Hi Fellow Arianators,
Like the rest of you, I have not been able to comprehend the tragic event that took place on Monday, in Manchester. Although I am not from Europe, the pain of those that experienced this tragic event has struck me. It's unsettling to know that our family has lost 22 beautiful souls and that the person who we are all inspired by has fallen silent.
There are so many reasons why we gather in tens of thousands, in every major city across the globe. The first reason is that Ariana's music simply makes our days brighter. The second reason is that Ariana makes us feel that we can be ourselves, despite who we may love, what color skin we have, what shapes our body are, and what we religion we are. Ariana shows this love, time and time again especially through her shows and social media, where she is so engaging and so excited to speak to us and get to know how our day went. Another reason we gather is that she is so confident and not afraid to wear "space buns" and wear super cute outfits that show off her physique. I cannot speak for all of us, but for me, she inspires me to be more confident and wear whatever makes me feel confident.
I remember going to my first Ariana concert back on the Honeymoon Tour, I was so excited that I cried from the moment she came out on stage to the moment she left. It was the greatest moment of my life. Every day after that, for months, I would cry tears of joy whenever one of her songs came on while I was driving. For some of you, the Manchester stop of the Dangerous Woman Tour was your first Ariana Grande experience. I hope you felt the same way that I did before the tragic event happened. I hope you felt loved, appreciated, and pure happiness. I hope you danced your butts off and sang as loud as you possibly could, even if you are like me and sing off key.
Ariana has been one of my biggest inspirations for boosting my confidence. Recently, I have heard rumors that she doesn't want to perform anymore. That broke my heart. She has a talent, unlike any other. Not only a talent for singing but a talent for filling a room with love and acceptance. These things are so hard to come by and I couldn't imagine the world without a person just like her spreading her message to millions.
I wish I didn't live so far away, so I could help more than sitting behind a laptop and writing an article, sharing on Facebook, or tweeting. I wish I could take the pain away suffered that night. I wish for the people who suffered this event to live happily. I know that this was traumatizing and that for those who lived through it, it will not be easily forgotten. But I wish that you will live your life to the fullest, unafraid to spread love and your stories. I wish that our queen did not feel the way she does. Lastly, I wish that those lives that have been lost, weren't.
Ari, as a family, we are right behind you. And as a family, we will get through this together.
