Appreciating the Journey That Led Me to Living Out My Childhood Dream

I uploaded my first YouTube video in 2009 not knowing that decision was going to change the rest of my life.

I made up the screen name “Blogilates” because I simply meshed together 2 things I liked: blogging and Pilates. I uploaded my first workout video because it was a going away gift for my 40 POP Pilates students who wanted to still work out with me after I had to move away. I wasn’t trying to start a brand, get rich, or be famous. In fact, back in those days, you couldn’t even make money on YouTube. Brand deals and Adsense were not even a thing. It was simply a place to connect.

Thank you VidCon for inducting me into the Hall of Fame What an HONOR, but especially alongside legends Michelle Phan, Philip DeFranco and Markiplier!

Can’t believe I attended my first vidcon back in 2012 as a regular attendee waiting in line to take a pic with Harley of Epic Meal Time (who doesn’t love watching people construct absurdly large towers of high calorie foods then consuming it like a beast who hasn’t eaten for weeks?), then came back as a full-on YouTuber speaking on panels in front of thousands, then yesterday, inducted into the Hall of Fame?

I have to really force myself to stop and look back in order to appreciate my journey, because too often I’m moving too fast, only looking forward, and thinking about everything going wrong instead of what has gone right.

Pro pics by Ashly and iPhone pics by my number one supporter ever since forever, Sam