Age: 32
Relationship Status: Married (newlywed!)
Occupation: Marketing; Events Coordinator for a tech company | working on my real estate license!
Income: $60,000
Astrological Sign: Sagittarius Sun, Cancer Rising, Libra Moon
What is the first thing you do when you wake up?
I’d like to say something really mindful, but usually, check my email – I do it while I pet and snuggle my dog so that makes it better!
Have you ever felt genuine fulfillment? When?
Yes, I loved my Master’s program, and I was so proud of myself for going back to school, finding something I was passionate about, and excelling in it. My second would be my wedding day! Beyond getting to marry the love of my life, I just felt so loved and so happy – after months of planning and grueling over every single detail, it felt amazing to see the vision come to life!
What is your most repetitive, negative thought?
That I don’t deserve what I have and am selfish for wanting more.
What is your most repetitive, positive thought?
- I am doing the best I can with what I have available to me at this time.
- I am loved, and I am grateful – gratitude is extremely important to me!
- God is always looking out for me.
What is one thing that surprised you about adulthood?
How much I still need to call my parents to ask them questions. I thought I’d know everything by now but that has not been the case!
What are three things you want to put every woman onto?
The book “Overcoming Underearning” by Barbara Stanny – it totally changed the way I think about myself and my self-worth in terms of my career!
The power of gratitude – whether it’s through a gratitude journal, meditations, or just taking a few minutes each day to think of a few things, it has so many benefits!
Solo travel – I have taken myself to different cities around the country, but my proudest moment was taking myself to Greece! I realize not everyone has the means to do so, but if you can, I highly recommend taking yourself on a solo trip (even if it’s just a weekend in a new town). You can learn so much about yourself and it’s the ultimate confidence boost!
Rank the following from most to least important:
money, food, sex, love, and laughter (feel free to explain or don’t).
Love (obviously)
Laughter (it is the best medicine!)
Sex (sex is great, though)
Money (because while it’s necessary, it doesn’t mean as much without the rest)
Food (because I love it and it’s delicious, but I’d choose my loved ones over a good pizza)
How has your relationship with your parents/ guardians changed in adulthood?
I’m lucky to have always had a great relationship with my parents, but as I’ve gotten older it’s only gotten better. I feel like we have an even deeper understanding of one another and we still have so much fun together – I love hanging out with them!
When do you feel most like yourself?
When I’m creating something. I grew up doing pretty much all of the arts – dance, chorus, theater, art class, piano – so anytime I get to express myself creatively I find myself getting in the zone so easily. I feel free, confident, and happy.
What is the best compliment someone has ever given you?
I have two! Someone once told me that he’d never met anyone who sees the world the way that I do. I don’t know - it just always stuck with me because being a good citizen and understanding my place in the bigger picture is really important to me. Second, my niece recently said that I always make her feel safe and my hair is always really soft, and that made my whole week.
How do you feel about falling in love?
Falling in love is such a beautiful experience.
I thought I’d been in love before, but then when I actually was first falling in love with my now husband, I realized I was so wrong. Having come from a past emotionally abusive relationship, I thought love was supposed to be confusing and hectic. It’s not. Falling in love meant finally feeling safe, accepted, and at peace. It meant finding someone to complement me and bring out the best in me without trying to change me, and vice versa. It was an unfamiliar experience for me but also the best. We’ve been together a little over 2 ½ years and I still find something new to love about him every day and I think that’s been the most fun part of it all. On that note, falling in love is incredible but choosing to stay in love even through the challenges, changes, and mundane days is even better.
What is one thing you’re sick of hearing?
Loud chewing in public – I have misophonia so when people chew loudly (at movie theaters, restaurants, etc.) it can be so incredibly distracting and annoying.
How often do you feel alone?
It depends on in what way – I don’t necessarily feel “totally alone” often because I have a great relationship with my family, I love my husband, and I do have some absolutely wonderful friends. But, having moved a lot in both my childhood and adult life most of my friends are spread throughout the country and world, and I don’t get to see them often. I also am one of the first of my good friends to get married. So, while I know I’m not really alone, I do sometimes feel lonely because I have yet to find a group of friends in my city. It’s hard to make friends as an adult and I haven’t been able to get past the superficial stage of friendship with them, or, my friends just aren’t in the same stage of life as me so I don’t always feel like I have anyone to talk to about things I’m going through.
What is one thing you hope everyone experiences in their lifetime?
One thing I hope everyone experiences in their lifetime is a great travel experience. I was fortunate enough to study abroad in college and have traveled a lot, and those travels have 100% made me who I am. There are some experiences I look back on with such amazement that I got to experience something so incredible. One thing I think everyone should experience would be living alone for at least a year. I think that you have to know yourself before you bring another person into your life, and having that time to be on your own is so important to your growth.
What is one thing you hope no one has to experience in their lifetime?
An abusive relationship – whether it’s physical or emotional, it is such an isolating experience that can completely strip away every ounce of self-worth. It’s taken me years to get that back and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
What is the best decision you’ve ever made?
To move out of the city I’d been living in for three years to go back to my alma mater for grad school. Then 3 1/2 years later, when I decided to redownload a dating app “just for fun” before I moved across the country a few weeks later… that’s how I met my husband!
When do you feel most at ease?
When I’m by the water – it soothes me!
What does having a successful life mean to you?
On a personal level, it boils down to being happy, healthy, and loved. Having a job that is fun, fulfilling, and allows me financial freedom. Spending time with my family and friends, traveling often, and just worrying less! Having hobbies (and having time to practice them), having fun, and knowing that when my time comes I can look back with no regrets because I lived my life exactly how I wanted to.
On a deeper level, my goal is to leave this world a little bit better than I came into it. I know that I can’t make everything in the world better, but if I can help even one person, or leave one lasting positive impact I’ll be happy. I’m always reminded of the famous Maya Angelou quote – “People will never forget how you made them feel.” If I can say that everyone (well, mostly everyone) I’ve met felt a little more loved, a little more important, or a little bit happier after meeting me, that’s success to me.
How often do you think about your body?
Pretty frequently. I struggled with my weight most of my life, and still do, and have dealt with some disordered eating habits. I have to make a conscious decision almost every day to be good to my body – it gets easier, but healing your relationship with food and your body is not a linear process and I have made peace with that!
When do you ask for help?
For most of my life, I was awful about asking for help. I always felt like my self-worth came from how much I could do for others or on my own, and needing help meant I was some sort of failure and made me worthless. I really credit my husband for helping me feel more comfortable with asking for help and now, I can do so much more freely – whether it’s something little or big. I ask for help when I feel overwhelmed or just need to know I’m not alone in doing something.
What is something you feel strongly about?
Letter writing should not be a lost art. I am a huge fan of snail mail and nothing makes me happier than when I get an actual letter or postcard in the mail! On that note, handwritten thank you notes – I just got married and spent a lot of time writing individual thank you notes to every person (whether they gave a gift or not) and I had multiple people tell me that they thought they just weren’t done anymore because they haven’t gotten them from other weddings or showers or events they’ve recently attended. Etiquette in general needs to make a big comeback!
BONUS: Tell me something good.
My dog is asleep next to me and she’s making the cutest puppy noises, I love it.
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