2016 was a terrible-catastrophic-end-of-the-world- revelations-esque-battle-of-Hogwarts-winter-is-coming year for me. Okay, maybe that sentence was hyperbole but it was pretty bad. I broke up with my first love, lost a few family members in the span of one month, dealt with the homelessness of close family members, struggled with the rigors of my demanding job, was diagnosed with a long term medical condition, learned that my favorite uncle was suffering from leukemia and navigated rocky friendships and family relationships.  In this year of unraveling, I tried everything to get back to myself. I traveled. A lot. Nine countries in one year (I even made it to the holy land). Even though it started as a form of escapism, in experiencing other cultures and seeing the world, I found little traces of me. I got a therapist. Along with this came a set of self care practices that are now so routine, I'm not sure how I managed life without them. Affirmations, meditation, crystals, sage, essential oils, acupuncture, astrological birth charts, journaling and prayer. I exercised, a lot. Although I've tamed it down from the initial obsessive two or three a days, I prioritize physical fitness. I changed my diet (kinda). I've been a legalistic picky eater, only touching differing variations of chicken, steak, bread and cheese. Now I eat seafood (well, shrimp and salmon - baby steps!). Out of all of these pathways to self, the single most impactful one: I wrote, again. Throughout my life, I've always written poetry as a form of catharsis but would bury the poems away in my hard drive and forget about them for years. I revisited my old poems and wrote new poems to deal with 2016. I made myself write even when I wasn't busting at the emotional seams. In getting back to me, I realized who I thought was me before was never me at all. I found an improved, evolved version of myself. Simplified but so much more potent. From Daniella to Dani to just the Dan. 

Daniella is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and New York University School of Law, currently practicing corporate law in New York.

Dani was the person I thought I knew.  Witty, type A, tough skinned and closed off.

The Dan is a woman on a personal journey I hope to use as a vessel for helping others. Maybe even you. On this site I bring you my travels, my wellness pointers and lifestyle and the most personal piece of all - my poetry.

Welcome, welcome you.