My name is Jess! I am the author, creator, and visionary for The Road Jess Traveled. Thank you so much for being here! I am thrilled to have gotten this blog out of my head and into a computer – what a huge accomplishment that is in itself!
For the first post, I thought it would be fun to do an introduction to help acquaint you with the girl behind the blog! Some of you may have followed me on other platforms… some may be completely brand new… but either way I am so happy you have decided to join me here today. This is the start of a wonderful adventure!
So without further ado, here are 7 questions and answers about me to help you get to know me better!
1. Where did you grow up?
I am a Buffalo girl, born and raised. While I have very minimal sports knowledge, I do know that I have a die-hard loyalty to the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bills. The majority of my childhood events involved pizza and chicken wings from local pizza shops. Tim Horton’s and Mighty Taco were crucial parts of my diet. And there were fewer things I loved more than waking up on a winter day at 6 am, checking the news, and then finding out we had a snow day!
2. Is there anywhere else you consider home?
My second home has always been Orlando, Florida. My family traveled there every year (even before I turned one!) because that’s where my Grandpa lived. It was a tradition that never ended, and as I got older, the more I craved beginning a life down there for myself!
Orlando is where I get chilly when the weather gets below 70 degrees. That’s where there are lizards constantly scurrying across the sidewalk in front of me. The majority of the people who live in Orlando are transplants from places all around the country (and world!) and it’s the place that’s brought me together with some of my dearest friends. Magic Kingdom fireworks on my drive home are one of my favorite views. I lived in Orlando on and off (but mostly on) since I did my Disney College Program in 2013!
3. What are some of your hobbies and interests?
I am a woman of many interests… but here are some of the things that bring me joy:
- Traveling & Adventuring
- Disney Parks, Movies, Music, etc.
- Anything Creative: Photography, Videography, Writing, Planning, Organizing, Decorating, etc.
- Spending Time Outdoors
- Music & Concerts (favorite artist being Taylor Swift)
- Broadway Musicals (favorite shows being “Mamma Mia” and “Hamilton”)
- Food. Eating it. Cooking it. (but mostly eating it.)
- Engaging in the fascinating world of Self Development/Positivity/Manifesting/Spirituality
- Learning about the many methods of Holistic/Energy Healing
- Movies and TV Shows (and getting way too emotionally invested in them)
- Celebrating Holidays… but specifically Christmas!
4. What has been your favorite travel destination? What is still on your bucket list?
My top favorite place I have been to in the world has been Tokyo, Japan. The kawaii culture, the ramen, the intricate details, and the kindness of the people have left such a soft, glowy feeling in my heart. (plus, in my opinion, they have the most unique Disney Park in the world!) I cannot wait for the day I get to go back. I have been dreaming about it ever since the moment I left!
What’s still on my bucket list? Everything. Seriously. I am down to go pretty much anywhere that I’ve never been to before. Traveling to new places fuels my soul and feels like my purpose for living. The first few locations that come to the top of my head (at the moment) are Italy, Greece, the Philippines, Bali, Singapore, and Australia. But truly, that barely scratches the surface!
5. What sparked your interest in creating a blog?
Back in 2011-2013, I used to write “trip reports” on DISboards about my vacations to Walt Disney World. (sadly, the image hosting site has since then given out… so only a portion of the pictures remain) This was a version of blogging but more on a forum-style website. I would take photos, write restaurant reviews, and document my magical experiences.
Then, the trip report I wrote about my Disney College Program ended up getting over 1 million views. (which is still mind-blowing to me) That’s back when Instagram and social media were just getting a kick-start. Having all of these platforms and connecting with people from around the world formed such a special like-minded community that was rooted in our common passion. I just loved it.
Even to this day, people will message me and say how reading the reports inspired them to go off and chase their dreams. Many ended up in Orlando, Anaheim, and beyond! I was just writing about my childhood dream that came to life, and people took that and created life-changing experiences for themselves. That’s really cool and such a rewarding feeling.
Essentially, writing about what I loved and connecting with others made my soul feel alive.
I have known in my core for years that building a blog was my next step because it presents a similar opportunity and has even more potential to grow. So here we are today… let’s give it a go!
6. What intimidates you about blogging?
Blogging is strangely intimidating to me. And yet, it feels like the most “me” thing in the world to do.
How paradoxical.
Maybe it seems daunting because everyone on Pinterest seems to have “mastered it” by the year 2020. Maybe it’s the technical side of running a website that I am teaching myself. Maybe it’s learning how to balance an already busy life with something else I’m truly passionate about. (side-hustlers, let me hear you make some noise!)
However, all of my self-discovery research has taught me that we have to acknowledge these thoughts as the fear barrier. It’s all of the scary stuff that comes up when you’re about to go towards something you really care about. It’s your ego trying to pre-maturely protect you from any feeling of disappointment within yourself.
What I had to ask myself was: does your fear and comfort zone even come close to outweighing all of the potential joy and opportunity that your dreams could bring in to your life? Absolutely not.
I don’t know if there is ever a “right time” to start creative projects like these, so I am deeming that “right time” to be today. Sometimes you just have to start. We’ll just keep learning along the way!
7. What would be your ultimate vision with this blog?
My dream with this blog would be for it to thrive. For it to grow it to a point where I would be able to write and create full-time from different places all over the world. I am open to this blog being a stepping stone that connects me to actions that my future self can take to live the life of my dreams.
I’m picturing myself working on my laptop in hotels overlooking the water… or on planes looking out from my window seat, seeing the clouds and cities below… pumping out awesome creations to share with you on the way to my next destination.
This blog can be a springboard into even more creative projects like videos, collaborations, podcasts, books, speaking engagements, etc. (maybe even further media sources I haven’t thought of yet!) There is so much beautiful potential in the unknown!
I intend for this blog to open up the doors to a world that I know exists in my head and my heart… and I am ready to walk through those doors and welcome these dreams into my reality!
So this is just the beginning!
Now you know a little more about me, my background, and my blogging dreams. I’m sure there will be plenty more where that came from… but we have to start somewhere!
Comment down below your name, where you’re from, and what your biggest dream is! (whether or not you’ve made any moves on it yet, doesn’t matter!) Sometimes just stating your dream is the best way to get it started!
And to stay in touch, sign up for my email list below! I will chat with you soon!
Until next time 🙂
