Q&A with the Creative Minds & Souls: Melissa McDonald on the good life, appreciating art and living in BC.

3 min read

In the second part of our new blog series called "Q&A with Creative Minds & Souls" we catch up with Melissa McDonald, owner/founder at My Networks Copywriting and Marketing (who has helped us with some writing and strategy in the past!) on some of the big questions surrounding the good life, appreciating art and living in BC.

AGBC: Where do you live in BC and why do you like living there?

Melissa: I currently live in Squamish, BC with my husband and little man. We definitely prefer the slower pace of life than the city - and as I’m originally from Manchester UK, I really appreciate the amount of natural beauty everywhere you look…even if I am slightly terrified by bears and cougars! From my small pond, we only have roguish foxes and squirrels to deal with. And as much as I love to hike, swim and do lots of sport here, I also just love to be able to walk out my front door down to the river, and sit and listen to the water.

AGBC:  Where do you find inspiration to be creative?

Melissa: That’s a hard question! Honestly, everywhere. I enjoy writing (both professionally and personally) and playing the piano, so definitely books and music inspire me a lot. But it’s also like a part of my brain that never quite switches off. It’s always coming up with ideas whether I’m driving, out walking, eating, watching a movie, or trying to sleep! It can really be anything. 

AGBC:  What does living a good life look like to you?

Melissa: A good life for me is kind of stereotypical I guess. But I think it’s owning some land, a few chickens, your own veggie patch, and in my world - having my son running around some fields butt naked! Something that gets you back to your roots so you can focus on what’s really important. Because I think it’s so easy to get swept up in the negative nowadays and materialistic stuff that doesn’t satisfy you for long.  For now though, I’ll settle for a life where I get to wake up and choose what I’m going to do with each day and choose how/where I’m going to hopefully make some kind of impact. And that’s also what I try to do through my work and the clients I work with.

AGBC:  What’s a favourite piece of artwork in your house right now?

Melissa: I have two! A piece called Motherhood by Sandra Poliakov that I just got framed - which my husband actually hates because he thinks it’s depressing haha! But that’s art, right!? And I also have some beautiful hand-blown glasses from Mexico which are also a semi-new favourite.

AGBC:  Why is sustainability important to you?

Melissa: Because if we want to continue to live in this world, we have to start making better, conscious decisions. And I’m not saying I’m perfect, or anyone else is. I think that’s almost impossible in a world where pretty much everything is packaged in plastic and we exist in a mass consumption, mass pollution state of living. But that’s why you have to do what you can, where you can. And as much as you can. Even if it means going out of your way sometimes, something simple like washing out that food carton for the recycling bin when you’re extra tired, or not acting on impulse every time you see something you want to buy. Actually, my pet peeve is seeing people leave their garbage at campsites or around the bins when they’re full - it only takes a few minutes to pack it up or take it out.

AGBC:  If you could inspire one universal change through your work or
life, what would it be?

Melissa: I want to say something about the planet or war or disease - but actually the first thing that comes to my mind is books for everyone. I believe every child in particular deserves to grow up with access to thrilling tales they can get lost in, historical nonfiction to learn about different cultures and backgrounds, and access to entire worlds at their fingertips. At the end of the day, we don’t know what’s going to happen in the future, or how long the world is going to be around. Especially with all the news we hear. But I do know a good book can make you happy and open up entirely new perspectives, even if it’s only for a brief moment in time.