Meet Young Crystal

Meet Crystal: Starry-eyed adventurer, quirky and fearless

This is classic 3-year-old Crystal: jean overalls, yellow construction hard-hat, and what I imagine not pictured in the photo were some nice light-changing, glitter tennis shoes. Then, there’s that obligatory bright pink t-shirt with yellow flowers.

I’m sure I insisted on the outfit, not worried about standing out. And I’m sure my parents thought it was quirky and super weird. But at 3-years-old, I didn’t care

I look at this picture of child-me when I need inspiration.

And you should look at your old photos, too.

What were you like when it was all sandboxes, bikes, and playgrounds? Did you run around wearing a cape, holding a glitter wand, twirling colorful ribbon, blowing bubbles while dancing with bright red hula-hoop?

I encourage you to BE the kid who was starry-eyed and a fearless. BE the kid who ate too much birthday cake, and didn’t count calories. BE the kid waking up thinking about what kind of adventures, and maybe trouble, she/he could get into.

The photo of child-Crystal in overalls is the background on my cell phone. Every time I get a text, a phone call, a social media notification, I get a quick reminder: Be her again.

Never forget child-you: your wishes, your dreams, your fearlessness.

That Crystal wanted to see the world.

She chased butterflies, built lemonade stands, and picked flowers to make “perfume.” That Crystal wasn’t worried about the future, how she looks, and what people thought. She just wanted to be.

I’m devoted to that Crystal.

I’ve lived in a bunch of states; each one reminding me to be the daring, adventurous Crystal I remember.

There was even a 5-year stretch where I spent every birthday in a different state, celebrating each year with new people in new places.

Here’s my timeline:

I grew up in California.

I went to school in Massachusetts — shout-out to any Tufts University Jumbos reading.

I interned in New York City one long, hot summer. And every time I travel back to New York City, that glow comes back. I loved it so much, I finally moved to the city.

After college, I moved to Hawaii. First to the Big Island and then to O’ahu, first to teach middle school English and then to get back into the newsroom. It was 80-degrees out for many Christmas mornings.

I worked in Washington State for my first front-of-camera TV reporter job.

Now, I’m back in New England, reporting mostly in Rhode Island, nicknamed the Ocean State. Just wait ’till you see some of my photos!

Check out my adventure map — I seem to have a bias for visiting coastal states:

Last month, I took my most daring adventure (I never thought I could), and I went to Costa Rica by myself for almost 9 glorious days.

I can’t wait to share all about that trip — the food, the places, and the people with you.

10 months before that, my little sister and I went to Mexico, visiting Chichen Itza, one of the new Seven World Wonders. The experience, inspiring me to go travel on my own and see more of the world.