Hey Everyone,
How are you guys doing? As the school year is ending and summer is near, how are you guys going to spend it? Anything exciting planned? I’ve got a few things planned and am going to be working on a few important projects that I can not wait to share with you but all in do time. I hope y’all are taking each day one at a time and remember that each day brings new adventures if we’re willing to look for them. Now let’s get comfortable and chat for a bit.
Today’s blog is going to be a little different, I’ve been writing to you guys for almost 2 years, 2 YEARS! I know I can’t believe it either. So I thought why not let you guys get to know the woman behind the screen, behind “One Day At A Time.”
Where do I start? I’ve been wondering about what to share with you guys, what can I share that will let you know me better.
Growing up, I was goody two shoes. I wanted to be the perfect daughter, student, and sister. Now that I’m older I wish I didn’t put that pressure on myself. I wish I allowed myself to take greater chances and to be okay with failing.
I loved to read, which Ironically I needed help in the Fourth grade with becoming a better reader. To this day I am thankful for my Fourth grade teacher Mrs. Delgado, you see though I had trouble with reading she took her time so that I can get better. It was because of her that my passion for reading and for wanting to become a teacher came about. She showed me that if you nurture and have enough patience with someone you can help them become amazing students. That’s where my love for reading began, also when I became A huge Harry Potter fan. Not only did she help me understand she also allowed me to travel and experience so many different places without leaving the comfort of my bedroom.
In Elementary, I also started to play the Trombone and that itself allowed me to have amazing opportunities like playing with the Boston Symphony, joining the Marching Band in Highschool and led me to play the trombone for 14 years. Yes, I was in all essence a Book nerd, a Band geek, and a Geek geek. I love anything to do with Star Wars, Star Trek the OG cast and Star Trek Next Generation with my guy Jean-Luc Picard, all of the lord of the Rings movies, Doctor Who and so much more. So you could imagine just how popular I was haha
Growing up my family and I watched all of the classics, and our third language happens to be “Movie reference” it’s actually one thing I love most about my family that even though we look so serious it takes one person to mention a reference and the next thing you know we’re all making movie references and acting scenes out.
Not to mention I grew up listening to Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, The Rat Pack. Watching many musicals and lots of older television shows, including those in black and white. I have my dad to thank for many of my interests because growing up we would watch and hear these together.
I also have a passion for watching baking and cooking shows. To this day when I bake my friends and family ask if I’m okay because Baking relieves lots of stress for me and usually when I bake it’s because I’m destressing. My absolute favorite time of year to bake is fall and my family’s favorite because they get to have all of the yummy fall treats.
My favorite season is Fall because I love the leaves changing color, apple picking, Crips cool days, and of course my Birthday is in November. Winter is my Second favorite because there’s just something magical and incredible about Christmas and experiencing a WInter wonderland.
I grew up very tomboyish, I guess it can be attributed to the fact that I wasn’t a girly girl. I enjoyed playing outside and getting dirty. It also didn’t help that I grew up with nothing but brothers and boy cousins. It was a tough world back then and being the oldest you had to survive or get trampled on, which Ironically I was trampled by my uncles who were near my age on my 9th birthday during the smashing of MY BIRTHDAY PINATA. But I don’t have time to unpack that trauma haha.
My favorite color is Mauve pink and any shade of pink in that spectrum. I never thought I’d be a pink girl since most of the time I’m either wearing all black, neutrals, or bright colors. It really does depend on my mood. Growing up I was that girl who was really into purple but now I’ve realized I’m a mauve pink girl, with days of black, and the random blue, and sage green.
My dad was a football and basketball coach for our town so you can imagine any free time was spent on afternoons practices, and weekend games. Which I didn’t mind too much seeing as I was able to bring my books and enjoy being outside. My Mom’s was always in the field of helping others so from a young age she taught us to be compassionate and to treat everyone with respect so she would take us to food drives and tell us that one day it’s them but it can be us. So whenever we can be kind and give a helping hand we should. She would also make sure we went on a lot of adventures and had a busy fun filled calendar in the summer. No matter how big or small and I think that’s why I love all kinds of adventures now. She was the kind of mom that taught by throwing us head in and then putting bandaids on us letting us know to always try again. That’s how I learned how to swim and rollerblade.
Growing up I loved learning about anything to do with History, I loved learning about the medieval times and ancient History. I loved learning about Greek mythology and Egyptology. For those who know me, my love for Egypt only continued to grow and two years ago I was able to study An Ancient Egypt Art and Archaeology course at Harvard. I also love learning about languages and studied a year of Mandarin at CCSU.
My Favorite animals are Sharks and Giraffes. To the point that Shark Week is one of my favorite times of the year and my dad and I would watch it all week long. 2 years ago I was actually able to live my dream of being able to dive with 9 sharks in a tank. It’s actually one of the first blogs I wrote about here. It’s titled “Shark dive” if you’d like to read about my experience you can definitely find it there. Don’t get me started on Giraffes, I don’t know why they are also my favorite but whenever I go to the zoo and I know they’re there I have to run and see them and maybe shed a tear or two. I have a huge Giraffe plushie named Gerald and honestly he goes with me on all of my travels because one) He makes a great pillow 2) why not? Yes I’m 30 but you know what that’s my business. I know it’s a bit dramatic but that’s me.
I can not forget to mention that I absolve and need coffee, Iced Caramel to be exact and with a non dairy creamer because not only does your girl need help seeing she also is allergic and sensitive to dairy. Plants and the Ocean are my go to calm things. The instant I’m at a plant nursery or hear the waves and feel the ocean breeze I’m at peace.
Now onto me as a person. I want to say I’m pretty simple but honestly I’m a bit complicated. My personality is very bubbly, outgoing, described as a ball of sunshine. I can be seen as an extrovert but that is only with a select few. I think I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again. I enjoy spending time with myself, I enjoy thinking and talking to God. It took a while to explain it but I am someone that after a while I tend to get overstimulated especially when I’m always helping others, and working on things without enough rest. Sometimes I can catch when I’m being overstimulated and my mom would ask if I’d like to go for a ride and get coffee. My mom is truly my best friend, it’s hard for me to get vulnerable with others but as a mother she has a way of getting those words to come to the surface. She has grown so much and has created a safe space for me to be vulnerable with her. Sometimes I don’t like what she has to say even though it’s filled with truth. Now my Dad is my twin and a man of few words (depending on the situation) but one hug from Him and a “it’ll be okay sweetie” does just the trick.
This woman behind the screen can be serious on the outside and filled with so many emotions on the inside. I know that I seem so calm and collected but to be honest I get overwhelmed by many things. By having so many hats to put on, don’t get me wrong I love who I’m becoming as a person but it can be hard. There are quite a few that depend on me to be strong, to come up with solutions, to lend an ear and in my humanness sometimes I want to be selfish. I don’t want to come up with solutions, I don’t want to be the always go to person, I don’t want to always look put together. I don’t always want to humble myself, look for the good in others, and forgive especially when I did nothing wrong.
But that is why it’s so important to me to have my alone time, to separate myself from everyone, and recharge my battery. I can usually tell this is needed when I get angry or upset easily, when I have less patience with others, and when I don’t seem to be excited for many things. I don’t know if you can relate but when this happens it’s usually my time to unplug, breathe, and reevaluate what I’m prioritizing in my life. It’s usually around the time where I also need to read the Bible more, pray, and just worship.
You see I’ve spoken of my interests and what I’m like but the biggest thing in my life is the fact that I decided to serve God. I decided to say I no longer live but Christ lives in me and because I made this decision it means that no matter how I feel or may want to act the only thing that matters to me is that I honor God with everything I do and decide. As much as I may want to be selfish, and not be that go to person God didn’t create me to sit back, He created me to be a vessel, an instrument to be used to help others, to love them, to forgive and not question why. Being a Christian is the hardest thing I could have chosen but it was also the best decision of my life. I couldn’t imagine my life without God. He is my best friend, the one I can run to in my beautiful moments, in my shameful moments, in my victories, and in my disappointments. Y’all know I don’t shove this gospel down your throats but I wouldn’t be me If i didn’t say that there is a God, He is Alive, and there is no one like Him. He washed me of my sins, He completed me, and forgave me. He could’ve easily thrown a rock of judgment but instead He enveloped me in His arms. Do I deserve this? Absolutely not. WIll I fight for my Salvation? Everyday. Will He and can He do this with you too? Ofcourse!
So this is Me, Janny Marie Cruz Carias ( Did I mention I was Puerto Rican and Honduran?) Well yes I am and I am proud of both of my nationalities because they’re both filled with beautiful cultures. The only thing if I may add is that I’m a bit of a disgrace to both seeing as I don’t like Avocados or Corn tortillas, but I don’t think I’ve been kicked out of the cookouts just yet.
I hope this can give a bit of insight of who I am and why I am the way I am.
I leave you with some lyrics from one of my favorite Movies “The Greatest Showman”
“When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I’m gonna send a flood, gonna drown ’em out
I am who I’m meant to be, this is me
Look out ’cause here I come
And I’m marchin’ on to the beat I drum
I make no apologies, this is me” – This is Me, The Greatest Showman
Until our next unpacking, have a great day my lovelies!
Love Always,
Janny Mari
One Day at A Time with Janny Mari 