Spring 2018 1
2 Ambition Magazine
Contents |
WHO’S IN YOUR TRIBE?
NO SPEND ZONE
MY STORY
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SPRING 2018
ambitionmag.com
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FOUR WAYS YOUR TRIBE AFFECTS YOUR BRAND 8 Letter From the Editor 4 She Shall Not Be Moved 5 Three Ways to Be More Ambitious & Less Annoyed 7 Transitioning from Employee to Entrepreneur as a GenXer 14 MyStory 16 Spring 2018 3
MAGAZINE
Letter from the Editor EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
LeKeisha Nicole
With every day growth comes.
Editor-in-Chief LeKeisha Nicole
Copy Editor Ashley Aya Ferguson Cover Photo Aaron Paschal Layout & Design Erial Ramsey for Imperial1002 Contributing Writers Jessie LaQueenia Emerald Sparks Keeyana Avery Ashley Aya Ferguson Ashley N. Browning Morgan A. Owens Chanta Winston Auntee Rik Who’s In Your Tribe Photos Aaron Paschal Various Article Photos Pexels.com
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Years begin to feel like lifetimes filled with lessons and memories. I’m beyond blessed to see my sixth birthday. Year five tried to take me out but I really think it’s because I set an expectation for smooth sailing and I got everything but that. I did have an amazing moment of clarity in November while I was at a conference. While I was sitting in this room, I realized that I was around six people that were featured in Ambition in the course of five years. Three of these people were subjects of my cover stories and two were profiled; but, I had never met any of these people face to face. I only had one negative realization during this process. I have to do better going forward with staying engaged. I didn’t maintain those relationships as I should have. I have committed to stepping back and working on rebuilding those relationships as I continue to move forward and build new ones. That moment was also revitalizing because everyone I mentioned is in such a dynamic place. I set some new intentions going into this year. It appears that the 2018 theme is to be intentional. I’m going to be more intentional in sharing information about health and celebrating people on all of our platforms. I want to reach and support more people. I’m really excited about the second year of the Ambition List. I see this growing so far beyond my current level of comprehension. Lastly, our cover story on tribes is going to be awesome. I’m loving this cover with some of my favorite trailblazing women, discussing how having a tribe has helped them. Enjoy & Be Ambitious…
She Shall Not Be Moved God is our strength, provider, and protector. He is a very present help in the times of need. God is aware of the things we need to conquer in our lives, before we even have visibility of them. Psalm 46:1 informs us that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of need.” When we turn our eyes to God, setbacks become valuable experiences. We no longer live in bondage because we now know and understand that regardless of life circumstances, heartaches, or struggles in the midst of it all; God is right there with us. We cannot allow ourselves to become so discouraged that we become fixated on the past, (past mistakes, failures, what we should have or could have done). We must move forward in faith. God has opportunities, promises, and purposes waiting to be revealed and presented to us. As women, as mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, girl bosses, friends, and sheroes; we have to constantly remind ourselves: “she shall not be moved,” then make every effort to conquer our struggles by FAITH. When we become rooted in the Word of God, disappointments start to turn into victories and the victim soon becomes the survivor. God’s desire is for us to live a fulfilling, faith-led, joyous, and prosperous life. He never said that it would be easy, but he did promise to comfort and guide us through it all.
INSPIRATION BY
Jessie LaQueenia
It is imperative in this season, on our glamourous days as well as those trying days, that we remain faithful and prayerful. Regardless of what may be going on in our lives or around us, we have to start operating within the power that God has blessed us with. ‘God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved,’ is truly one of the most precious promises God has blessed us with. This scripture tells us that although life is designed to throw obstacles across our paths, we can still stand firm on the word of God with immovable, unshakable, unwavering faith. Philippians 4:6 reminds us to not worry or be anxious for anything, but by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, to submit those requests up to God. Today I challenge you to never allow the struggles of life to detour you from your purpose or the promises of God. Build a solid foundation with faith-based confidence knowing that if God called you to it, he will surely see you through it. “God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn” (Psalm 46:5)
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NO SPEND ZONE WRITTEN BY
Emerald Sparks
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ridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are typically the days our budget goes in the crapper! It’s party time, we are off work, and it’s time to enjoy ourselves because we have slaved all week for a job we don’t like. The weekend is a time to do all the things we have wanted to do, but didn’t get the chance to do during the week. I know you have heard me talk about No Spend Days. These are days where we spend absolutely ZERO dollars. I mean NO money; not $0.50, nothing! You may be wondering how to do you go an entire day without spending money? I’ll tell you. I plan it accordingly and I typically pick a day where I could be tempted to spend more money than I want. For me it is usually a Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday. The weekend is a killer for anyone’s budget. My friends are always asking me to go here and go there, and usually the events are not free. I either have to incorporate the festivity into my budget or tell my friends, NO. And one of my best friends will tell you, I tell her NO often because the way my checking and saving is set up... Here are some tips for you, if you are interested in challenging yourself with a No Spend Day, because next is the No Spend Week (you can only buy groceries and gas). Happy saving friends!
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1. Select one day of the upcoming week. Look at your schedule for the upcoming week. Sometimes it is not possible to have a No Spend Day because you have an important business meeting. Check your schedule and pick a day accordingly. 2. Don’t spend any money. Do not buy lunch; do not buy coffee; do not stop by the vending machine; do not do anything that requires you to spend money. Point. Blank. And the period. 3. Don’t be afraid to say NO. If someone tempts you with a good time on your No Spend Day, kindly tell the person NO, that today you are preserving your bank account and that they should join you. Bring the homies in on the fun of saving money :) 4. Don’t give up prematurely. It may be extremely hard to intentionally not spend any money, but be strong. Call a friend who you admire and have them be your accountability partner. You may feel like you need that morning coffee or afternoon snack, but you know you don’t. Trust me, you will be OK and life will go on. 5. Count it up, stack it up! At the end of the week, see how much money you saved and place it in your saving account and watch it grow. After you have completed a few No Spend Days, you may be ready for the No Spend Week, then the No Spend Month! But let’s take baby steps first. You can do it!
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WAYS TO BE MORE AMBITIOUS
& less annoyed
WRITTEN BY
LeKeisha Nicole
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n August 2017, I created my consulting firm Ambitious and Annoyed. It was exciting but weird. I had all of these visions of grandeur but didn’t completely understand how to translate everything that was in my head. I wanted to help people in so many ways and I knew the name encompassed everything I wanted to do but I didn’t know how to properly promote and brand this thing and find my niche. As I closed out the first quarter I had to go back to the basics and use these three steps to help me make decisions about what to come next. I am confident that if you apply these three simple steps when you get stuck, annoyance will begin to drift away. SET GOALS Many of us think we’re doing this and we’re actually lacking in this area. Goal setting has steps. If you haven’t taken a moment to run through these, it could be a huge source of frustration just because of the lack of organization of thoughts.
Step #1: Declare Step #2: Define Step #3: Prioritize Step #4: Plan Step #5: Work Step #6: Evaluate DO We spend a great portion of our lives in the “I’m going to” phase. Stop “going to” and just work. REFLECT On a regular basis take time to evaluate where you are and what you’re doing. Are your processes in place? What or who is causing you stress? I suggest doing this weekly but at the very least take some time each month to reflect on what’s working and not working for you and begin to make adjustments.
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Four Ways Your Tribe Affects Your Brand WRITTEN BY
Keeyana Avery
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ately there has been a lot of buzz about finding your tribe. The notion that it is important to be surrounded by a group of like-minded people to help you push forward in life and in business can be paramount to your sustainability. Tribes can be essential to your growth, elevation and ambition. When you have a brand or a business, finding other people who can relate to you, understand your goals and are on similar paths can be key for going to the next level. It is important to think about who those people are in your close circle. While you may not think that your tribe and your brand have anything to do with each other, they actually do. The people you surround yourself with can not only have an effect on your personal life, but also your business and professional life as well. Here are four ways that your tribe affects your brand.
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your comfort zone to get other people to connect to your business, then you may want to reconsider those in your circle.
YOUR IMAGE When I say image, I’m referring to how people perceive you or, in other words, your reputation. What do people think when they hear about the circle that you are a part of? What is the reputation of the other people who are a part of your tribe? Are they highly regarded in the community or in the business world? Or, when people hear the name of the businesses of those who you are associated with does it invoke negative feelings? You want to make sure that the people you’re associated with are people who uphold a solid reputation and a positive brand image because you can absolutely be found guilty by association if these people in your tribe are not on the up and up.
YOUR GROWTH Growing is essential to a business or a brand. If you aren’t growing then you’re dying and if you’re dying, that can spell the end for your brand. In business we call growth scalability. How is your brand able to grow over the long term? How are you able to become bigger? What more can you do to reach your long term goals? If the people around you aren’t willing to challenge you, push you and help you grow, then it might be time to find a new tribe. You should be around people who want to see you do well; who want to see you excel but also who don’t want to see you stuck in the same place. As you grow personally, your business and brand should also be growing.
YOUR LEVEL OF INFLUENCE Are the people in your tribe influential? Those in your circle should have a positive impact on your sphere of influence. Are the people that you surround yourself with able to help you connect with the right people? Are they able to help you push your brand or your business to the people who you need to be in front of? Are they able to help you when it comes to getting people to connect with your business and your brand? If the people you’re closely connected with aren’t able to help connect you in different circles or push you out of
Your tribe is going to be an essential part of your brand. As you grow and evolve, your tribe may also, but it’s important to make sure that they meet all of the above standards. Those in your corner should be pushing you to grow and go higher. They should be helping you expand your level of influence and hold fast to your foundation. Your tribe can ultimately make or break your brand, which is why it’s important to make sure they meet your expectations and help you get to the next level.
YOUR VALUES Having values as a business or a brand is extremely important. If the people that you associate yourself with on a regular basis have compromising or sketchy values, then that may ultimately spill over into your business and also compromise your foundation as a brand or a business. If your brand values are compromised or put in a position to be questioned, then that can lead to disasters or crisis situations. Make sure the people who are closest to you in your tribe have the same kind of values that you do, have a solid foundation, and are not willing to compromise or do questionable things that will put those values at risk.
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WHO’S IN YOUR TRIBE?
Over the course of the last year this has haunted me. Who is my tribe, who are my five? ARTICLE BY
LeKeisha Nicole
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here is a saying/belief that the five people you spend the most time with make up who you are. This is something that I’ve struggled with internally a lot recently. If we are being literal about this then Houston we have a problem. In some ways I don’t feel as though I have a ton of control over that based on my work. Now if it’s people who I talk to regularly I’m content; but, I’m still looking like I may want to make some changes. I’ve also considered the people I confide in, the people I trust with the good and the bad; the people I’m able to be totally naked and transparent with but know that whether I like it or not their words and feedback are for my betterment and improvement.
So I attempted to remove myself for the decision-making part and the process and pray on it more. One thing I heard clearly is what/who do you need? So I began l looking at what I believed I needed to become an overall better version of myself. I took this list of what I thought/ believed I needed into prayer. What I learned through this process is that I create my tribe and when someone is involved that should not be, God will remove them. Some that were around during what I’ll call my, time of awakening, have been removed. I don’t cut people off unnecessarily but I don’t move people into the compartments of life that they need to be. Some people need to be lunch/dinner/drink buddies that you catch up with from time to time. Don’t be MC Hammer or New Edition, everyone is not meant to be on the tour bus. I’m committed to removing baggage from my life and making sure that everyone I’m involved with has similar goals and vision. If everything is a fight, I don’t want it. I can’t be the only one able to give a pep talk or the only one with resources. It’s exhausting.
Needless to say I was worn out just trying to figure out which five people were my five people. I also began to question myself and who I was allowing myself to be around. Why would I put myself in situations to be so concerned with who my five were viewed as? What does that say about me, that I’m spending significant time with people that I don’t feel are pouring I am now comforted in the tribe that I’ve created into me and in some way adding to my life. and creating. I have some amazing people in there If I’m being honest, those feelings put me in a really as mentors, peers and mentees. I don’t talk to them weird and cloudy place. I had to step away and real- every day but they are all in tune with the moves I’m ly ask God for guidance because I wanted the way I making and I know they are for me. I pray that I conhandled my relationships to be ordered and guided tinue to receive and pour with proper balance. by God. 10 Ambition Magazine
WHO ’S IN YOUR TRIBE ?
“My Tribe of Entrpreneurial Friends”
“My Tribe is My People”
Without my tribe, I wouldn’t have a business. Without my tribe, my book would just be another poem in my notebook. Without my tribe, I would not believe I am enough.
Being surrounded by some amazing people has been a game changer for me. For me, having a tribe means having a league of people I can count on for a variety of things. Ultimately, it means having folks in my corner who are going to challenge me, push me out of my comfort zone, cheer me on, get me together when I’m out of line and go to bat for me when I need someone to. There are people in my tribe who I’m reaching back to pull up; people who are levels beyond where I am, and those who are with me and we’re all working to help each other level up. I don’t see this as some feel good, Kumbaya type of cliche. My tribe is my people. They’re people who get me, who can relate to me and who I can be myself with. They’re important to me just like I consider myself to be important to them. I can go to them for advice, prayer, a vent session, an important contact, to figure out a problem—pretty much anything. It took a while for me to figure out how to navigate my tribe and who those people were and how they fit into the equation, but I’m so glad that I’m blessed with the people that I’m blessed with!
Ashley Aya Ferguson
I hope that when people see me, they also see my tribe of friends and family that have supported me through all of the ups and downs. There are too many to name but I will share one important example. I remember when I was afraid to become an entrepreneur. I was working in marketing fulltime and I simply wanted an opportunity to write. When friends asked me to help with writing and editing on the side I was just happy to have a creative outlet. It was my tribe of entrepreneurial friends (Keeyana, Faith, Erial, Keisha) who told me my time was valuable, and helped me to establish rates, a website and a process. It is from my tribe that I draw encouragement, inspiration and tools that help me move forward. I am thankful for my tribe who could see what I couldn’t immediately see in myself.
Keeyana Avery
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W HO ’S I N YOU R T R I B E?
It Takes a Village
There’s and I in TEAM
Tribe? My tribe consisted of seven women. I guess that’s the number of completion, right? Well, I know without a doubt, that I am the woman I am today, because of them.
My tribe of business savvy friends means everything to me! I literally would not be here if I didn’t have a group of boss babes behind me. No one I knew growing up owned a business, so when I made the decision to become an entrepreneur I had no one to talk about it with. No one could understand why I wanted more. Most of the people in my life were traditional. You go to work, do what you can, get a retirement check, and sit down somewhere.
Ashley N. Browning
All seven of these women stepped in when I was lost, confused and no one understood me. They saved me. They strengthened my faith in God and restored my faith in women. All of them served different purposes in my life and some are still around teaching me lessons into my adulthood. Because of my tribe, the most important thing I learned is, how to give. I give because they gave to me. They took the time to see about me, to get to know me, to work with me, to educate me but most importantly, they loved me, unconditionally. They were patient and they pulled out of me things that I didn’t even know that was inside of me: confidence, fierceness, boldness, and a leader that is transparent, passionate and intentional. One passed away, last year in 2017 and I am still saddened by this; but the lessons, teachings and memories, live on forever. I hope that they see this article and know that I love and appreciate them. I am a product of you and I hope that I make you proud! I am grateful. And of course, I don’t do anything without the inspiration and motivation of my grandfather, Harry C. Browning. 12 Ambition Magazine
Emerald Sparks
I wanted something different. I needed something different. As expected, my friend group changed. I came in contact with women who were entrepreneurs making strides in the world for themselves. These are people who have supported my business, my speaking engagements, referred my name to someone. Without this tribe, I would have quit when a client became disgruntled, when no one purchased a workshop ticket, when funds were low. Now no one has ever seen me cry (lol) --I’m a capital G-- but when I have felt like crying, I knew I could always reach out to one of my tribe members. It’s all about having someone who understands what you are going through, someone that has felt how you felt and helps get you through the struggles of entrepreneurship. I love feeding into my tribe and having my tribe feed into me. I want everyone to eat, support one another, and be great together!
WHO ’S IN YOUR TRIBE ?
“Made Me a Better Person”
“The Support of my Family”
Having a tribe has affected my journey abundantly. I never knew I would own my own business, let alone two. It wasn’t until someone else planted the seed in my head that I should “do my own thing.” That ‘thing’ was the beginning of my Curvy Cardio business. That really gave me the confidence that I could really make, mold, and shape something of my very own. Not only that, - but use Curvy Cardio as a vehicle to do other ventures.
Fashion has always been something that I love. I am fascinated by different styles and I’m intrigued by the people who can relate and are there to support me.
Morgan A. Owens
Along this journey countless women have been added into my tribe as motivators, supporters, prayer warriors and mentors. My marketing and branding business, Morgan A Owens started off with one of my tribe mentors, simply saying “yes” to an idea I wanted to execute. When people say they are self-made – it really makes me sad. Being surrounded by people that believe in you (sometimes more than you believe in yourself) is such an overwhelming blessing you have to just experience. My tribe has made me a better person, opened doors I never knew were even there and made me self-reflect in areas where I needed to step my game up. A true tribe not only lifts you up, but is there if you were to fall. They push you beyond your comfort level and won’t let you settle for mediocrity. If you have a tribe, embrace them. If you don’t, find your tribe.
Chanta Winston
I’ve met a lot of great people. Without these fans and these people that affect my life in one way or another, I cannot say that I would have made it this far. I also have the continued support of my brand ambassadors who are always there for me, communicating and advertising and helping in any of kind of way to make sure that my line is thriving. As for my family and close friends they have backed me from the beginning and are still involved today; moral support is needed often but to have unrestricted support on a regular basis is just amazing to me. There is nothing like the support of my family. My eldest brother living in Dallas helps me from far away, and my brother that lives in Ohio is always there for me. Whether it’s getting orders; or getting the word out; or purchasing items; he is sometimes more excited than I am that I’m succeeding and involved in something that’s my passion. My mother is my rock, from finances to critiquing to mending and sewing and cutting and distressing etc. etc. she is making sure that Fashion Remedy Boutique becomes the brand that works. I cannot say enough about her; she has been there through it all. Spring 2018 13
TRANSITIONING from Employee to Entrepreneur N as a GenXer WRITTEN BY
Auntee Rik
o matter if by choice or by force (layoff, business closing, ‘encouraged’ early retirement), transitioning from employee to business owner requires some adjustment. Of course, by choice is ideal, but when it’s by force, not only are you trying to figure out how to make things work, you also need to get around your emotions. And if you’ve been part of the workforce for 10 years or more, the speed at which you adapt will have a major bearing on your entrepreneurial success. A good portion of my client base includes women who are starting their own businesses either in preparation or response to a change in their employment status. I was in this same position 12 years ago, although I did not have the resources that are available now. I started with what I had -a computer, Microsoft Office/Adobe Photoshop, and a relentless hustle - and turned my part-time gig employers into clients. While I wish I had discovered some of these things earlier on, my journey has helped me to help friends, associates and clients get on the right path. Here’s a list of 10 things to keep in mind as a GenXer transitioning from employee to entrepreneur: GET YOUR MIND RIGHT. This transition requires a major mindset shift. You are now every department of your company, unless and until you hire staff. Where you were once able to come in, do your work and leave, it seems as if there’s always something to be done at every moment. There’s no one to set company deadlines and goals for you, you have to do that yourself. On top of that, you still have to run your personal life. This transition also requires a major uptick in discipline. You’re no longer confined to business hours which can be more of a curse than a blessing if you don’t structure your day/week/month/quarter/year.
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GO WITH WHAT YOU KNOW. Tap into the knowledge gold mine that is your robust work history. From structure and processes to water cooler conversations I had over the years, they definitely helped grow and sustain my business, as well as set me apart from my [sometimes much younger and/or less experienced] competition.
the son/daughter/cousin/friend of a friend) who has no idea of how to help them grow their specific business and the branding is useless after a year or so; or go the DIY route which makes such a mess that it is damaging to the brand they’re trying to build.
KEEP AN OPEN MIND. Chances are if you’re a MANAGE EXPECTATIONS. Speaking of processes, GenXer, for a good portion of your life -especially lay a foundation early for how you want to run your on the job - the opinions of young people were often business. I mean, it is YOUR business after all. You get disregarded and they were thought to lack experience. to do things your way. Even in regulated industries, This train of thought can get, and keep, you stuck. It meet the requirements, but sprinkle as much of your took me a minute to see I was doing this, but once I touch as you can on top. did I quickly realized how valuable having a different perspective was so helpful. I mean, in my head I knew MANAGE YOUR TIME. Set business hours for times this but it didn’t really hit home until I actually embraced when you’re available for clients and stick to them. It’s it. My Millennial associates provide an interesting spin easy to fall into the trap of wanting to please everyone on doing things, and every now and then they offer an all of the time in the name of keeping income coming, ego boost. and that is the easy way to burnout. Protect your productivity hours and personal time at all costs. PRICE RIGHT. When you’re in job search mode, you hope to land a salary that will pay your bills and help you WORK SMART. Figure out your ideal productivity to afford nice things. When you’re a business owner, you schedule. Are you more analytical in the morning and need to add business expenses, COGS (cost of goods more creative late at night? Then, do those tasks during sold) and actual profit to that mix. This includes big the respective time periods. things like equipment and employees/contractors, but also costs associated with ads and marketing, domain BE MINDFUL OF ISOLATION. Working from home and hosting renewal for your website, office supplies is cool, but if you’re alone at home most of the time, and more. it’s easy to become a hermit and/or create distractions because it’s too quiet. Break up your day or week so COME UP FOR AIR. Not only is it important to avoid that you are out among people. Don’t rent office space isolating yourself, but it’s also important not to get so if you really don’t need it. Check out co-working spots comfortable in your tools/processes and bogged down and get a membership that lets you work out of the running your business that you miss out on innovation. space at least one day a week or a few times a month. Blogs, podcasts, industry publications, social media, You’ll get that missing human interaction from people etc. are all great ways to keep your ‘ear to the streets.’ who may become potential clients, partners, or referral Make it a point to do semi-annual reviews - similar to a sources, and since co-working spaces work primarily performance review - to make sure you’re operating at on a membership basis, you get that familiar feeling of optimal levels. being in an office, without the randomness of working out of a coffee shop. All in all, being flexible, willing to learn and having an open mind goes a long way as an employee or business SIMPLE IS SAVVY WHEN STARTING. Don’t rush owner. There’s always room for adjustment and imout to spend a whole lot of money on branding visuals provement, so don’t get hung up on getting it all right and such; keep it really simple. I know this may sound from the start. weird coming from someone whose main bread and butter comes from creating visual branding, but I can’t Best wishes for your endeavors! tell you the number of business owners who spend lots of money on their logo, marketing materials and website then end up changing course or closing shop totally after a year or so; or hire someone (most times Spring 2018 15
In honor of Multiple Sclerosis Month, we present four stories of women not only surviving, but thriving in the face of the disease. COMPILED BY
LeKeisha Nicole
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MAEGAN STACEY LEE: I experienced my first major attack at the age of 19 when I became numb from the neck down. My parents took me to different types of doctors and specialists; however, they were unable to determine the cause of the numbness. Eventually my feeling was restored and life returned to normal. Everyone wrote it off as the stress of being a full-time college student while holding down two part-time jobs. For the next eight years, MS was a silent partner as I begin to pursue my career in holistic healthcare. As a Naturopathic Assistant, I lived my dream of helping others heal their bodies naturally every day. Periodically, MS would make its presence known via numbness and tingling coupled with extreme fatigue. All of which I attributed to poor circulation and working too many hours at the Wellness Center. No worries, a cleanse or detox along with a mini vacay would fix everything until it didn’t.
or you can’t, and I clearly could not. My mother had to fly down to take care of me and my family. In addition to running the household, she sat with me, talked to me and prayed for me. During one of our conversations she tells me God heals in different ways and that I needed to Let Go and Let God. That statement has become my personal mantra. The MRI at that time showed active lesions in the cervical area of my spine. The neuro advised me that additional new lesions in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar areas of the spine could result in further physical impairment. I sat in that office in tears because I was about to start meds, the very thing I advocated against for so many years. As I watched the nurse demonstrate how to inject the needle, I heard my mother’s voice. “God heals in different ways, Let Go and Let God.” Being the stubborn Taurus that I am, I wanted healing to only manifest a certain way. The audacity of me to dictate how I wanted to receive my blessings was The year was 2002. By this time, I was married with a absurd. newborn child and blind in one eye which I had absolutely no explanation for. At my six week checkup Through this experience God has shown me there are the OB/GYN referred me to an optometrist, who re- many paths to healing-- most importantly the healing ferred me to an ophthalmologist, who referred me to of the essence of me. I’m so much more than this incura neurologist who told me I had Multiple Sclerosis. I able disease that I live with. was stunned and relieved at the same time. It finally made sense but how could this happen? I followed the It’s not just about holistically managing MS (Multiple rules. I exercised, ate healthy, drank lots of water, etc. Sclerosis). It’s about holistically managing MS (Maegan etc. Where was the referee to call a flag on the play be- Stacey) by always holistically managing MS (My Spircause this was clearly a foul. The only call given was a it)!!!! call of action by the neuro who was pressuring to start meds immediately because I had inactive lesions on all ASHLEY BRYANT: I was diagnosed with Multiple four hemispheres of my brain. At that time, there were sclerosis in February of 2015. At the time, it seemed to only the ABC drugs for MS which included Avonex, fall completely out of the blue sky. The universe was like, Betaserone and Copaxone. All of these were injectables “Bam! Good morning. You know how you like walking? that created flu like symptoms and prevented me from Rely on your legs to always work? Well, not anymore nursing my baby. The answer was emphatically NO!!! lady!” Medication was not an option. I had too much knowlI later started to connect the dots. I’ve suffered from edge in holistic healing to even considerate it. After I debilitating migraines since before I could drive; expegot past the initial shock and anger it was game on! I rienced extreme fatigue since the start of my adult catried any diet, herb, supplement and therapy that could reer life; and experienced a list of other symptoms that, possibly help MS. Not only was I winning, it became like most, I ignored. At the time, I thought I was just my life mission to help others living with MS. bored with my job, stayed up way too late, or didn’t eat Fast forward to 2013, I’m placing the finishing touch- enough. While all of that was true, there was an underes on my own wellness center and I start experienc- lying reason. ing numbness in my legs. I ignore it because there was too much that still needed to be done before the grand opening. One morning I get up to start my day and I can’t walk. My legs literally felt like concrete. There was no pushing through the ability to walk, either you can,
After being diagnosed, all the questions, or concerns rather, were addressed. Three years later, after going through all the stages of grief, I am finally in a good place. I walked away from relationships and things that no longer served me. In return, I developed an amazSpring 2018 17
ing support system. The women that I am lucky enough to call friends have picked me up, sometimes literally, more times than I can count. I have a great doctor who I trust completely. I started attending a support group where I can talk to those who share the same struggles. I even started a non-profit for the support groups around Houston. I concentrate on anything that feeds my spirit, and I think that is what has kept my symptoms at bay for the most part. It sounds corny, but attitude has such a big impact on your health. How do I live with this disease? It’s simple; I focus on the things that matter: God, my tribe – you know who are—and trying to be the best version of me everyday.
ing foot issues. Referred to a podiatrist that LOVED to operate. I had an unnecessary foot surgery that caused me to no longer wear heels. This was a SAD time….. but not depressing. Fabulous is still fabulous even in flats and low heels! Over the years, I would lose my balance, forget a thought, have an odd sensation in my left leg. In 2011, I broke my right ankle. I used crutches for 8 weeks. Much to my dismay, I couldn’t understand why my left leg was slowing down when I came off the crutches. In 2012, I was in my PCP’s office touting that something was not right with me. She informed me that all my labs looked normal and it must just be in my head. I went back to her four times in 2012 with no satisfactory result. In January 2013, I went back to her feeling empowered to be actively involved in my patient care. I was not going to be denied. I saw a cardiologist, an orthopedic specialist, and a rheumatologist. The rheumatologist did an MRI and saw something on my spine. He referred me to a neurologist. It took six weeks to see the neurologist and ultimately get this diagnosis.
CAMILLE SCOTT-FORD: After 16 years with this disease you’d think that I’d face each day with a sense of tranquility. For me, living with MS often feels like being on a rollercoaster. I worry that the next MRI will show progression. I worry that yesterday’s aches will become debilitating. I worry that I’ll lose another hobby that I love because my body doesn’t want to work. I worry Since my diagnosis, I’ve learned that my body has been that I’ll be a burden to my children. I worry… dealing with the MS since the late 90s. Hence the insomnia. I’ve also learned that the event that allowed the Fortunately, just as quickly as those feelings overwhelm MS to invade my space was the ankle break. I was told me, I remember. I remember to acknowledge the activ- by my MS specialist that Blacks are more susceptible to ities that I can still do. I remember that my lesions have MS becoming active (if prone to get it) when muscle not erased my knowledge. I remember that I’m strong mass is lost quickly. enough to get through the pain. I remember that my family loves me unconditionally. I no longer work partially due to the MS but largely because it was just time to leave that company. I did get I’m learning to appreciate the ride. approved for SSI on the first try. PAMELA ROWE: At 10:40 a.m. on September 20, 2013, I got a call at work that said the following: “Hi. This is Tina. Your MRI results are back and the doctor says you do have MS. We’ll see you on Monday at 9:00. Okay? Hello? Did you hear me?” Oh, I heard her. I wasn’t speechless because of the diagnosis she had laid out before me. I was speechless because of the “old brown paper bag” manner in which she delivered the news in. Just know that on Monday morning, I offered her an alternative manner in which to present crappy news! Since the day I was officially given MS to care for, I have grown so much and in ways I never knew I could. For me, MS has certainly proven that hindsight is 20/20. Here’s my abbreviated story, in 1996, insomnia popped into my life. In 1998, depression tried to set up residence. Residency request denied! In 2002, started hav18 Ambition Magazine
Life with MS is not a death sentence. Presently, I do use a DMD, eat cleanly, practice alternative therapies and live this life as best I can. Here’s how I look at life now: We each will get our cross to bear. If you don’t have it right now, keep living, you’ll get it. Some will be able to bear their cross privately and no one will be the wiser unless they tell. Others will have to publicly bear our crosses. For me, the true test comes in how much dignity and grace I can bear my cross with. (Jesus bore his cross and never said a mumbling word!) BTW, I no longer have any of the doctors referenced above.
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