Self-employed for more than twenty years, Kimberly Megoran knows a thing or two about resiliency. And she has more than a story or two to tell about it.
The move to self-employment was inspired by travel to some extent. She was working at a local printing company in early 2000 when a two-week trip to the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally came up.
Time off was an issue, however.
So, Megoran and her employer parted ways. Its now been two decades and she hasnt looked back.
Artwork by Megoran and Love Street Live.
One thing has always led to another with her career and Kimberlys experience is as colorful and dynamic as both her art and music both passions she funnels into her work with Love Street Live.
Love Street Live brings together a harmony and inspiration of live painting, music and expression.
Just as interesting as her art however, is the path that got her there.
Previously, she ran her own media company for more than a decade, specializing in advertising and marketing for local businesses, radio ads, live interviews and more.
Megoran was later instrumental in both the Mountain Rock and Mountain Country Music Festivals in Farwell, Michigan before they shuttered in 2008 due to economic conditions.
She also had a live performance business, as both a singer and songwriter, often playing shows three to four nights a week.
What saved me during setbacks was my art she says. After the festivals shut down, I was both broke and heartbroken. I took my heartbreak and put that energy into art.
So, with that, Megoran took to her backyard.
Megoran performing live.
There was a piece of cement that was probably 10 feet by 30 feet and I knew I could do something with it, she says. It took months, but I painted a multi-dimensional display of rocks. It was so therapeutic during that time and at some point, you get into the mindset of thinking how can I get myself through this?.
After a few months, she took advantage of the economic climate at the time, picking up one of the stores that bought back gold and other jewelry in Saginaw as a marketing client. Megoran eventually learned enough about the business that she became a gold buyer, often hosting gatherings of women who wanted to make the most of old jewelry at the time.
After a chance meeting where she happened to have her guitar with her, Megoran met some diamond and gemstone industry connections.
We had this impromptu jam session, and next thing I know, they asked me if I wanted to work with them, she says. The diamond and gemstone markets are really interesting, for the little stint I got to know of it.
Thats right. Gold buying and guitar playing led a short stint with diamonds and gemstones, and Megoran went to Florida off and on for a time.
Megoran performing with Love Street Live.
That wasnt my passion however, so I eventually got back to my roots, she says.
Megoran was temporarily working at Art Van Furniture in Saginaw while also continuing to work on her art, and happened to cross paths with a customer who she noticed smelled wonderful. Ever curious about other people, Megoran asked what she did for a living and the woman replied she was a massage therapist.
That moment was like a light switch for her.
I just had one of those moments where I knew it was the right next move for me and that it blended well with the healing I get to see through both my music and art, she says. That happened on a Thursday. By the following Monday, I was enrolled in school Flint School of Therapeutic Massage.
The time off and the change in direction allowed Megoran to play several leading shows at the Caseville Cheeseburger Festival while also going to school to pursue her massage therapy certification.
That was over six years ago. Now, Megoran says that massage and the healing arts is something that fits right into her passion for helping people. Her massage business is Be Well Studio.
Healing and helping others has always been an internal calling and there are so many avenues to get there, whether that is through art, music, or therapeutic massage, she says. They all have helped to teach me in one way or another that this world is in need of so much healing.
Megoran working with children as a part of Love Street Live.
I work with many clients, from children to the elderly and there are so many ways we can work on self-healing, Megoran says. Everything from working on our health, to speaking kind words, listening and caring about others, to creative expression, to eating healthy foods. Its all a part of what I do to some extent and most of all I just love helping people.
From an artistic perspective, Megoran is careful to stress one thing.
There are no rules with creative expression. That is something that is very important to me in teaching and helping others find their creative spark, she says. Its not about the outcome. Its the process that is the most important.
Love Street Live exists to capture that process through the combination of creating music and art together. To get feeling, purpose and expression out of people.
Everyone is creative, even if they dont know it yet, she says.
Musical inspired artwork by Kimberly Megoran.
Megoran has broadened Love Street Live and her art to a few more places recently, partnering with the The Childrens Grief Center of the Great Lakes Bay Region on a new effort to help children deal with grief through music and art. She recently completed continuing education through the Childrens Grief Centers annual training for facilitators. The training involved communication techniques and active listening practices for working with young people dealing with grief.
I have an affinity for children in need, as I was an adopted child myself, says Megoran. We learned so much about listening with an open heart. Just by listening, so much progress can be made and we are also helping children cope through connection, music and art.
Megoran dabbles in a little bit of everything, so rightly you can find her a few different places. Along with her work at the Childrens Grief Center, the local art scene, and her current schedule, you can catch her this summer at the Midland Center for the Arts Summer Art Fair, which will be the 20th year Megoran has played at the event.
You can follow Kimberly Megoran at Love Street Live on Facebook, Be Well Studio as well as her website at http://www.kimberlymegoran.com/.
See more here:
Thoughts on healing: The work and evolution of artist Kimberly Megoran - Concentrate
- History of Evolution | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy - December 9th, 2016 [December 9th, 2016]
- Evolution - Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokmon encyclopedia - December 12th, 2016 [December 12th, 2016]
- What is Evolution - explanation and definitions - December 21st, 2016 [December 21st, 2016]
- Evolution (2001 film) - Wikipedia - January 28th, 2017 [January 28th, 2017]
- EvolutionM.net - Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution | Reviews, News ... - February 1st, 2017 [February 1st, 2017]
- YMCA evolution continues at lake - Gaston Gazette - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Ivanka Trump's Beauty Evolution, From 1998 to Today Watch - Us Weekly - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Lumpy, hairy, toe-like fossil could reveal the evolution of molluscs - The Guardian - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- How Evolution Alters Biological Invasions - ScienceBlog.com (blog) - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Cultural evolution and the mutilation of women - The Economist - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Late-night hosts on the evolution of Trump: 'Dickish to dictatorish' - The Guardian - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Gold's Gym Regina rebrands to become Evolution Fitness - Regina Leader-Post - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Incremental Versus Radical Innovation: A Response to Josh Swamidass on Evolution and Cancer - Discovery Institute - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Blockchain: Investment (R)Evolution For Developing Markets - Forbes - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- See the Evolution of the Famed Porsche 911 in 7 Photos - WIRED - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Exhibition charts 500 years of evolution of robots - Phys.Org - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- How evolution turned ordinary plants into ravenous meat-eaters - Wired.co.uk - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Are Evolution Fresh Drinks 'Poison'? - snopes.com - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Non-Chromosomal DNA Drives Tumor Evolution - The Scientist - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Chimpanzee feet allow scientists a new grasp on human foot evolution - Phys.Org - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- 'Goldilocks' genes that tell the tale of human evolution hold clues to variety of diseases - Science Daily - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Pac-Man is Coming to 'The Sandbox Evolution' Next Week - Touch Arcade - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Chimpanzee feet allow scientists a new grasp on human foot ... - Science Daily - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Bacteria sleep, then rapidly evolve, to survive antibiotic treatments - Phys.Org - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Orangutan squeaks reveal language evolution, says study - BBC ... - BBC News - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Evolution gives rhyme its reason - Aurora News Register - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Deeper origin of gill evolution suggests 'active lifestyle' link in early vertebrates - Science Daily - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- From Tara Palmer-Tomkinson to Cara Delevingne: the evolution of the It girl - The Guardian - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Banned TED Talk: Rupert Sheldrake The Science Delusion - Collective Evolution - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- VOTD: Watch the Evolution of Keanu Reeves' Acting Career - /FILM - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Pokmon Go Eevee evolution: How to evolve Eevee into Vaporeon, Jolteon and Flareon with new names - Eurogamer.net - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Horse evolution bucks evolutionary theory - Science News - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Samsung's Chromebook Pro highlights the category's continued evolution - TechCrunch - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Scientists solve fish evolution mystery - Phys.Org - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Wildfire evolution forces Forest Service into new thinking - The Daily Progress - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- How the horse can help us answer one of evolution's biggest questions - Raw Story - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- A primer on Darwin Day: Some religious groups embrace 'Theistic evolution' - LancasterOnline - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Apple: Evolution of in-car audio tech moving at 'speed of sound ... - Times of India - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Mariska Hargitay's Evolution from '80s Glam to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - TVOvermind - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Evolution of baseball from power to speed has left SBs behind ... - Chicago Sun-Times - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- More order with less judgment: An optimal theory of the evolution of cooperation - Science Daily - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- J. Albert C. Uy speaks on evolution, biodiversity in bellied flycatcher population - The College Reporter - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- See the Evolution of Movie Magic With Every Oscar Winner for Visual Effects in History - Gizmodo - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Numerology: Here's What Your Name Says About You - Collective Evolution - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- The Evolution of Valentine's Day - Inside Science News Service - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Why evolution may be tech billionaires' biggest enemy - The Week Magazine - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Community Viewpoint: Evolution, like gravity, is much more than theory it is a fact - Kdminer - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- How the horse can help us answer one of evolution's biggest questions - Phys.Org - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- How evolution alters biological invasions - Science Daily - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Cockeyed squid shines light on deep sea evolution - Christian Science Monitor - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Eye Evolution: A Closer Look - Discovery Institute - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Evolution always wins: University of Idaho video game uses mutating aliens to teach science concepts - The Spokesman-Review - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Geneticists track the evolution of parenting - Phys.Org - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- How this cockeyed squid shines a light on deep sea evolution - Christian Science Monitor - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- 4 Possible Roadmaps For macOS and iOS Evolution - The Mac Observer (blog) - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- The Evolution of the Energy Capital of the World - Texas Monthly - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Humons presents an atypical dance evolution - Detroit Metro Times - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Pokemon Go Adds 80 Generation 2 Pokemon, New Evolution Items This Week - IGN - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Fossil discovery rewrites understanding of reproductive evolution ... - Science Daily - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- 'X-Men: Evolution' Is the Gateway Drug of Comic Book Shows - Geek - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- A cultural catch: Evolution of wooden halibut hooks carved by native ... - Science Daily - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Bremerton's Fitness Evolution now Planet Fitness - Kitsap Sun (blog) - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Eye Evolution: The Waiting Is the Hardest Part - Discovery Institute - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Evolution Of The Yeezy: 2009-2017 - HotNewHipHop - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Prebiotic evolution: Hairpins help each other out - Science Daily - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- This 'Live Birth' Fossil Could Change Humanity's Understanding Of Evolution - Daily Caller - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Mysterious Ancient Stonehenge-Like Circles Found in Amazon Rainforest - Collective Evolution - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- 'Pokemon Go': How to Evolve Poliwhirl Into Politoed - Heavy.com - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- 'Pokemon Go': How to Evolve Slowpoke Into Slowbro or Slowking - Heavy.com - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- 'Pokemon Go': How to Evolve Gloom Into Bellossom - Heavy.com - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Pokmon Go Dragon Scale - how to evolve Seadra into Kingdra and how to get the Dragon Scale - Eurogamer.net - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Pokmon Go Eevee evolution: How to evolve Eevee into Umbreon, Espeon, Vaporeon, Jolteon and Flareon with new ... - Eurogamer.net - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- University of Pittsburgh guest speaker discloses evolution findings - UTA The Shorthorn - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- 'Pokemon Go' Special Items: Drop Rates for Evolution Items & Berries at Pokestops - Heavy.com - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- How Vedic Philosophy Influenced Nikola Tesla's Idea of 'Free Energy' - Collective Evolution - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Migration to America took long enough for evolution to happen on the way - Ars Technica - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- How To Choose Your Eevee Evolution In 'Pokmon GO:' Umbreon And Espeon Edition - Forbes - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Evolution Items - IGN - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Congo River fish evolution shaped by intense rapids: Genomic study ... - Science Daily - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Pokmon Go - How to evolve, use Special Items, when to evolve or Power Up your Pokmon - Eurogamer.net - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]