What’s inspiring you right now?
The past year has been challenging and traumatic for so many, but we have also had much more time to spend in contemplation. It’s been inspiring to watch folks pivot in life, go after dreams, start businesses and just generally move with the clear intention to thrive in the midst of all this upheaval.
Is there a film you love that influenced your creative work?
Black Orpheus, we share this, is one of my favorites; the music, the dancing, the film is an entire mood. It’s an old story, but retold in a uniquely Afro-Brazilian way and the journey is well worth the destination.
What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?
Prayer and Potential. I’m not religious per sé, but i pray religiously. I pray in gratitude, I pray in faith, i pray in hope, i just pray. With prayer comes a belief in the unknown, and therefore a potentiality in life which keeps me motivated.
How have your challenges in life shaped your journey?
Every time i face a challenge in life, i come away more myself. The space between my essence and who i am actually being is the growth edge where I mold and remold myself into ever clearer representations of my truth.
When do you feel most creative?
Since i was little I’ve been in the habit of taking long walks. Nature is preferred, but where doesn’t matter as much as length, something about walking helps to unlock my imagination.
What helps reignite your creative energy when you’re feeling stuck?
Playing Music, Dancing, Watching something funny on TV. Levity brings the energy back up and into a good place for creating.
What does authenticity mean to you?
For me, being authentic is following my intuition. Listening to my first mind and trusting where it leads. It can be confusing sometimes, many questions arise, but if given time the whys begin to answer themselves.
What does community look like to you? How do you nurture it?
Community looks like beings who consistently choose to be in relation with each other. We all nurture so differently, my nurturing manifests as supporting my friends dreams and truly respecting and believing in them. Showing up for their lives as much as i can.
How do you move through insecurity?
I grew up in Atlanta, and my Mom’s favorite radio station, V103, had this theme song “Let you haters be your motivators”. I always loved that line and took it to hear. “Haters” in this case could be your thoughts or the thoughts of others making you feel insecure, turn that into motivation. Prove insecurities wrong enough, you become immune to them.
Where and when do you feel the most alive?
My soul is in full bloom when i am dancing.
Walk us through your morning/evening rituals…
The morning begins in prayer, oil pulling, drinking lime or lemon water, and a bit of yoga and stretching to open up the body. then i sit for tea ceremony for about 45mins to an hour. In the evenings i play a sound bowl that i recently received as a gift to ground the energy of the day. I also like to journal in the evenings, it helps me to get a good nights’ sleep.
What are you looking forward to?
After the Panorama (I stopped using the other word): International Travel and Live Music
In Life: Birthing Books, Businesses and Babies
