Woman Wednesday: Elaine T.


Q and A with Elaine T., Nassau, Bahamas

“I have learned to never ignore your passion. When you are walking in your purpose, your passion will indeed bring value to those you are meant to serve.”


Q: What are you passionate about? 

A: I am passionate about the art of writing. My father took the television away from my siblings and I when we were very young. We were only allowed to read books! Because of this, I am familiar with what a good book is comprised of! This love for reading sparked my imagination and also generated a love for writing. I like to think of my writing as a divine energy that travels from the spiritual realm and into the physical through the portal of my fingers. This is why I started Authors in Action. Through courses, coaching, and ghostwriting, we help our clients to achieve their author potential through the power of self-publishing. I absolutely love the look of pure excitement on my clients’ faces when they hold their book in their hands for the first time. Watching them experience that “I can’t believe I did this!” moment is special and beyond uplifting. I was motivated to start Authors in Action due to the many who wanted to become published authors. I’m currently working on separating my coaching and ghostwriting into two separate entities. I have decided to do this because my ghostwriting packages are the most popular. Lots of executives, pastors, founders, etc. have amazing skills and knowledge that need to be shared with the world; however, they don’t have time to write! It brings me joy to help them be able to add another stream of income to their dynasty, share their knowledge, and achieve their goal of becoming a published author.


Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I grew up on books. I did not experience television until about four years ago. My school years consisted of my classmates laughing hysterically whenever I admitted that my family and I didn’t have a television. Yes, it was embarrassing, but now I am grateful. I didn’t experience being on the computer unsupervised until my senior high school days back in 2003. These were days when my mom allowed us to sneak in an hour or two whenever my dad was at work. Thanks Mummy! I loved shows like Desperate Housewives, Downton Abbey, and later on a series called Revenge. I still loved books. I will always embrace a good book. My favorite childhood authors were Enid Blyton, Ronald Dahl, Anne Martin, and Carolyn Keene. These authors took me on many memorable journeys through my imagination. This creativity translated across into my writing and gave me a newfound love and a unique way to express myself. In addition to reading, I did professional ballet classes. My father says this was one of the hobbies I took extremely seriously. Many may not know that I have completed the American Academy of Ballet Examinations with mostly gold medals straight up to level twelve which is pointe work. I was trained through Virtue Dance Academy in The Bahamas and was judged once a year by The American Academy of Ballet. This was the perfect school for me as they did acting and Christian stage performance also. Dance and writing are similar for me as I consider them both to be a presentation of energy flowing from another world into reality.


Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: I have learned to never ignore your passion. My passion has always been writing; however, I was encouraged by a guidance counselor to pick a more “realistic” career. I was told that I would not be able to make a living if I chose the path of writing. My income so far for the month of March 2021 is 9k. May I add that the month isn’t over yet (as I’m writing this). I would like to encourage you to trust your passion. Money should never be the driving force behind what it is you choose to do; however, when you are walking in your purpose, your passion will indeed bring value to those you are meant to serve. As long as you bring about an outstanding result, wealth will follow. Why? Because people will indeed pay you for the results you are able to give them. You will absolutely give excellent results if you are passionate about what you do. No matter how small your dream seems, still pursue it. You may not see the full vision at first, but eventually, you will come to discover that your passion is connected to your purpose. Trust the passion God gave you. It is He who will use it to achieve His purpose for your life.


Q: What does feminism mean to you? 

A: I believe a woman can be independent; however, having a partner is valuable. I have always found the concept of teamwork beautiful—one team working towards one goal. I feel a husband and wife who are two whole people walking in their purpose and impacting the world together is a force to be reckoned with. Respect, love, empowerment and bravery of both parties is crucial. At the end of the day, we are all human beings—none better than the other. If a husband and wife are stuck on a deserted island, they both need to operate as a team to survive. His strength is needed to build a shelter. Her endurance is valuable when hunting food. Each has brought something unique to the table. Each has something different yet valuable to offer. Both are equally great because both have something exceptional to offer. Yes, some may say you can do it alone, but I am a huge fan of teamwork and so, this is where I stand on the subject. It is possible alone, but it is even better using teamwork. This is just my opinion and how I feel although many may disagree.


MORE ABOUT ELAINE:

I was born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas. I absolutely love island hopping and visiting our local resorts. I have two sons—ages seven and four. They both adore cars, Amazon, and taking long drives. The eldest hates reading while the youngest began reading at the age of two and loves it. Like all kids, they are both different but equally special.

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Woman Wednesday: Jeanette A.


Q and A with Jeanette A., Wilmington, DE

“Never give up on your dreams and, more importantly, never give up on you. You are worthy of all things great!”


Q: What are you passionate about? 

A: My name is Jeanette Applewhaite, and I am the proud owner of PinkTeeBag.com! I started my business shortly after I married my husband eleven years ago. While planning our wedding, I created everything from the ceremony floral arrangements to the bridal bouquets. After I revealed our wedding photos to family and friends, I was hired to decorate and coordinate celebrations. However, I later discovered that I was not only talented with floral arrangements, but I am I also talented in crafting as a whole. Crafting feeds my inner happiness and my soul. I founded Pink Tee Bag in 2018 with the goal of creating positive quotes on tee shirts for the entire family. In 2019, I launched my Carrie Nail Polish line, which I have dedicated to my late mother Carrie C. Bailey. Carrie Nail Polish was developed to pay homage to my mother and our bond of painting our nails together when I was a little girl. Pink Tee Bag is now the home of custom apparel, home décor, Carrie Nail Polish, and…new to the Pink Tee Bag family is…Serene Scents! Hand-poured, soy candles. Pink Tee Bag will also be paying homage to my late father, Wallace Jerome Sudler, in the Spring of 2021 with the Wallace J. Collection–a men’s jewelry line! My passion has always been being a great mother to my two children, Kayla (age 22), and Sean Jr. (age 13), as well as being a great wife to my husband, Sean Sr., and our fur baby, Daisy (5 year old Yorkshire terrier). My passion is also to bring positive vibes and great energy to anyone who is in my presence. I am a strong believer in sprinkling kindness around like its confetti!


Q: What were your younger years like?

A: As a child, I can recall my mother being very creative; I was in awe of my mother’s creativity. She would take old phone books and sculpt them into different abstract shapes to decorate the house. Whenever there was a holiday or birthday, she would always create phenomenal centerpieces or focal points on the dining room table. My parents raised me to be very family-oriented. We enjoyed family traditions like baking cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve and staying up until midnight to watch the ball drop on New Year’s Eve. Unfortunately, by my 22nd birthday, both of my parents had passed away. Although I miss them dearly, my husband and I raise our children with the same values and morals that we received from our parents. As for my creative side, I owe this to my mother. I consider myself to be a creative because I am not boxed into one avenue of creativity. While running my business, I am constantly thinking of ways to enhance products and give my customers an experience rather than a purchase. I’ve built my website, pinkteebag.com, to represent a welcoming feeling of comfort and happiness while shopping.


Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: I would like others to know that, even when the odds are against you, you are still destined for greatness. I lost both of my parents at a very young age. However, everything that they taught me, I’ve used as a foundation for my success. I constantly think about the morals and values that they both instilled in me and I use that as motivation to keep striving for greatness. Never give up on your dreams and, more importantly, never give up on you. You are worthy of all things great! Also, never allow negative energy to determine your outcome in life. As you put good out into the world, the good will come back to you in ways that you couldn’t imagine! And last, be your own cheerleader. Never get caught up in likes or comments on social media; you have to be your own driving force to your success.


Q: What does feminism mean to you? 

A: Feminism, to me, is to include all people regardless of their gender. I was in education for 17 years; I have held the roles of assistant teacher, teacher, and education coordinator. Currently, I am a family crisis therapist in my state. I have met people of all walks of life, and I pride myself in the respectful relationships that I have gained over the years. I find it imperative to treat all people as an equal; we are all humans who have struggled at some point in our lives. However, as I stated earlier, I tend to sprinkle kindness around like glitter in the hopes that it will make a difference in the way that we treat each other.


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Woman Wednesday: U’ilani


Q and A with U’ilani, Kalaoa, Hilo, Hawai’i

“I think my journey and passion was guided not only by myself, but through the past events of my ancestors.”


Q: What are you passionate about? 

A: My name is Uʻilani Macabio. I am from the Island of Hawaiʻi. I was born and raised on this island my whole life. I am a mother of two boys, a 14-year-old [boy], and 5-year-old [boy]. Naturally, my interest is my Hawaiian culture. Being raised on this island, I was always immersed with the natural beauty of this island and the ocean as well as my culture. Therefore, my passion and interest comes from my foundation for the love of my land, culture, history, and language. I am currently a teacher at Honokaʻa High and Intermediate School, and I teach social studies and Hawaiian language. I find so much joy and pleasure in supporting my community with knowledge and helping raise the next generation to also love the language and culture of Hawaiʻi. I also support my students through social-emotional learning through the Foundations of Aloha. My goal is to support my community with problem solvers, effective communications, and community contributors that understand who they are, love their environment, and are willing to support.

I also have been gardening and supporting small farms on the Hāmākua and Kohala Coast on the Hawaiʻi Island. It has been enriching to ground myself in the land and to continue that positive reciprocal relationship to land. I also have been promoting self-healing with plant-based CBG and CBD products to support the mind and body. Hemp extract is so important for humans to operate at the best optimal level, and [being able] to use and promoting the products brings so much happiness to know that people are on the positive journey to feeling good and operating at the best level possible. I also dance hula for Hālau Nā KĪpuʻupuʻi in Waimea, Kohala. Hula has connected me to my culture, it allows me to share my ancestors’ stories and knowledge, and it awakens my spirituality. I paddle canoe with Kawaihae canoe club. My coach, Uncle Manny Vicent, has taught me so much as an athlete and as a person. Paddling has been a family sport for over 10 generations. Lastly, my family and I are surfers, fishermen and fisherwomen. The things we do in the ocean bring us together and continues the family knowledge and traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. Therefore, my passion comes from my upbringing. I am forever grateful for my parents, my ancestors, the land and ocean of Hawaiʻi, and all my teachers and mentors for always being there and supporting me.


Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I grew up in a small little town called Kalaoa in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. Life was so fun. I had family always around me. My cousins and I would play in the rivers, bushes, and trees. We would stay out all day and come home for dinner. We would drink water from springs and water hoes. Later, in high school, I was a surfer girl always at the beach or in the farm. I started to value education in my high school years because I started to make connections from my Hawaiian culture to the things I was learning in school. Subjects like math, science, and history I could always find a connection someway or somehow to my Hawaiian culture. I graduated from Pāhoa High School. I want to say I am so blessed with my upbringing; I would say I am lucky. I went to college and got my bachelor’s degree in anthropology and minor in Hawaiian studies at UH Hilo. I then got my master’s in education at Grand Canyon University. I want to say there has been so many teachers, mentors, and friends that I have made [who have] helped me become the person I am today. During my time at UH Hilo, I have been in so many great programs. One was Wahi Kupuna internship with Huliauapaʻa, and PIPES, who allowed me to learn and practice cultural resource management as a Hawaiian and a Hawaiian practitioner. I think this was such a pivotal moment not only in my life, but for archaeology in Hawaiʻi. Where it was a shift in perspective of how archaeology in Hawai’i should be conducted in a Hawaiian perspective and methods, where it is less invasive to the cultural sites and cultural remains. Also, during that time, I knew that I wanted to be a teacher to promote more students to be the new innovators, shifters, and movers in Hawaiʻi.


Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: I think my journey and passion was guided not only by myself, but through the past events of my ancestors. There is so much of why I do and believe what I believe in is because of the rich Hawaiian culture I live in, but also because of the stories of my ancestors continues to live within me. Meaning, I am the product of the story, and my children and grandchildren will continue the story as well. If I could leave something valuable, it would be to be the person, the story that your children or grandchildren can learn, value, and use in their future.


Q: What does feminism mean to you? 

A: I think feminism is a new or Western terminology. I never felt less than or unequal to [men]. Women here can say, do, and make big movements, and it’s not a big thing. I think a lot of women that came before might have done something to make things so much easier for us. However, because around 1820s and 1830s, the Hawaiian Kingdom adopted the European style of ruling; that’s when a lot change happened, and now, women are identified as less, invalid, even to our royal queens and princesses. Although these women lived in a new Hawai’i, they still carried on their duties. Most if it would be considered heroic or would be consider a feminist movement.

One of the events was the Kūʻē petition, where both women and men went around each island in Hawai’i asking them to sign this a petition to be against the illegal annexation of Hawai’i. At the time, only men with land could vote. However, these women went so that all voice is valid. Another example is of princess Kai’ulani. Her story is widely known. Her mission [was] to share the story of her people throughout some of the United States. She did it during a time of man-driven world. Soon after, President Grover Cleveland sent James Blunt to investigate about the illegal happenings in Hawaii done by the provisional government. Therefore, women today and before me are risk-takers and go-getters. Therefore, feminism is new because we have nothing to fight for besides just voice our thoughts and do what we need to do, and we get it done.


Q: Is there anything else you would like readers to know?

A: Hawaii is my home, and I hope it will continue to be the home of my future grandchildren for many generations. Our culture is living and thriving, and some people might not know that. However, please learn the history and culture of any place, and I know there will be value to gain from it.

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Woman Wednesday: Jacqueline

*Note: Woman Wednesday is a part of our blog. Each Woman Wednesday post will feature a woman who would like to share information in the hopes of inspiring and motivating other women. Comments are welcome below.              


Q and A with Jacqueline, Eastover, South Carolina

“There is a purpose in your pain.”


Q: What are you passionate about? 

A: I am the pastor of Healing in the Vessel Ministries and an author. I am passionate about seeing people heal spiritually, emotionally, physically, and mentally. I have a passion and heart for the youth, which has led me to various positions within the ministry and career field.

Since 2002, I have served as youth director, a mentor, and a Sunday school teacher within my local church. I am a former paralegal, educator, and substance abuse counselor. I use my gift of empowerment to transform lives within my ministry and career field. I found this passion as the Holy Spirit began to reveal itself to me through dreams and the doors that God began to open.

I have just currently finished my new book, From Bitter to Better.

 

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Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I have earned a Master of Arts in practical theology from Regent University, Master of Counseling from Webster University, Columbia SC, a Master of Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University, Lynchburg VA, an Associate Degree of Paralegal, graduating Magna Cum Laude from South University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Francis Marion University, Florence SC.

My family includes both of my parents, who empowered me by their love and prayers. I always had a journal since the third grade, which later led me to discover my gift of writing and becoming an author. My various positions led me to become a pastor as God was calling me into that arena.

 

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Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: I have learned that there is a purpose in your pain. Every tear that I have shed has allowed me to become a more reliable vessel so that God can use for His glory to empower, equip, and encourage His people. I would love for others to learn from my story that God still performs miracles.

 

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Q: What does feminism mean to you?

A: Feminism symbolizes the empowerment of women.

 

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Q: What else would you like others to know?

A: My hobbies include running, walking, meditating, and writing, counseling youth, and working in the community. I am the author of Healing in the Vessel: A Mother’s Love A Daughter’s Journey of Faith, and From Bitter to Better. I am the co-author of several anthologies: Grief to Grind Anthology: How did I lose Myself in a Relationship, Meant for My Good, Women of Power II, Hearing God’s Voice Above The Chaos, and It takes Money Honey. I am an international speaker for the I AM Her Women’s Conference. I am an Amazon bestselling author. I have been featured on the cover of I AM Queen Magazine.

 

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Connect with me on Facebook here: www.facebook.com/lenisegoodwin

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Twitter:  Jacquel58497682

Website: www.healinginthevesselministries.com

 


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Woman Wednesday: Aina

*Note: Woman Wednesday is a part of our blog. Each Woman Wednesday post will feature a woman who would like to share information in the hopes of inspiring and motivating other women. Comments are welcome below.            


Q and A with Aina, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

“The very gifts that God instills in us are not for us to keep to ourselves; it’s to go out and share that very gift to the world!”


Q: What are you passionate about? 

A: I am passionate about anything that will get me out of the bed the next day without getting paid to do it. As a curator of many things, I find myself anticipating the next BIG thing and/or project that I can get my hands on.

My passion normally comes from things I share an interest with, such as becoming an owner of Bona Fine Kisses Cosmetics, an all-vegan cosmetic line, which I absolutely loved because I’m a huge makeup/lipstick lover. And it didn’t hurt having a bachelor of science degree, which allowed me the experience to hand-make all my lipsticks! I’m also very passionate about the community of women, and how every day we find more and more ways to unite and support one another. Being the face of Sip N Seal Sist’HER Women’s Empowerment Circle on Facebook has empowered women from all over and myself to overcome fear and to begin living their best life!

 

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And by being apart of such a well-rounded women circle, it allowed me to recognize my talents and that I needed to share whatever those talents consisted of with the world and so, I did!

I now have the total confidence to wake up every day and do what I love, and that’s bake! I am now using my talent that I was afraid to share with the world because I was afraid of the unknown…I am pleased to say that I am now known as “The Cheesecake Lady,” a home baker serving delicious gourmet cheesecakes to people from all over! 

 

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Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I grew up the youngest of two siblings and was raised by a phenomenal single mother in Oklahoma. Growing up, my mother made it her duty to provide for her children as well as providing us with the best life possible that money couldn’t buy! I was exposed single-handed as a child to see and know what “hard work” looked like as my mother showed me what being resilient looked like at an early age. 

That same resilience that my mother had was instilled in me to never give up no matter what, to always keep God first in all that I do to truly experience success…it’s been a stepping ladder for me ever since!

 

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Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: Just go for it! Whatever it is that keeps you up at night, is worth trying! The very gifts that God instills in us are not for us to keep to ourselves; it’s to go out and share that very gift to the world! 

 

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Q: What does feminism mean to you?

A: A tribe of women in a variety of different shades, color, height, weight, etc come together to support and encourage the female woman!

 

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