You may remember this little blog called the “Bat Yam Yoman”…well…she had a huge makeover…including a new name! I originally created this blog in September 2021 to simply document my year living abroad in Bat Yam, Israel, but I never imagined how it would blossom into so much more.

What started as a “travel diary” has now turned into a space where I share whatever it is I’m going through at the moment. Although much of this took place during my year abroad, I realized that a lot of the issues I struggled with aren’t unique. I quickly found that many people often related to the posts I shared, especially those in which I was the most honest and vulnerable.

This blog does not shy away from the hard and ugly parts of life. Back when I started writing the Bat Yam Yoman, I knew I wanted it to be as honest and real as possible for others, but I never could have imagined how much it would end up helping me through some really difficult times as well. Being able to process through writing and creating has been so healing for me, and hearing back from the people who read and connect with this blog helps me more than you might expect.

So, with that being said, I’m super excited for this new chapter of Growing Through.

If you want to learn more about who I am and why I chose the name, “Growing Through,” click the “so, what’s with the new name?” section in the home menu.

If you’re new here and want to catch up on my old blog posts, you can find them in the “What I’m Going Through” section of the home menu.

I hope this blog speaks to you and maybe even helps you in some way. If it does, I’d love to hear about it in the comments section!

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Written by Jessica Bard

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