And so it begins

Hi! Hello! Welcome! My name is Ariana but I prefer to be called Ari. I would like to welcome you to my blog and my very first blog post! I’ve always had a knack for writing but never the courage to share it. My late grandfather had always encouraged me to write often and abundantly, however, the weight of me caring about what others might think outweighed my love for it.

All my life I was scared to do things. Scared of what people might think, scared of messing up or failing, scared of rejection and criticism. One day I woke up and realized that I didn’t like who I saw in the mirror. Would 10 year old Ari be proud of who I’ve grown into? Is this the same girl that picked the craziest or loudest piece of clothing to wear the first day of school just to stand out? The answer was of course no. It wasn’t. The direction I had set up my life to follow was not a very bright or happy one. I was not happy, but I was comfortable. I did not like who I was surrounded by, but I was not alone. I was not in the mindset I thought I would be in at this point in time, but I was scared.

So here I am, 24, in a new state, surrounded by new people, doing things I would have never done just 6 months ago and I have never been more at peace. I am starting this blog for that person who wants a change, for that person who is scared, for that person I hope to continue to grow towards in this journey. Whether this blog reaches one person (hi mom) or one thousand people, I am in it for the love of writing, for the growth of myself and for the person out there who feels alone and “comfortable” to have that support and encouragement they need.

So please grab your favorite drink (mines coffee), pull up a chair and join me in my adventures as I try to navigate through life with a smile!