Mode Around the Globe: Johnnie Olivia
Johnnie Olivia
@johnnieoliva
Photography by Abe Bermudez @aba.bermudez
Location: Casa Velas Puerto Vallarta
www.hotelcasavelas.com
@casavelas
What are three words your best friends would use to describe you?
Funny, wise, and strict.
What’s something about you that people would never guess from your social media?
I’m a huge animal lover, I am one of 9 kids, and I used to play rugby.
What's your most irrational fear?
Giving birth. Even the thought makes my stomach drop and skin crawl.
What's your biggest green flag in a person?
When they’re nice to animals, when they’re kind to the homeless, and when they don’t kill bugs.
What's one thing you could never live without?
My dog. She’s been my roommate for the past 10 years, and even though we have beef sometimes, I love her more than anyone or anything.
What's your biggest guilty pleasure?
Tiramisu. I’ll eat a family-sized tiramisu from Costco by myself if I could.
What's something you're surprisingly bad at?
I am terrible at anything involving endurance.
What's the best compliment you've ever received?
That I have a kind heart. My boyfriend says even when I’m angry, I still have a kind heart, and that just means everything to me because if you’re not kind at the end of the day, that should bother you.
What's your idea of a perfect day?
A perfect day is slow mornings, movies in bed, and probably a lot of alone time. You’re surrounded by people all the time, exerting energy. Sometimes the best days are when you can completely turn off and just be.
What's a life lesson you've had to learn the hard way?
That the world doesn’t stop for anybody. Bad things happen to good and bad people; no one’s singled out. You have to take what life gives you and make the most out of it AND not let it leave a chip on your shoulder. You have to move on and not let it make you a pessimist.
What's one thing that instantly makes you feel confident?
A good hair day. If my hair comes out good, I feel like everything else just comes together eventually.
What's your biggest ick?
Someone who complains a lot and is super negative. I don’t want to be around a dark cloud 24/7.
What's something you're romanticizing about your life right now?
Everything. I romanticize EVERYTHING. You have to; it makes life more fun.
If money and time weren't factors, what would you be doing tomorrow?
I’d be on a trip to Japan. That’s my next trip, and I think Japan in the fall would be soooo beautiful. Anytime I have free time, I choose to travel. Experiencing new cultures, cities, food, people, etc.
What's one thing you're no longer willing to compromise on?
My boundaries. I won’t explain further why I don’t feel comfortable or like something. If I say no, that’s the end of the sentence.
What's your personal definition of a life well lived?
Life is about experiences, and it’s not about certain experiences, JUST experiences. Eating a pizza, watching a movie, traveling, smelling candles, petting a dog, having friends… they’re all experiences. So as long as I am experiencing life, it’s a life well lived. I don’t believe we have a purpose or are meant for anything. I think that if we have the chance to experience what we dream of, that’s great, but if we don’t… that doesn’t mean our lives should have felt unfulfilled.
What's one thing you hope people feel when they're around you?
Comfortable. I’m introverted-extroverted, so I’d hope anyone who’s around me just feels comfortable to be themselves how and when they want.
What's a dream you're determined to make a reality?
I’d love to have a home in Ireland… a farm, actually. I’d love to have a farm, and I’d love to take in every unwanted or stray animal I could, to be honest.
If this chapter of your life had a title, what would it be?
The NYC chapter. I just moved to NYC this year, and I’d want this little chapter to be about that. The friends I made, the opportunities it’s created, and the memories I’ll get to reminisce on.
What was your favorite part of your stay at Casa Velas, Puerto Vallarta?
The girls… and Abe (the photographer). I felt so welcomed, and it felt more like fun than work. Truly the most amazing, sweet, kind souls. They made the already insanely amazing trip just that much more fun.
