Hello! I am McKenzie McCoy, sometimes you’ll see my name as m. lauren (my author name). I am the founder of my metamorphosis, thank you for being here! I’m an international business student (in my first year) and traveling the world. I felt there needed to be a space where I can share my experiences of the world I venture.
You are the only person in the universe, right now looking at this screen, from this angle, through your own eyes, and I am grateful you are here. Growing up, I’ve traveled the world ten times over and into space by the age of 12 through books. reading can take people on journeys through the perspective of someone else, a perspective you can truly never live, and that is how i fell in love with writing. I’m here not show off my travels, but to take you along the roller coaster that we call life. traveling alone as a young woman can be riveting but also terrifying and/or traumatizing. regardless, not enough people speak up on the parts we don’t see on social media.
BACKGROUND STORY
with all the cultures and places people visit, many only show the glory. the multicolored sunsets on a calm white beach, the rushing city lights and electric pulse of a city’s downtown. that is what social media and influencers show you (generally, maybe add in a bowl of leaves). however, I want to show you everything. while i may also be a hypocrite at times, only about 30% of my travels have been the picturesque settings you see through my camera or iPhone lense. no one talks about the enormous homeless population of Los Angeles, the dangerous and pervious men (that aren’t homeless) known to harass women in many American cities, ethnocentrism’s effects, or the dirty and uncomfortable situations you might find yourself in traveling to those white sandy beaches. I’ll be on my way to France at the end of the month, and i can’t wait to share my experience with the world (the good bad and the ugly). let’s start shedding a light on the truth…
why my metamorphosis?
“metamorphosis” is about change, growth, hardship, and rebirth- as you may know. it’s about the stages of life and persevering through whatever may come your way. when the scenes that I painted in my head while reading and digging my nose in a book for hours, manifest themself before my eyes, it is one of the most unbelievable feelings that words cannot describe.
I believe in meaningful travel, meaning that I want to go places to learn, whether it be about myself or others. I want to go to further learn the history, immerse myself in the culture, capture beautiful moments as well as raw moments (not always the picturesque scenes). while I travel, I have learned and grown so much internally, and also into the global community. I want you guys to come with me on this journey because it’s not just about seeing all these cool landmark places, it’s about growing into a person of our world. I really believe in meaningful travel and immersion, as well as respect, is what contributes greatly to my metamorphosis. I don’t have a name that fits a cheesy travel blog because my name is not meant for that. Traveling is not the only thing my blog is about; my metamorphosis is about how i travel and other correlated skills that have helped me grow and struggle through life. I want to have this blog for years, because life is a learning experience, and travel is part of that. However, there are things that I can’t even encapsulate into my three-word description. Yes, I am a solo traveler, but I’m also a photographer, feminist, an artist, a history nerd, someone who loves languages and cultures, someone who knows how to be resourceful because I didn’t grow up with much, and i don’t have a lot yet. I want to share the real honest truth of how my travels shape my life.
Also, fun fact, my last name starts and ends with “my” and my entire first and last name starts and ends with “my”, so “my” is my name condensed ;).
the logo explained-
metamorphosis is something insects go through, most commonly and my favorite of them all, a butterfly. known through many cultures as a beacon of transformation, hope, and positivity; these are all things that I believe in and I aspire to spread to you and the world. my first name under my metamorphosis is used for alliteration and familiarity purposes. the three messages around the circle are a few things i use to summarize my blog. “solo travel” is what my writing is centered around, “lifestyle” incorporates all things day to day, like being resourceful and managing finances when going abroad or in general to my skincare routine, and “unclassified” represents all things that do not fit into those categories but are correlated. also, this term is used in relation to insects ;). you can find these across my menu bar. i will update my logo and this page when a adjustment is needed, thank you for being here!
all rights reserved.
my goal-
I want you to feel seen and also confident that can travel regardless of your situation. I want you guys as readers to open your traveling mindset so you can learn while you’re exploring. Yes, go to Paris and see the Eiffel tower, but think about how Parisian culture is shaped by tourism, and how the French person next to you is in the same place experiencing an entirely different world, think about the French revolution, and how he a century ago, the streets are paved with a completely different scene. When you go to San Francisco, yes, admire the bridge and its architectural beauty, but think about the clash of east and west cultures that make up San Francisco’s very unique culture. Think about the rising housing crisis and the Tenderloin district where many go to OD.
my metamorphosis is a travel blog for research and engine purposes, but know my metamorphosis is my journey through life- traveling and growing, in my hobbies, in my perspectives and many other forms (Jill of all trades master of some). Everything from history and culture to itineraries and more are encapsulated into my metamorphosis. There are many perspectives and styles you can expect of my writing, all of which have a huge effect on my growth as a living being on this planet. So, stick around so we can learn to flourish and fly together.
“The best education you’ll get is traveling. Nothing teaches you more than exploring the world and accumulating experiences.”
Mark Patterson
your support means the world to me!
(I’m just going to email you when I publish a new article 😉
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