“Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.”

There are a lot of things I love about Vanessa, who’s featured today on the blog, and that quote— that perspective of positivity and optimism— is one of them :)

Vanessa has a powerful story of rising above challenging circumstances, taking ownership for her health and happiness, and pursuing her dreams. Super grateful to be able to feature her today. Enjoy!

Tell us a little bit about your background and how you became passionate about living a healthy lifestyle.

I grew up in Western Massachusetts. It tends to be pretty dark and cold there for a good portion of the year, and I saw so many people battling different health problems as a result, from obesity and depression to drug use and alcoholism. I was raised by just my mother. She would smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, drink every afternoon, and generally neglect her health. She died at the age of 60 as a result. When she passed, I decided to leave my life in Massachusetts in pursuit of a healthier one. Since moving, I’ve embraced all that sunny Florida has to offer and I prioritize my health and fitness. Seeing my mother and so many others live such challenging lives has motivated me to not only pursue a healthy lifestyle for myself but also advocate for a healthy lifestyle for others.

What do your daily and weekly routines look like? Movement, meditation, etc.? What keeps you feeling balanced?

I jog a small route each morning before work and I go to Orange Theory about twice per week. Each morning, I plan out my goals and priorities for the day so I can stay on track, and at night before bed, I make time for meditation and reflection.

What led you to become a writer?

To some extent, I’ve always been a writer. In elementary and middle school, I loved doing little book reports and writing in my diary. I was always an avid reader and was part of a summer reading program with my library every summer. Somehow, writing followed me into the different odd jobs I had in my twenties. Whether I was working at a hotel or for a wellness vendor, I’d inadvertently be the one managing the social media page or writing the blogs. Eventually, I started writing as a freelancer to make a little extra money. That eventually grew into something bigger, and about 6 months ago I accepted a position as a full-time editorial writer.

What do you love about the work you do now?

I love being in a position to help and educate others on topics that matter.

What has helped you most in your career? Did you have mentors who inspired you along the way?

I think having a generally open and positive mindset has helped me the most, in all aspects. I’ve encountered many challenges, as many people have, but I’ve always been able to pull myself up “by my bootstraps.” Whenever I got knocked down, I would remember how much my mother struggled. That gave me the resilience to forge on.

What advice would you give to new writers who are just starting to build their business?

Write as often and for whoever you can at first; build up a portfolio of experience and work samples. But eventually, pick a niche or realm of interest you’re most passionate about, and narrow down on that. Become an expert on something, if you can.

What has been the number one thing that helped you build confidence in your career?

Accepting the inevitability of challenges and failure. It took me a while to get to that place but accepting that I will always have things to learn when it comes to writing, and that not every client or project will be a homerun, gives me the peace I need to approach projects with confidence.

Anything else you want to share? :)

I’m about to begin reading Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by psychologist Carol Dweck. I recommend that anyone looking for personal growth to also check it out!

Read more of Vanessa’s work by clicking the image above.

Wow, thank you Vanessa for sharing these beautiful insights! Grateful for you being a part of the community here at Alive in the Fire.

For anyone who wants to check out more of Vanessa’s work, you can find some of her freelance writing here: articles by Vanessa Leikvoll. Here are 3 of my favorites: