I have been wanting to release myself from the pain of being an adult who aged out of foster care. It’s easy to find records and evidence of the stories that tell of the statistical 40% of individuals who end up homeless, in jail or dead within 3 years. I had a difficult time finding the stories of the individuals who lived outside of the correctional facilities system and actually defined success on their own terms. One of my mentors Trevor Otts shared with me, if a person is looking for a solution that they can not find, a lot of times they are the answer or solution that they are seeking. So, I courageously share my story in hopes that the Gumbo for the Black Woman’s Soul anthology project serves as a solution to you, the reader somehow.

The message I hope readers will takeaway is this… You are the architect of your life. I went from homeless to six figures selling crafts on Maui. No matter what life throws at you, adapt to endure it, learn from it, and believe in yourself so that you can build with what you learned. Look for opportunities to turn your pollution into a solution that serves others. And share what you have learned with others.

The process of writing and sharing my story is a blessing in disguise. I know that I am the sum total of my life experiences. This personal journey of remembrance and gratitude and forgiveness is a gift to me. At the time of this opportunity I was struggling with impaired vision and foresight for my life to come. As an active Black CEO I strive to practice the principles of that tribe, one of which is “You have to see it, before you can see it, or you will never see it.” It can be difficult to understand where you are going if you don’t acknowledge where you came from. This project is my way of gratefully paying homage to who I use to be so that I can celebrate who I am becoming . I have always adapted to the rules as they change and in doing so with God’s help things always turn out better than I thought they would. Because the things that may have been designed to hurt me the Lord uses to heal me and to elevate me to honor his name. I know that this project while uncomfortable to manage at times marks a sort of rebirth for me and the direction of my business pursuits moving forward.

I have endured a few instances where fear and thought feelings of not being good enough presented big challenges in embracing self love and prioritizing my own happiness. When I recognize that I am out of alignment in this way I do what is necessary to break away from environmental triggers could be causing me to struggle. And then I do what my sister Queen Shifa Ali Scott taught me, I make a decision not to commit to the struggle and self correct my course!

I prioritize time for myself first! Then I prioritize creative use of gifts and talents. And I continually invest in education to energize personal growth and development.

My mother has been the most influential person in my life. Witnessing her decision making process identified best courses of action for me to get the results that align with the desires of my heart and those that impede them. She told me about the power of prayer and faith in God, the father, the son and the Holy Spirit. She made me memorize the entire 23 Psalms when I was 7 years old. 7 is the number of completion and the age of accountability. Putting me on a path of biblical knowledge and understanding served me well , it’s been a guiding light for me. And now I know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Explore the nature of your true identity. Invest time and resources in personality tests to uncover your spiritual gifts and the talents that showcase your passions. Then check to make sure these qualities are in alignment with your core values and strengths. Next, identify worthy pursuits that are most likely to inspire you to act in harmony on your goals and dreams.

The God that I serve puts people in place along the journey to encourage, support and correct us. If it’s truth that we all become a reflection of the 5 people we spend the most time with or around it tells us that we are not meant to walk through life alone. Each of us needs all of us!

Many of the challenges that you will face ahead is not for you alone. The lessons learned will prepare you to become a bundle of solutions for others. Stay the course!

Continuing to build a purpose driven wealth network of businesses that cultivate and conserve cashflow positive relationships that create positive impact on my life and the lives of future generations.