Welcome Min. Audria "Ajhae" Small

🎉 Happy Birthday Ajhae!  We're so excited to introduce Ajhae to our Be Well readers and our amazing 2025 contributors. Her vision, leadership, and passion for storytelling will bring fresh perspectives and powerful conversations to the magazine! Today is her birthday

Radiant & Resilient

For a brief moment after my 55th birthday, I doubted the direction of my life. A small part of me was beginning to believe it was all downhill. It started with a genius business idea I had at the time. That's when my inner dialogue changed. It taunted, “You’re too old to start a business.” Has that ever happened to you? Maybe it wasn't your inner voice. It could've been your spouse or a trusted friend. Whichever the case, something derailed your dream. 

Here's the truth. Fifty-something women are following their dreams. They're taking charge of their thoughts and bodies. And bringing value to themselves and those around them. They understand that dreams don’t have to die in the second act. They can become bridges to a greater purpose, making our aspirations more accessible and attainable.
​
I’m living proof of this truth. As a young woman, I had big dreams. I’d rip out pages from Essence and Elle magazines, taping them to my bedroom walls, imagining my future. Yet, fear often whispered that I wasn’t smart, talented, or educated enough to achieve those dreams. I spent hours practicing interviews in the mirror for my “talk show.” I turned my mother’s living room into a Broadway stage. I also wrote short stories and novels, hoping to gain the courage to follow my dreams.

I was once asked what my superpower was. At the time, I didn’t have an answer. But today, I’ll assert with certainty that my superpower is dreaming. It took me some time to see it as a gift, but I now embrace it with complete acceptance. I’m grateful that many of my childhood dreams came true for me. I believe it's because God doesn’t waste anything. He takes the gifts He’s placed in us and puts them to use—whether we’re ready or not.

Becoming Editor-In-Chief of Be Well Travel and Lifestyle Magazine was a full-circle moment for me. It was a piece of a dream I had tucked away—perhaps even given up on. But God dreams bigger than we can imagine.
​
If you’re feeling unseen, unheard, or undervalued, I encourage you to step out of that space. Abandon the shell you’ve accepted as your final destination and stand in the light. Let your inner brilliance shine. Purpose doesn’t have an expiration date. The breath of life within you is proof of your potential, wisdom, and untapped expertise. You still have so much to offer the world.

So go ahead, sis—start that business. Write the book, the song, the play. Travel the world. Find love if that’s what your heart desires. The world is still your oyster, and you are a precious pearl.

Connect with Ajhae on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/audria.small