We recently had the chance to connect with Ariel Sides and have shared our conversation below.
Ariel, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Well, since you asked… since I broke my knee last year, I am still on medical leave because I need some additional surgery to fix it, so I’ve decided to make the best of my down time and go back to school. I am taking accelerated courses, so my days largely consist of school work and lots of reading. I still make time to hang out with friends and participate in local government, but since I’m pretty limited, physically, I’ve been far less active than I used to be.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ariel Sides. I’m a marine biologist living in Maine, with a passion for the ocean, the environment and social justice. I love to travel and have taken numerous road trips throughout North America. I love our national parks and have seen over 60 NPS sites. I love to meet people and see new places. I love to read (I’m currently working my way through The King’s Watch series). I enjoy writing; I had started a book about my experiences and made some decent progress on it but due to the nature of my work and me, having not learned my lesson about backing things up, I lost most of my work when my laptop got soaked in the bottom of a fish bucket (I’ll get it out there someday). When I’m not injured, I love the outdoors. Hiking, fishing, camping-all of it. I have two kids, Lucas and Luci, and an amazing husband, DJ, who puts up with and sees me through it all.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
While I may have matured and healed over the years, I have always been the same person. I have never questioned who I was or what I wanted out of life. That’s something I’m pretty proud of. I’ve known since I was 7 years old what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I had always wanted a family, so when I met my husband, that was an easy choice. If I could go back and do it all again, I’d do the same things… maybe with fewer side quests… but I’d do it all again.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I had a mental breakdown in the fall of 2022 and that was eye opening. I began intensive therapy, medication and reiki sessions. That combination helped me pick up the pieces of my life and get back on track. Therapy, especially, helped me to understand my trauma and process everything that had happened to me. When I started acknowledging the things that had hurt me and actively working to fix my responses to trigging situations, I was able to turn that pain into motivation and within two years I was on the other side of the country in Maine, working my dream job.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
The only thing that isn’t is my eyebrows. They’re tattooed on. ; )
Seriously though, a lovely part of having always known who I was on the inside is that being authentic on the outside ends up being natural. Good and bad. I’ve ended up being a bit controversial as a result. I’m fine with that, though.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say “welp, she had fun.”
I often say, “I just rent this meat suit,” and I want to live my days getting my money’s worth out of it. I want to read all the books, eat all the food, meet all the people, see all the places and experience all of the things.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Dennis Sides
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