Solo travel taught me the boldest version of that lesson. I don't wait for the right company or the perfect moment. I pick a destination, I book the trip, and I go. From Trinidad & Tobago to Grenada to the Bahamas, I plan the journeys I dream about, one boarding pass at a time. Every passport stamp is proof: you are allowed to want more, and you are capable of getting there yourself.
Writing is where it all began, and it's what I love most. Words carried me through hard seasons, and journaling is where I did the real work: the honest pages, the hard questions, the small wins I would have forgotten if I hadn't written them down. That's why I created my two guided self-care journals, The Mindful Journey Journal and Nurturing Your Soul. I kept looking for a journal that asked the right questions and never found one, so I made them myself.
I believe self-care is not a luxury or a bubble bath. It's the practice of checking in with yourself before life forces you to. A few quiet minutes with a pen can turn a hard day around, remind you of what you actually want, and help you hear your own voice again. These journals exist so you have a place to slow down, write it out, and pour back into the one person who takes care of everything else: you.
Then I took the mic. On the Hello Leslie Creative Podcast I keep it unscripted: real talk about the creative life, building a business, self-care and showing up for your own dreams. Speaking out loud was terrifying at first, and now it's one of the ways I cheer the loudest for people building something of their own.
And I don't just build for myself. Through Ellise Luxxe Consulting I help entrepreneurs, big and small, find their voice, build their brands, and create real impact. Everything I learned chasing this dream, I hand forward. Betting on yourself is not a solo act when someone who's done it is in your corner.
None of it is about having it figured out. It's about betting on yourself, booking the flight, writing the page, pressing record, and keeping going in a way you can actually live with.