KALYSA WILSON, EMAGE STUDIO

I realized that I have the power within me to accomplish what I believed in. Finally, my mother’ s subliminal messages of positive self worth began to manifest. No morning passed as I dressed for school that she wasn’ t playing messages to help me.“ You are confident.”“ You are capable of achieving greatness.”“ Life is what you make it.”“ You are what you believe.” And I could go on and on. It seems that when we think we hit rock bottom, the anchor that sits in the pit of our stomach will rise us back to the top. My mother had been planting the anchor that helped me rise.

Even as I started to master one area of my life, the battle was still on. I experienced one failed relationship after the other, from intimate to casual … nothing seemed to be right. No one seemed to value me, no one understood me, and I didn’ t understand why. Then another light bulb went off. I looked in the mirror again and saw a little girl in desperate need of comforting. This time I decided it was time for me to talk to that little girl in the mirror. We had a conversation that night because, despite her intricate masks, I saw her sadness. As I asked her why she looked so sad, and listened to the response, I came to the understanding, that the little girl I was talking to was me.

For over 30 years, I was covering her mouth, I was not allowing her to express herself, for fear of what others would think. How would they treat me if I was honest or said“ NO.” Would they still invite me to be a part of the group or make me feel unwanted? The bottom line was, as I drew closer to God, it didn’ t matter! I learned that I did not need to belong to any group to be validated. The validation would come from within. So, as I decided to live my life for me, I started losing people I considered friends, right down to some of my blood family. WOW … what a way to enter womanhood.

Today, as I look back on the decisions I made, the men I have chosen and the individuals I have called friends, there is an important message to be taught. Happiness is only achieved when you value yourself. It was obvious from the situations I allowed to take over my life, I didn’ t value me! A lot of women won’ t,

or can’ t, admit that. And it may take a lifetime to have a clear understanding of who you are and what makes you happy.

So, what was my story … its simple … my story was the story of every teen mother, every heartbroken woman, every little girl who did not have the fairytale childhood, every woman who continued to choose the wrong man, and every woman who has ever felt unappreciated.

Through all the tears, love, pain and growth, I can hold my head high and say … those stories are over. The book is closed, and life has changed. Because I made the decision to focus on the positive and not

What defines you? I’ m defined by life lessons, personal growth, heartaches, and real experiences. Without struggles there is no success, therefore the definition of Jennifer Yon is forever evolving.

What is success to you? Success to me is knowing that my circle of friends and family has a roof over their head and never miss a meal.

What are you most thankful for? I am most thankful for the difficult times I have experienced within my life. the negative. I have realized I don’ t need to carry anyone to the promise land. We should be carrying each other! See, in life, if you keep walking down the same street barefoot with broken glass and man holes, you will either fall in or get cut. But if you take the time to sweep up and discard the mess and fill the holes, the path you are walking on will become a platform of lessons, and lessons create substance that will encourage you to keep going even as the naysayers are screaming the loudest.

So, who is Jennifer Yon? Jennifer Yon is a motivator, educator, leader and Public Relations Specialist focused on the success of others! Hear me roar!

If you wrote a book this year, what would be the title and why? If I wrote a book this year it would be titled, Wake up … Jesus Did Not Send Him, because I had to realize just because a person invites you to church it does not mean they have Godly intentions.

How do you relax? I relax by being an admirer of Gods creations in NATURE. I love the ocean and wildlife.

How do you celebrate success? By praising God!

Words of wisdom to another woman … Be mindful of your intentions, be true to your heart, love yourself more than you love anyone else, and invest in what you believe in.

— Jennifer Yon

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