1. Hey Arielle! First off, tell us a bit about yourself and your background.
Hayyy! My name is Arielle Estoria (Leda Wilburn).
I am born and raised in Northern California but moved to Southern California for college and decided to stay! I am the oldest of five kids, which means my family is an instant party. I am a lover of breakfast foods, coffee and conversations that sit on the soul.
Lately, I have been saying that I am in the business of pulling heart strings. I am a poet, speaker, writer, creative, and sometimes actress? I just know I want to create, tell stories and tell people they’re loved for as long as I live.
I consider myself a creative because I have always found beauty in the little nooks and crannies of life that you have to really search for.
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2. When did you realise that writing/poetry/spoken word/creativity was the path you had to take? And, why do you love this creative medium so much?
Hmm… well after two, three(ish) years of doing it as a “hobby” there was this very strong tugging feeling that maybe this was bigger than me.
Close to my senior year of college I remember getting off the stage after speaking at chapel praying , “Lord, if you want me to do that for the rest of my life, I will.” I still really couldn’t tell you if “that” meant poetry, or speaking or just being on a stage in general but I know that shortly after that prayer, a flood of opportunities came afterwards and it was this “OH SHOOT” moment where God is just sort of waiting for us to say “yes” and then He blows our minds.
I love poetry for its healing abilities.
I love poetry for being able to find out more about who I am and who God is through it.
I most importantly love poetry because it gets to be this letter I give to strangers. At the end this moment of “me too” inevitably happens and I get to remind people they’re seen by God and it’s so beautiful.
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3. Absolutely love how you say “words not for the ears but for the soul.” Through your work, what do you want souls to hear and know?
Aw thank you! Yeah so like I mentioned earlier, in the business of pulling heart strings.
I think that words are meant to be felt and not just heard. My constant reminder in so many poems, captions, or just in conversation is that they’re enough, they’re valued and loved by the God who made their very being. So often this world shatters our identity. I believe God has given me the gift of being able to start the process of restoring it.
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4. Do you have any routines or sources of inspiration that help with channelling creativity?
Goodness! I love podcasts, quotes, books, and honestly conversations usually spark poems or captions. Talking with people always get my wheels turning because I realize from those conversations what people want or need to hear and I figure out a way to channel it into something they can listen to!
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5. What’s been your greatest challenge so far and how do you try to overcome it?
Fear and doubt are daily struggles. Comparison. Inadequacy.
I am constantly trying to battle the weight of feeling like I’m not doing enough, or what I am doing is not good enough. I feel crazy most days like, what am I doing? I’ve had six jobs at a time just to sustain myself and keep creating at the same time.
Everyday is praying and reminding myself and letting God remind me that this is something I was made for, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. It takes work, late nights, grace extended and grace given and so much trust.
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6. What inspires and drives you to be yourself and do what you love?
My community – the people who surround me, daily pushing me towards being my best.
Coffee – ha! That’s a joke, but also really true.
Other creatives kick my butt in the best possible way – being motivated, inspired and encouraged by them to just keep going.
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7. You’re chatting over coffee with a feminine heart who desires to take the creative path, what gems of wisdom and advice would you give to her?
I would say:
Girl, if it’s tugging on your heart then please chase the inkling.
Explore it, see what God could have for you in that creativity.
I promise you, though the first jump is deep and uncertain, and maybe you won’t land for a while, it’ll be worth it. The pieces will fall into place, purpose will come and wrap itself around you, and God will whisper, “finally” and it will be so so good.
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8. Who do you look to as an example and what characteristics do you admire in other women?
Wow. So many women.
My mom for one. She’s always been the constant and primary example of what it means to be a woman, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a believer, all of the above.
Adele. She helped me to be unapologetic and dance in floral dresses and be okay within my own skin.
I am surrounded by some amazing women who are mothers in my life and each of them show me something different about what it means to be both.
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9. Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years time?
Okay, here’s a fun fact: I am not so great at the future planning or seeing. I cannot even imagine what 3-5 years from now looks like, I can only hope that there’s a “someone” in the picture and we’re doing pretty great or even married? WOAH!
I hope that I am still walking boldly and obediently in whatever God calls me to be a steward of in that season and that I am living to the fullest and my best potential!
{quick favourites}
Song on repeat | Currently, “UH-HUH” by Julia Michaels or “Take a Moment” by Will Reagan
Personal trait | My generally positive personality
Instagram account | So many… @darling @alexmichaelmay @healthyisthenewskinny
Go-to cafe order | Something iced, something with almond milk (not as a preference but as a lifestyle haha)
Early bird or night owl | Both! I often stay up late depending my work momentum (like right now finishing this interview), but then I also love a good 6am yoga class or sunrise hike too!
Arielle Estoria is a Writer, Speaker and Creative. Her motto of “Words not for the ears but for the soul” stems from her dedication to remind her audience that words are meant to be felt and not just heard. Arielle’s first EP, a collection of music and poetry called Symphony of a Lioness is now available on iTunes or Apple Music. Co-author of Vagabonds and Zealots (2014) and Write Bloody Spill Pretty (2017) which can both be found on Amazon.com. She is made of sass and good intentions, has a deep love for car karaoke, brunch at all times and flowers.
