Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Van Rooy
Hi Mary, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I always loved filming and making videos ever since I was a little kid! Once YouTube began, I had numerous channels where I would upload silly videos I created with friends/family and my travels in Europe! At around 22 years old, I moved to my grandparents farm and started to get a bit more “serious” about creating videos and began uploading more regularly on a channel called Very Mary Videos. I talked about Myers Briggs (personality types) and then I made vlogs of my experience living in Saudi Arabia. The vlogs in Saudi brought an in-pour of new subscribers and I gained around 50,000 subscribers in one day!! Alas, once I moved back to the USA, my views went down drastically! Since then, I have been “finding my way” via other outlets as well. I have been expressing myself via dancing, painting/drawing, fashion, poetry, and photography, among other creative paths. Unfortunately, my main YouTube channel is getting deleted very soon because it is connected to my University of Minnesota email and it won’t let me change it.. so long story short- all my videos and subscribers will be deleted! But it is ok- it means that a NEW venture is beginning and I am excited to start a new chapter on my life & creations!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Every venture has its own bumps and challenges! Many come to mind, so I will share a few. One struggle is the feedback from online… people can message weird creepy things or people can be very rude and critical or try to enforce that you change who you are (telling you how to dress, how to talk, etc.!) So that is a struggle to not react or get “wrapped up” or upset by such things. On the other side of the token, to also not get too wrapped up in the good comments or the internet world in general! It was a struggle for me to keep a balance of my REAL life and focus on the TANGIBLE life and not get too wrapped up in the online world! Another struggle for me internally is the feeling of insecurity or embarrassment! I feel this CALLING to share of myself, but yet I can also feel embarrassed of it! It is a challenge for me to know where the line is for “over sharing”. I have actually taken down MANY of the videos I created due to my realization that I do not want to share of certain things and also I feel like a totally different person from who I was a few years ago, so it feels like a wrong representation.
Also, I can feel like “why in the world am I sharing these things?!” And then I feel embarrassed or “cringey”. But I think a good remedy for that is to find people who are also expressive/creative and get inspired and feel a kinship with those people. Then you don’t feel as “weird” or silly.. instead you can feel OPEN to trying new things and sharing of your creativity! A current struggle I face is deciding where to devote my time and what avenues feel the most exciting & purposeful/passionate for me! As a creative, the feeling of “catching a wave and surfing” is truly sooo much fun and I am excited to be on a “wave” again (aka finding that flow state of creation where things are happening and you feel at ease yet excited!)
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have had many jobs. Bartending at Broadway in Chicago, nannying, summer camp counselor, teaching English abroad, working at coffee shops, bartending at tiki bar and movie theaters, social media for consignment shop, school photographer… and many other jobs! As for my art- I have also tried many things! My main focus has always been videos, but I also partake in photography, drawing, acting, painting, writing, dancing, etc.! I’d say I am most known for my videos on YouTube. I especially love the videos I create with OTHER people! The collaboration and mixture of different personalities really intrigue me! I also love when I go on adventures and when I express what I am feeling. I am most “proud” when people tell me that I have inspired them to be more authentic or to be more present or happy! 🙂 Or when people mention that my videos make them laugh or feel uplifted! 🙂 What sets me apart from others is that I deeply appreciate the small things in life (a cloud, a tiny bug, just sitting outside) and I realize that this life is very temporary. I am immensely impacted by Eckhart Tolle’s teachings, which are all about present moment awareness. Something else that sets me apart is my ability to be weird! What I mean is that I purposefully give myself permission to do things that might seem a bit odd or childish! For example, frolic & skip around barefoot through a field or randomly wear a funky hat I find on top of a fire hydrant!
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Hmmm.. I’d say most of the people who have helped me haven’t even known! For example, famous musical artists whose creations have inspired me to be my authentic self! Also, various creatives I’ve met/seen online. For example, “Sparkl Fairy Couture” in Santa Monica, Los Angeles CA. The owner created her own clothing brand and I love it! Plus, I met her in person twice and she was the most beautiful, personable, inspiring energy to be around! She really has this amazing ability to give you her fullest attention and make you feel special! She has influenced and inspired me in countless ways!!
Also, those who have written to me or told me that I inspire them. When I get positive feedback from others, it’s like fuel for me to keep going!!
Also, people like my eldest brother, John, who has always been very supportive! When we lived in Saudi, he would help me film or give me ideas for videos! It felt so sweet that someone really seemed to care about my passion! Plus, my boss Alisha at the consignment shop would meet with me and ask me about my dreams and aspirations! It was so helpful to bounce ideas off her and to get new insights from her mystical magical brain! The list could go on & on! Authors, Musicians, Comedians! Also a counselor who was so encouraging of me (just in general, she was so encouraging and I felt that her “light” was transmuted onto me during those dark times)!
Of course, a big contribution to my “success” was also anyone who participated in videos with me!!
But mainly, I get inspired by TONS of people and they contribute to my continued enthusiasm for creation!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marymerrymary
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@maryvanrooy
- Other: https://youtube.com/@maryvanrooy2
