the wILDFLOWER

I have had the privilege of authoring two books centered on transforming childhood trauma. As an adult, I found it difficult to identify the agreements I made with myself as a child, those quiet decisions that shaped how I saw the world and my place within it. Through many hours of soul searching and countless therapy sessions, I was able to find the girl pictured. The one who felt unseen, unheard, and unacknowledged.

There are many moments in my life I do not care to relive. Being 12 years old and living in a housing project stands out as one of the most defining experiences of my life. I could easily focus on the challenges I faced adapting, or the unfair circumstances I was forced to endure. But I choose to focus on what it taught me.

That experience showed me the true value of community, and in many ways, it is what made me. From the Boys & Girls Club, to daily neighborhood interactions. I learned the importance of connection, support, and safe spaces. It was there that I began to understand how essential it is to build confidence in children, especially when the world around them may not always see them.

I live firmly in the belief that everyone is doing the best they can from their level of understanding. With that being said, it became impossible to ignore that the love I needed to replenish me was being poured from cups that were empty. And the truth is, no one can give you something they do not have to give.

That realization didn’t decay me, it clarified me. It showed me what was missing, and more importantly, what was needed. It is what planted the seed for my calling, to become the source of what I once needed.