story of my success in becoming a freelance copywriter. 

How do you tell the story of your life? The way your narrative goes becomes part of your identity. It’s not about what happened but why it was important, what it means to you, who you became because of it, and what comes next for you.

For example, my background as a headhunter in management consulting now allows me to see my clients’ stories in a unique context. I can add value to them in a way that wouldn’t be possible for me as a journalism graduate or downright marketer.

If you find it hard to find the silver lining in your story, I’m here for you. I consider it one of my superpowers to see and nail down what’s exceptional in seemingly ordinary narratives. I want us to come together and share our bold stories to inspire each other and give each other the courage to believe we can do it too!