Hello Chocolate Queens & Kings

Wow, thanks for all the amazing support it's been  For those who don’t know the women behind the brand my name is Megan Fairley, I am the owner of Notion Fashion, Megan Fairley, and also the coordinator behind Project hope & beyond.  I have mental illness, yes maybe you did expect to see that one coming.  I have had a huge amount of trauma in my life right back to losing my brother when I was 10 years old, it’s come in almost constant waves, and you know it’s been pretty stacked against you when even your counsellor is brought to tears from hearing about your story.  I have found that when I talk about my mental health struggles or wobbles as I call them I sometimes get people who give pity, I don’t want pity.  You want people in this country to stop worrying about the f**king stigma attached to mental illness and to start standing up and supporting people.  In building a business in New Zealand I have been faced with some of the nastiest human behaviour where people have done things to you to prevent your business from growing.  I just find this utterly appalling as when you start out with a business you are first trying to put some food on the table. I understand there is competition in business but when the actions or behaviours leave you feeling so ashamed that you become suicidal, this is not competition New Zealand.  I really don’t care whether or not someone has been in the fashion industry 5 minutes or 25 years it gives you no f**kin right to bully people.  Full stop.  

For ages, it broke my heart to feel like we live in a world where if you break your arm, everyone runs over to sign your cast. But, if you tell people you’re depressed, everyone runs the other way. We are so accepting of any body part breaking down, other than our brains. And that’s ignorance. That’s pure ignorance.  This little extract was taken from the voices of hope site, I get where they are coming from but as you learn about human behaviour more and more through growing a business and facing trauma you get to a stage where you feel like nobody cares.  To change the attitudes of those who don’t get mental illness your feel like this is an absolute uphill slog.  The facts are really from the world health organization there are over 800,000 people who take their lives to suicide every year.  So I changed my game up!! Instead of working on changing attitudes, I work on loving myself more.  Part of this journey is the affirmations I indulge in every day, and the goal was to bring these into Notion, to not only share my journey but to help inspire other women business owners who have been bullied or even struggle to get the support they need to keep moving forward. 

The best thing I ever did was believe in me.

𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 ♡ when you're been laughed at because you came from a Chocolate Factory ♡ when you're been told you have no skills or intelligence because you came from a Chocolate Factory ♡ when people you have helped over the years do not give back or demonstrate the same behaviour ♡ 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 ♡

Strong women don’t have attitudes they have standards & boundaries.

It is healthy to set boundaries & you have the right to set boundaries. Decide what you're willing to tolerate and what you're not. Keep them consistent and know your worth. I started small incorporating new boundaries into Notion. When you set boundaries in business or life you show up differently which changes the behaviour of those around you.

Speak your mind even if your voice shakes.

The voice is coming.... I am sharing my journey of depression, anxiety, bullying, & discrimination.

I am sharing with you how I have worked so, so hard to love myself more through all of this sh*t.

Why? 🤷🏼‍♀️ Because I am not the only person who has a battle going on inside my head because of the actions or lack of actions from others.

I have been that person that feels like a worthless piece of sh*t. If you are struggling YOU ARE NOT ALONE. I share my journey to help inspire people and to give hope to keep pushing forward no matter what. Keep moving forward, reach out to someone you trust, you are worthy, hustle with a HEART only. ❤️

I stopped waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel and lit that b*tch up myself.

Hell yeah!!! 🔥🔥🔥 You've got this awesome people, keep moving forward and consider it an opportunity to create an opening! You have the potential to lit that tunnel like it's never been lit before!!! Do it. 🖤

Be proud of who you are, never ashamed of how someone else sees you.

Sometimes I feel like I’m not quite cool enough. Sometimes I feel like I’m not quite popular enough. Sometimes I feel like I don’t fit in the same way other people do.

Sometimes I feel like there is a group who maybe doesn’t really want me there. Sometimes I wonder why I wasn’t invited. Sometimes I walk up to a circle of people and I don’t know whether to force my way in or be awkward hanging around on the outside, just twiddling my thumbs, kicking the dirt, talking to myself, waiting until I can leave and go home to the safety of my sofa.

Circles are great if you’re on the inside. They can be fun if you’re in one, but circles can be awfully cruel if you’re left on the outskirts, looking for a way to get inside.

They can be exclusive.

They can be excluding.

They can be exhausting.

They can be cliquish.

They can be childish.

They are far, far too common.

Be proud of who you are and let's create a culture where everyone is accepted, a U culture, yes the same culture we had in that NZ Chocolate Factory that was closed down.

Thanks for reading this big one, this is one of the mental health issues I have battled through since leaving Cadburys Dunedin, I hope when you read this you hear your own story and know that you are not alone in this journey

This is how we drive our motivation, focus on you!!  Work on you for you!!  Do what inspires you and keeps you lifted, hang, and connect with those with the same attitudes and desires to grow.  This is not selfish this is about living not surviving, end of the story.  Follow the Notion or Megan Fairley to see the latest affirmations of inspiration. 

Thanks so much for reading!! M xx