Hello! Hi! Hey! First of all, I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my first blog post. I’m sure if you’re reading this, you are a loved one that knows I’ve wanted to start a blog for quite some time now. If you don’t know me well, thanks A MILLION for going out on a limb and giving me a chance!

So, here’s the thing—I am a 23-year-old small-town Kentucky girl who has been fortunate enough to branch out and experience some pretty incredible things, and I could not be more grateful for any of it. I’ve had opportunities that most kids from a town without a stoplight don’t even know exist (for real though, there isn’t a single stoplight in Clay, Kentucky).

Honestly, if you were to tell me as a senior in high school that in six years I will have worked at Walt Disney World, studied abroad twice, worked on a movie set, ran a half-marathon, or landed an internship in the United Kingdom right after my college graduation, I wouldn’t have believed you. Actually, that’s probably not true. I probably would have giggled nervously (because I’m awkward like that), shrugged my shoulders and asked how. How could I possibly accomplish those things? I always had this longing to get out and go on crazy adventures, but I never knew what that really looked like or how attainable any of it was.

It is my goal to be as honest, authentic, and transparent in my posts as I possibly can be—that’s where the humble part comes to light. (If you’re curious about the lion part, check out the About Me page.) Thanks to social media and the Internet, we can filter our lives for the public and constantly put our best foot forward. However, it is undeniable that this leads to comparison, discontentment, and a feeling of inferiority, or worse—superiority. I do want to share some of my best moments with you, but I want you to know about the rough times, the insecurities, the moments that left me humbled and even humiliated so that no one can mistake my life for being “picture perfect” or “lucky.” It’s been one hell of a life thus far, but my demons are just as present as any other’s.

I have been conjuring up content for this blog for a long time now, and I’m finally forcing myself to start posting and promoting. So, after months of brainstorming, writing (for myself), and growing, I would like to tell you about the five categories of this blog:

1. Live Intensely

I live a very full life, to say the least. I am obsessed with traveling and meeting new people. I am always looking for a new challenge, whether I’m conscious of it or not. Being on-the-go is all I’ve ever known, and I just can’t imagine going through the motions of a mundane life. This category will highlight some of my “do it while you can” moments, and how I went about finding and landing some awesome opportunities. We aren’t promised tomorrow, so we may as well live each day to the fullest.

2. Love Intentionally

Okay, so I fell in love in Europe. Cliche? Maybe. But it happened and OHMYGOD am I thankful for every single bit of it. This relationship has taught me so many beautiful lessons, but one that has really stood out to me is our willingness and desire to love each other with intention. It is amazing how meaningful a relationship can be when you prioritize another person in your life and your relationship with that person.

There are an endless amount of things I could say about this category, but that is why it has its own section in this blog. Stay tuned…

3. Curls & Curves

We are all human. We all have unique physical and emotional traits that make us who we are, and yet we live in a world that constantly tells us what we should look like, and what we can do to alter who we really are to conform to something that our shallow society tells us is “right” or “good.” The pressure that this puts on us as individuals, especially young people, is absurd.

After years of fighting battles with no one but myself over my physical traits, I have [finally] reached a point where I no longer worry about what I should look like or have this idea of what I could be doing to alter who I am or how I was made. I have learned to embrace my curvy body and curly hair. As silly as that may sound, it is a battle that too many people fight on a daily basis. I cannot tell you how freeing it is to just embrace who I am, how I’m shaped, and to be able to focus on far more important things than outward appearance. I know too many people that ride this struggle bus every day, and those are the people I hope to reach in this section.

4. The Roaring Twenties

Oh my lanta, I’m excited about this one. While a person’s twenties can be dubbed as the time of their life, it could also be dubbed as the decade for self-discovery, sheer panic, cluster f***s, and forehead slaps.

I’m currently floating around in this weird early-mid twenties period of life—the one right after college and before whatever the next step is supposed to be. It is such a wild ride. As much as I’m loving it, I oftentimes find myself getting caught in these whirlwinds of “whatthehellishappening” and “whatislife?” It’s a party, a roller-coaster, and a whip all in one.

5. Nuggets of Wisdom

While I was in London on a work trip, I was walking across Millennium Bridge when I came up with the idea to ask random people for life advice. You see, I’ve always loved reading quotes and theories and hearing what others have to say about life. As much as I believe a person has to learn certain lessons for themselves, I think it is vital for us to take advice from others.

It has been very intriguing and exciting to hear what people of all ages from across the globe have to say about life. It’s also very interesting to see their faces when I ask, “If you could give one single piece of life advice, what would it be?” I don’t usually ask people to explain why they give the advice they do, but most people tell me at any rate. I love getting to know people this way. In my experience, it has been the quickest way to learn about a person’s genuine nature and life. These have been some of my favorite encounters to date and I am thrilled to share them with others.

So, there you have it. An introduction to The Humble Lion and what I hope to deliver as a writer and storyteller. I hope you are as excited about all of it as I am!