Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariel Gardner.
Hi Ariel , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Cooking has always been a way to express love and bond within my family. I grew up in the kitchen, observing, and loved being able to help my mom at a very young age. I have been recording myself cook, since about 2013. I am now a Marriage and Family Therapist, and with that there is a lot of stress in my day to day. Cooking offers me an essential yet refreshing way to decompress. It allows me to have a space to create and unwind after a day of pouring in to others. However, the practical aspect is I am also a mom. So it is a beautiful experience to pass down traditions that have been shared with me by my mother, grandmother, and family. My daughter is 3 and loves to join me in the kitchen. I try to make conscious decisions with what she consumes, but we also love a sweet treat here and there. I love to bake. My parents owned a dessert franchise when I was in high school, and I have been baking ever since I was a teenager. I also love to host, and curate an environment for my friends and family to enjoy a delicious meal. I believe there is nothing more valuable than connecting with others and cooking allows a space for me to do so. Growing up in Southern California, I believe I have developed a diverse palate and I love to try recipes from various cultures. In my opinion, food is a universal love language.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As with every life experience, there are always struggles along the way. I try to remember that cooking is a form of therapy for me and an opportunity to express my creativity. With creating content, there are ebs and flows between feeling the need to post routinely. I have struggled to find a balance between pursuing content creation, full time employment, and full time motherhood. I just try to remind myself that the only thing I can do what I can in one day, and I don’t put too much pressure on myself to create. I typically do so when I feel inspired to. Even though I have been documenting my cooking journey for at least 10 years, I am still very new to content creating and I am excited to see where it can take me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
By trade, I am a marriage and family therapist; by art, I am a food content creator. I love to make recipes that are easy and accessible for the average person. I think cooking is essential, but also allows a space for creativity. The opportunities to create are endless. Through my content, cookingtherapyag, I have found a way to combine my career and my passion. I believe that food is a way to unite communities, express love and appreciation. I am most proud of my ability to find creativity and art in almost any situation. I consider life a beautiful gift, and believe my purpose is to share love with others in as many ways as I can. At the end of my videos, I like to add positive messages.
How do you think about luck?
I do consider myself a lucky individual, but I honestly believe that is more to do with effort and energy. I try to always remind myself that the energy we put out, will be returned to us. This helps me to remain grounded and show up as my best self. I work very hard and put effort towards all of my goals, big or small. I also believe that energy translates, and many opportunities I have been blessed with is a direct result of this philosophy. Thankfully, I have often come across others who have been willing to help me along my journey because I tend to show up as my authentic self. I recently came across a message that stated “aura is the real business card”.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/cookingtherapyag
- Instagram: cookingtherapyag
- Other: TikTok cookingtherapyag
