The Story Behind Mel in Motion
When I chose the name Mel in Motion, it wasn’t just about moving abroad. Yes, I’m boarding a one-way flight to Spain this fall with two suitcases and a carry-on, but this blog is about more than logistics. It’s about what it means to begin again. To follow the pull of food, culture, and self-discovery, and to live life in forward motion.
Why “Mel”?
I wanted this space to feel personal, grounded, and human. Not a brand I hide behind or a clever nickname, but simply me: Melanie. Mel for short.
For years, my identity has been shaped by many roles: IT professional, caregiver, activist, yoga teacher, creative. But underneath all of those, I’ve always just been Mel. Choosing this name was a way to claim my voice honestly. When you land here, you’re not reading the polished updates of a perfect person. You’re meeting me where I’m at: mid-30s, starting over, telling the truth about the messy and meaningful parts of building a new life.
Why “Motion”?
Motion is the thread that’s always carried me forward.
There were years I felt stuck; held back by trauma, depression, and circumstances that made it hard to imagine change. But even then, something inside me kept moving. Healing is motion. Curiosity is motion. Choosing courage, even in small steps, is motion.
Motion is about more than a physical move across an ocean. It’s the way I roll out my yoga mat, the way I sort through my thoughts, the way I keep reaching toward community and creativity even when life is hard. Motion is about growth, resilience, and the quiet decision to not stand still.
What Motion Means Here
The word “motion” keeps showing up in every corner of this blog:
Food: Meals are always in motion…recipes traveling across cultures, traditions being reimagined, flavors connecting past and future.
Culture: Living abroad means stepping into cultural motion…letting new ideas change how you see the world.
Healing: Growth isn’t linear. It’s messy, winding, and full of forward steps. That’s motion, too.
Creativity: Every time I write, cook, film, or share, I’m in motion…creating and connecting.
The Vision for Mel in Motion
This blog isn’t just a place to document my grad school experience or my favorite foods in San Sebastián. It’s a living archive of what it means to begin again.
Here you’ll find:
Stories about food, culture, and what it’s like to rebuild your life in a new country.
Practical guides on moving abroad, packing, visas, and student life.
Reflections on identity, neurodivergence, justice, and healing.
Snapshots of curiosity and creativity in motion. Whether that’s hiking, tasting, or writing.
My hope is that this space feels like sitting down with a friend who’s honest about the hard parts but also excited about what’s possible.
Why It Matters
The name Mel in Motion is my reminder to keep moving. To stay curious, to stay brave, to keep choosing growth over fear.
This blog is about motion in every sense of the word: motion across borders, motion through healing, motion in creativity, and motion toward a life rooted in purpose.
If you’ve ever stood at the edge of a new beginning -scared, excited, unsure, but pulled forward anyway- this space is for you, too.
“What does “motion” mean to you in your own life? Have you ever chosen a name (for a project, a journal, or a dream) that captured more than just words?”
