Why Carrie?

Why did I choose to share my story through the lens of Carrie Bradshaw?

Well, there are a few reasons. First, I still want my friends to feel safe hanging out with me, to know they can confide in me without worrying their name might pop up in my latest post. And, okay, yes, I’m a bit obsessed with Sex and the City—from the clothes to the unfiltered girl talk. But the real reason? I felt an inexplicable kindredness to Carrie, the whole way through.

When I watched Carrie Bradshaw onscreen, it wasn’t just her iconic outfits or her romantic way of looking at life that hooked me. I saw myself in her vulnerability, her careful curiosity, her eternal role as the learner. There’s a fearlessness in Carrie—not just in loving and living, but in admitting she doesn’t have it all figured out. She allows herself to be both the storyteller and the student, and that’s exactly what I needed in order to create this space.

Carrie helped me make room to share my life without feeling like I had to be the star of the show. Who’s the “Carrie” in your life—the person who inspires you to be fearless and imperfectly human?

Just like Carrie navigates love and life with a blend of courage and uncertainty, I’ve navigated ballet in the same way—finding grace and growth in shared moments. Fun fact: I’ve been a ballerina for as long as I can remember, starting at the age of two. But what has kept me captivated by ballet all these years? For me, ballet is its own love story—a story of finding beauty in pain, growth through repetitive, intentional practice, and connection through collaboration. It’s an art form built on the understanding that no one stands as the hero alone.

Did you know that, in some ways, the principal dancer—the prima ballerina—has it easier than the corps dancers? The prima ballerina, center stage, can make mistakes; she could slip or improvise, but as long as she keeps that radiant smile, the audience may never know. Meanwhile, the corps dancers move as one, a perfectly synchronized herd. One beat off, one misstep, and the whole group feels it. In ballet, true strength isn’t about standing out but about blending in with the kind of discipline and trust that only exists when every dancer is attuned to the others around her. Have you experienced this kind of connection—the kind that requires letting go of personal glory for the sake of something bigger?

This past week, my teacher shared a transformative piece of wisdom: “You cannot be the participant and the critic at the same time.” In a room of perfectionist ballerinas, this was almost earth-shattering. Because as much as we want to be in control, perfecting every step and making every move flawless, there’s freedom in letting go of judgment. There’s freedom in realizing that life isn’t about standing on a pedestal, scrutinizing every decision as if it’s a golden or red buzzer waiting to seal our fate. If anyone in our Sex and the City family understood this, it’s Samantha—no room for judgment, just living freely. How could you let go of judgment to feel more free?

Could it be that being human means stepping back from the urge to judge every action and, instead, simply allowing ourselves to experience life? Sometimes, we need to get out of our own way. We’re not meant to be perfect heroes. We’re here to experience, to participate, and maybe even to stumble without a critic analyzing our every step.

In stepping back and letting Carrie take the lead, I gave myself permission to speak openly. I could be vulnerable through her, connect more deeply with you, and be honest in a way that a “hero” mentality might never have let me be. Apparently, being the hero can be, well, unrelatable. Maybe it’s not about downplaying yourself but about creating a more honest connection.

So here’s what I realized: maybe life isn’t about finding where you shine the most; it’s about finding the people and places that illuminate the darkness. Maybe, by seeing myself through Carrie’s lens, I’ve found a more collaborative way to share my story—a way that allows for input, inspiration, and connection with others along the way. I’m not just standing alone on my own canvas but painting alongside her, and I think, in the end, that collaboration will create a picture far richer than I could’ve done alone.

So here we are, moving forward together. Carrie’s got my back, and I hope, as we go, that we can all find a little more freedom to connect, share, and discover ourselves without needing to be the hero. After all, sometimes it’s in stepping aside that we truly see ourselves for the first time.