I did it! I officially changed my name legally to Bella. I still can’t believe it and it’s such an incredible feeling. Yesterday I went to the DMV and submitted all my paperwork to have them change it. I won’t lie, but when I started the process in December, it became real to me and I started crying. It was a bittersweet feeling. On one hand, I was saying goodbye to my old identity, while in the other, I’m saying hello to my new identity. It was a lot.
So I let go of my middle name as well and that was hard too. No more Laura Melanie. She was truly the old me that got me where I am today, but I no longer resonated with her and that’s why I needed the change.
I’ve been going by Bella for the past ten years and it was about time to do it and so I did. It feels great!
Cheers to this new official chapter of my life by going by a name that feels authentically me.
