One year ago today, I was celebrating my college graduation in Disney World with my parents and my boyfriend. It was the first full day of our 10-day trip, and our first time seeing the Flower & Garden Festival. The trip was to celebrate not only the culmination of my undergraduate career, but also the fact that I'd be starting my pre-med post-bacc in the fall. 

I found myself in Epcot for the last day of the beloved spring festival. I'd been snapping pictures of topiaries and festival treats all day, and sat down by Spaceship Earth to post one to Instagram. By this time, between my phone and my Nikon, I had about 800 pictures from the day, so picking just one for a quick post wasn't going to be easy. Instead of trying to find just one perfect picture to share, I decided to make a new account so I could have a space for my Disney pictures without bombarding my friends. And that's how mtminwdw was born (I have since changed the account name to @magicallymaya). 

I shared a picture that showed the back of my head modeling my first pair of small shop ears, facing Spaceship Earth. I had no idea that this would be the start of a very magical journey. 

In the year that I started this account, I've made so many new friends, started a business, a new chapter in my educational journey, a new job, developed new hobbies, became an Annual Passholder, and learned so many things about myself...and somehow became the owner of 22 pairs of mouse ears (mainly from amazing small shops). 

9/22 of the collection (Tangled-inspired, Rose Gold, Patriotic, and Jasmine-inspired ears: Bibbidi Bobbidi Brooke; Coffee ears: Be Ear Guest; Leopard and polka dot bow ears: Disney Parks; Waffle ears: Elephant and Mouse Shop; Unicorn ears: Meet the Royers)

What began as a way for me to avoid spamming my friends with pictures of me in sparkly ears and hugging a cartoon mouse quickly turned into something that I grew passionate about. I am forever grateful to this Instagram for introducing me to some amazing people, for forcing me to flex my creative muscles, and for giving me the courage to put myself out there. It's been a stress reliever, a photographical tapestry of vacations past and present, and a social experience I'm able to share with people who also feel that you're truly never too old to experience the magic. It's not that I give all the credit to my Instagram or Disney for this, but I can't talk about this past year without mentioning my account. 

(Me with the Mouse, on my first trip at age 2)

Disney has always held a special place in my heart. I don't really know how to explain it, but I guess starting this account helped reawaken the magic, wonder, and inspiration that's been inside me all along.

Magically,

Maya