Milestone Podcast Download Celebration Plus Discovering Your Purpose with Yushawn Bell

Zaakirah Muhammad 0:00

Good morning Hello Hello Hello and Welcome Welcome Welcome to another episode of the See life different podcast. As you can see from behind me we are celebrating if you are watching us on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter or anywhere else on social media. Thank you if you are listening to the audio version Thank you. My name is Zaakirah. I am the host of the see like different podcast. I am a brand strategist and a photographer and a cancer survivor and a storyteller and I empower women, minority women and millennial women to step outside of their comfort zone and boldly tell their stories. So today's episode is gonna be three different things going on. We got three different things going on. So the first thing is we are if not at the time of your listening to this episode then definitely now we are at 10,000 downloads 10,000 downloads that is an amazing number and amazing feat and a not an easy feat to achieve especially for podcasters. So virtual round of applause for you for listening and thank you for keeping the podcast going for three years. And it's been an amazing journey. So the book started, the podcast started as a way to market the book and the book corridor seeing life through a different lens, seeing life through a different lens, a cancer survivor in my mind overcoming adversity with resilience, and it started out as a way to kind of market the book which is actually my mom and I book. It's our memoir, where we talk about what life had been like growing up as a cancer survivor, a cancer survivor that has dealt with many variations of adversity and overcoming adversity them Yes. And then as the season went on, where you know, the book came out so that nobody needed to talk about the book. But then it just kind of became a way to kind of introduced the world to my world introduced the world to the people that I love the most and led led me back and also other women that are entrepreneurs, creative shovelers brand strategist as well. So it's been an amazing journey. With nothing but empowerment and just deep conversations when you just like, you know, why am I this way or what? What's really, really going on. So it's you have 80 plus episodes to search for and look for and definitely continue to dream the podcast so that we can make it to the next milestone the next milestone of 100,000 downloads and who knows we're finally back be back to in person events and and who knows what will come out of it. But thank you for supporting us thus far. And so far. What we're going to do is you know, create a community out of this, right? Wouldn't you want to kind of interact with the speaker wouldn't you want to kind of have someone to talk to you when it comes to your small business when it comes to just growing and being exactly like who you need to be to really succeed and walk into your foot first. Up? Why not? That's why we're gonna have a community. College is the focus community where you come in if you are a woman, a woman of color, you are a side hustler. You are a full time entrepreneur and you just want to find your tribe your like minded tribe of women. who literally uplift and empower each other to be the best version of themselves in their business. So definitely check that out. And if you just want to start small, you're completely new to me and I completely get it. Thank you for watching, and thank you for listening. So you can also start with after you've listened to a couple of other pocket episodes, including one where the excerpt of the book or you get to my mom or my dad or other my big sister, you can start there. Start with family right? And go from there and check out the book to see seeing life through a different lens is available as an ebook, paperback and audiobook as well. So this episode is also being recorded on what I have done since the start of the pandemic. Love that killer day. Love is accurate. So originally, I this is I was previously married. There's a whole episode on that as well previously married to a West African and

we chose the date July 16. And although that date is no longer a a day of a wedding celebration, it is now the day of celebration of cells. So since the pandemic it's been a great way to kind of bring together sisterhood right come together online since we can't always do it in person. And so we love on each other. complement each other, acknowledge each other appreciate each other and so this time, I kind of wanted to do do something a little different and do it a little live as well. So it's still gonna be about sisterhood. So if you are a sister girl and you're listening or you're watching Definitely be sure to share this video because share this video share this podcast because it's gonna be a good one is gonna be a good one. Now speaking of it being a good one, I am I'm ready to get right into this episode. This episode is gonna be so so so good. And as you can tell from the name of this episode, we have a special special special guests and we have a special guest by the name of I used to use Shawn about who personal brand is travel foodie beauty. So she is a mom of five she is a sister of six is a grandma mother lined up and then she goes out she's a grandma of one beautiful fine, vivacious little boy and she too is a 40 something year old woman from Arkansas and she is full of energy and full of love and full of life. And it's her goal to empower Generation X who women worldwide to literally be ready to walk into that next chapter of their life. You know, the 40 then in the 60s and 50. They'd like that midlife crisis where you're like okay, well, I've made it halfway to the halfway mark now what right? Well, you saw I know exactly how you feel and she's here to truly empower you to step outside of your comfort zone. She been living in Dallas for a very long time and originally a lot Titian for the style and the cosmetologist turned you know even if you know you can think about your own hair appointments, where you've been to and they're your therapist, right? So she's naturally that people person and that one that you want to listen to and talk to and go to for advice. And that's exactly what this conversation is gonna be about. So without further ado we're gonna bring in myth you shine back amazing Thank you

YuShawn Bell 7:48

Yay. So I get to share spaces with

Zaakirah Muhammad 7:57

you. Thank you, thank you and that's exactly what we're gonna do. We're gonna share thank you for coming together and even if you're not watching live, you're watching the replay share love you know say love because even on a podcast episode, this is the episode you definitely want to leave a review if you haven't left the podcast review yet. Definitely leave a review and the love that you share that just for me although I would love to receive it. I love to know that you love what you hear and see but it's really for all the women out there who have birthdays in July who have been divorced as a bear to grieve we've been through adversity though. That's what we're gonna do today. We're gonna love on each other.

YuShawn Bell 8:37

If we need it. Yes, we do.

Zaakirah Muhammad 8:40

Oh, yeah, yeah. So actually got from the beginning. I got a few questions. I got my phone up here. So who can you Shawn?

YuShawn Bell 8:49

I am of course YuShawn. I am a purpose coach where I just get love and joy out of coaching. Gen X women to get to the next level in life to their divine purpose. I mean, we're good at so many things, but we're not fulfilled. So I talk to women from that space.

Zaakirah Muhammad 9:12

Got it Yes, I definitely hear the word fulfilled maybe tell me more about that. What was the moment you knew that you weren't fulfilled?

YuShawn Bell 9:21

Um, I knew that all my life basically. But I come from a small town, country town and just a space where it was always better to be seen. And not heard. So I was candidate, that kid that was brutally honest. And my mom didn't know what to do with me. Like she would say x and I will say z. And she knew that I was good at a whole bunch of things. So she kind of chose what she felt. was best for me through her eyes and what she always wanted to do. I just had the tenacity to do it. But a kid like that you really don't know what to do. So, you know, I learned then around the age of 11 that I'm doing a lot of stuff that I don't want to do. I'm good at it. But I don't like to and I never lost that zeal for dreaming. So it always stay like dear to me and near to my heart. I just learn how not to share it and the good dog.

Zaakirah Muhammad 10:30

Got that I love that and I love that you knew at such a young age and that you had the tenacity to do it. Because often what happens is much a moment where I say I want to be a Acrobat and then you know mom, dad, brother sister looking at you like what and then you're like, Okay, maybe then you call that odd but to use in your body. So yeah, thank you for for not stopping and being connection and, and I kind of feel like I want to remind him but can I hear compression coming in and you're like, how do you know that you're actually in person? Visualize your body. How do I know you shot?

YuShawn Bell 11:12

The amazing thing or how you know me is we met through this forum called the landmark forum and we both chose each other with its own frame. And so it's very, very, very important. To go off your intuitions or the function or the above or something your heart tells you to do you learn how to quiet that and to kind of ignore that voice but it was crazy because neither one of us did that. Which I didn't know I knew I was gonna be attached to you didn't know how and you just pay me and you will fall about it. I said that it but I did share. That is so crazy because I chose you to we've been inseparable. Literally.

Zaakirah Muhammad 12:04

I love that. Yeah. And so basically the the being inseparable is also what kind of had a kind of being voted by when you when we're both teenagers, whether you have just been given and both are passionately creative. It's like we see something in each other. And so I kind of want to give maybe a little bit more context because I think for those of you who are listening or watching, some of you may have been following my journey as I become a public speaker. So you've had we may have heard or seen the backstory of our boat to be away for the time I go to be traveling internationally again, become an international photographer and back to kind of educating other creatives on how to build their brand right they only took and organically because I don't know what's going on now with the advent of thing but anyway I you know doing landmark forum you actually have buddies in the program because it personal development and self development and although both of us came into the program for a different reason, it's just you know, with the power of zoom, you still connect with people and you can take a look and see like this though and thought so until I see someone I'm like, Oh, who this person, right instead of me having had the background as a photographer, I'm not sure you research I'm naturally gravitate toward good people good shows. It would just stay in thing even on Zoom. I would just like let me just see what's going on. And so at one point in the landmark forum, you have a coaching or portion provided that can support you on your personal and professional development journey. And I told my policy provider Hey, can you connect me with you, Sean? Like, I don't know if I'm allowed to do that. Can you just connect with me shortly? Okay, give me one second. Like maybe 24 hours later, we got each other contact information and ended up being each other. And now I think fast forward to you know, we've been on zoom all the time as you complete, you know, a homework assignment and our classroom. And then it just so happened to work out that I am back in Dallas, Texas with her face. Yeah, like picking up acknowledging and appreciating and showing love. Thank you, Shawn, for just kind of seeing me and taking me in and just knowing what you know, right. Yeah. Because you know what, you know, if not even Picard, your mom your sister your ex wife and I would say soon we do it again. I know you got to do it again. But do you just see me when we add that one thing that you put onto about you and I appreciate that because it's rare to have genuine sisterhood I hear and and we got that and I'm blessed that

YuShawn Bell 15:01

I'm hungry. Yeah. See, that makes life so much rewarding for me. And I really enjoy. I'm really acknowledging for that as well is like, Oh my God, you know how you want a doll or something or you just want that but you kind of afraid to ask for it. And it's like, wow, because both of us was both intentional and was like, Oh my god. This is like sovereign board and it's almost like having a little sister because I'm the oldest and I have many sisters but you know, we just cannot do different things and want the sister we don't know how to take the sister half and you've given me such a pleasure and being a sister, a younger sister or a bigger sister. And I could just be me identically and you receive it and I receive you. And then we have respect and joy like all the good things attached to it. We know about the NRA into kind of what we kind of say about our sisters but you gave me like that safe space to just be me and come out from just who I am and just be purely love and not feel like I'm being you know, stepped on because we tend to do that and we keep it to ourselves. And authentically. So you gave me like so much comfort around this being who I am and my heart.

Zaakirah Muhammad 16:39

Thank you, thank you, thank you. And if you ain't got a system like that you are not alone you will die when you have one. We clap with the Phocused community group as well. So definitely follow us on social media at Phocused Media Group. And yet, here's the sisterhood. So I want to continue the conversation. And before I do that, I want you to make an honorable mention that this podcast is being recorded in the month of July is Minority Mental Health Month. And I want to give a shout out to Black girl magic as the new definition constantly nothing but women of African descent whose goal is really to help our community to heal. Right and they aim to empower individuals to live their most authentic life by providing comprehensive multicultural Counseling and Psychological Services, guarded and cultural humility. They challenge clients who embrace the lifestyle of resilience with justice. And authenticity and their counseling, consultation and psychological services are designed to help you live more authentically and promote well being. So if you are in the Texas State of Texas, you can visit and do definition counseling.com To meet the therapist if you are not in a state of Texas they are after affiliated with other low cost programs such as open path collective and or therapy for black girls. So July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month both of us are huge advocates of mental health and we want you to choose you. So new definition calculating.com Alright, so now I want to get back to you Sean and so okay, you're from Arkansas, you mentioned that but how and where did you get to that?

YuShawn Bell 18:33

So like you, I travel all the time, internationally traveled, they know that travel was actually therapy for someone that grieves so what happened for me is I was grieving. Nobody really knew it. So all I knew was I traveled and I traveled a lot and to them it was too much. So I came here to visit some family. Often when I visit somewhere I'm trying to see if there's somewhere wow, I want to move to or stay just a little while longer or go visit a whole lot. So in 2000 I came to visit family fell in love and I knew for me to get my mom's blessing. I had to start talking. So I talked to her she never gave me her blessing that day she gave me her blessing. I started packing and I was gone in a month so 1999 No 999 in 2001 December 2001 I started packing the beginning so if I thought I was playing and in 2002 I was gone. January 29 2002. I was in moved with magnets with someone while I was always preparing so I'm good at that. So I made that. I had mom. She told me everything led me about moving but I just made the decision and I just kind of coasted through it which is what I naturally do and she finally say that she recognized me and knew me for who I was and is the type of person that I am. I can't be in a box or in a small town. Like that. She's gonna go ahead and got her. So guess who's got Yeah,

Zaakirah Muhammad 20:29

20 is a lot that happened in 20 years. That's bigger. What were you starting to say about not united? What was your powerful about?

YuShawn Bell 20:38

Oh, that's actually when Keevie was born

Zaakirah Muhammad 20:40

Who is Keevie?

YuShawn Bell 20:42

So Kevion is number two. So here's my second oldest son.

Zaakirah Muhammad 20:48

by the way, I've met all of them. I'm just trying to get her to talk to y'all.

YuShawn Bell 20:54

Yeah, so that's number two. He's the Chavez like me likes to live out loud he's colorful, and then have his best life and nobody can stop. Yeah, yeah. And you know, I'm kind of coaching him. It's a difference between feeling like somebody stopping you, and somebody coaching you to be the best version of you that you know yourself to be so now, you now means your mom or your mother. So your job now is to coach me through how to teach and raise you in a way that you understand and that you enjoy in life because you like to have fun. Moms point their finger at those type of kids just doesn't work. And it took for me to have him and it took him for me to learn that just being a mom.

Zaakirah Muhammad 21:46

And so what about you? Your journey so I mean, before your mom you wouldn't you shot so who would you shot before you became a lot.

YuShawn Bell 21:54

Sonia Shan before I came on mom, anything artistic, creative, and just in that space, music, dance, the arts. That's who I was. I tried to go do those things and I kind of fell in love with culture around food because that was one of the things that me and my grandmother shirt. So I liked hanging around the older people because my age was just too immature for me. And so I learned a lot got wise in a lot of knowledge and wisdom way before my time before I was actually ready. I took it as a hinderance at first. But that's that's what shaped me to who I am and who you see before you and who you got to meet because that's just how my grandmother was and we just was the best of friends. I have a best friend also. We met in the first grade and we've been inseparable ever since but we cannot be in the same city. But too long. I'm like girl, I gotta move away from you. We can't, but We're inseparable still, we get we didn't get along well, but she's spoiled. She's like, What are my kids and I'm like, and she just bombed me because she won't. I don't even think she needs and she just she just bought so you know I have a best friend longtime friend. Ashley. I'm a comedian. I can mingle in groups I can make by myself is really rewarding when I do it by myself because that's when I get a lot of downloads. Ya know, like very intuitive. Like, I feel like source is talking to me. Okay, I'd be like,

Zaakirah Muhammad 23:42

I hear you like your computer.

YuShawn Bell 23:46

I feel like it sometimes Yeah. Because when it's better to be seen and not heard. That's what you become a researcher. You just oh five knowledge and wisdom because people can't really talk to you. So you have to go and get the environment you learn how to go find the information yourself. You need an athlete

Zaakirah Muhammad 24:07

that's speaking up I feel like I want to think about to the same so professional development for them level for that we met. Like that's exactly what it is. Yeah, like maybe that the both the both of how the both of us were like this is what I need right along with that. But maybe I should go for it because my whole reason like the mind, I guess last year all right. So you know for me, yeah, I was looking for that outlet. Someone that saw me heard me loud and clear and was like you should do the Landmark Forum. And then I did and so I went in, you know because I had been divorced at the start of the pandemic, I was married for five years. You know, there were just so many things I was learning about myself. So I went in, you know thinking okay, what would it look like? If I chose not to get married again? What would that look like? But then you know what, that realizing that I could make my choice or that I could choose to have a man that I want or that I could choose to be a creative that channels or I could choose

YuShawn Bell 25:11

to

Zaakirah Muhammad 25:13

have that outlet? So for me that that the peak amount that I gained, I'm like, you know, yeah, I would like to go I'm inquisitive. I'm way beyond my years and I was feeling misunderstood. Especially with I got like, so many different more tired facets about you know, thank you for purchasing the book. But yeah, so I got you know, out of that peace of mind and

so what about you? when did you do it?

YuShawn Bell 25:44

So I did the landmark forum. And 2018 To be honest, I missed my first one because I had a scheduled trip. And I just wasn't gonna miss that trip because I know that it

Zaakirah Muhammad 25:57

Where did you go?

YuShawn Bell 25:58

I think I took a cruise to it.

Mexico

Zaakirah Muhammad 26:02

Which part?

YuShawn Bell 26:04

what part Cancun? Not Cancun

Zaakirah Muhammad 26:08

the embassy? Panama consulate okay.

YuShawn Bell 26:11

I was spot on,

Zaakirah Muhammad 26:14

right you know the only Yeah, yeah. Okay.

YuShawn Bell 26:17

So yeah, and I missed it. So I supposed to do it. That August, ended up taking it in. In the winter, I remember it was cold. So the reason why I ended up going because I was invited as well through a friend that I met and I actually met her through GriefShare in charge I'm very depressed, like very angry, follow resentment. Just Just everything associated with pain or hurt. That's what I was feeling. And my body just started attacking me so I knew the only way and the only time I can get relief from it was to travel that I felt like safe when I was traveling. And I always had to travel with other women that that I didn't necessarily enjoy the trip. But I just had to get away so one day in particular, my friend that I met at church through breach and neither one of us was getting known. But everybody saw it ignoring us or we never we just really didn't have nobody to talk to because our grief was too heavy. Both of us now stones. And so I knew how hard she was. And she had took the journey before me when I met her. So I know how I was spending and how my body was attacking me so I was looking at how she was feeling and I just said it's just no way done. Be able to keep going on Go on, like things and she's gone before me. And I feel like there is just no way I'm gonna live through this. So we kind of stuck it out. We stuck it out and just, we just went where people were allowing us to come wasn't necessarily in tune with what was going through. my godmother Miss Karen she cheese. She was a lover that Delphi still attacks and you actually got to meet her. So we stay in separate rooms just because of that experience. But my friend, and it's like she kept night just outside of the motions that just kept piling up on top of what we was already going through and I would just be like, I don't know how we're gonna do. That was just, we were so low in our spirit and just our being who we are. You didn't see that thought from what you know today.

Zaakirah Muhammad 28:53

I heard you made out

YuShawn Bell 28:55

that we don't know how we're going to do it but you just don't get to some kind of way so my depression had got so bad I stopped answering my phone, the door and everything. I was just sitting in the middle of my bed and just staring into space. And the voices just voices start again loud and I was just just drowning and sinking and nobody even knew people will come over, such as my kids and people that was in my life and they just didn't know I would tell them but I don't think they heard me because they would just come and go as they please. So they was coming in and out. Everybody else just didn't have access to me but my friend actually came over there that just bam and on the door and snap me out of what I was whatever trance I was in. And when I seen her thing. I was like whatever you did want to do wherever you went, I want to go and she was just so compelled to share with me and I just went even less. I was like, I just want to do it. Please just tell me what it is. And I wouldn't be sure and I don't want him to. So she ended up but she didn't share on the level that we kind of shared with now because I was just desperate and I needed to go. I seen a change of heart so that whole time between when she did it in the summer. And I did it in the winter. I got on her nerves that became my new compensation and the context around our conversation. Do you think it's gonna work? She was like, Yes, I promise you're gonna get something and I will constantly wake up she will wake up and how me and she will be happy and I'll still in my brief and I'm like, You promises don't work like that. That just became my world. And she kind of stuck with me through at it and I noticed she never changed or reverted back prior to that. We knew and we was all deep. So after that, I'm like she hasn't and I mean whatever that was that she had access to add me anything I need to build. So that's how I ended up going to the landmark.

Zaakirah Muhammad 31:13

It's not a matter because I have a similar story. And really anybody who does that has a similar story. Somebody who sees it the moment where they're sick and tired of being sick and tired and they're like, Yeah, I'm choosing me knew the damn thing like the woman the sister who saw me. I remember clearly it was like a Friday night. I think 30 foreign at the end of the week, and I was living in a lab at the time and the top part of the house or part of a fence and then the system. Right. And so I would I knew that I'm like, Okay, I can't stay in Atlanta. I came with the intention of hey, let me get closer to the height of the pandemic and everybody got on. Well, let me just do me but whatever. So she called me we had already connected from a Facebook group and then we got to WhatsApp and then we got to each other. So she called me out of the blue and I'm just like oh no. And so um, then she started diving in and just like you know what I see you at such a powerful woman and I know that we talked about our divorce and what we've been through without adversity, but you are so powerful. beyond measure and I just want you to know that I was like you. And so she started telling me about an MRI form and then I started really just thinking like, it started to me, you know, I've always been big on stuff that was done by downlights on my own we would already know thank God, I know what I want to do. Right? And so I just started asking him a question. He said, come on down to zoom, you know, XYZ day and we're going to have an introduction. So you might bring a pad of paper, wearing exactly what we just talked about today about the divorce. And so it was two and a half hours and I'm a Muslim with a woman and other Western Asian women there. So that itself was exciting to me. I cried what it looked like, right. So that made the difference of I can honestly vote every share what's really going on. And I felt seen and I thought about it. And so although I did tell her she did you know give me the idea of how much it is and what it can take and I'm like a weekend after cheated and like, you know, one of the weekend summits could not be right, but I do have it on dude, don't get out. Okay, yeah, let me go get a hotel room for a weekend. But because I knew that I was in just this tough financial space when she was like, when do you want to? What do you want to tune in? And I'm like, I don't know, if they're gonna do that. And she's like, What am I paying for you? Okay, yeah. I mean, that itself was tendered already because of who I am. You know, I have seven but they're 714 years older than me. So technically, I grew up. I grew up and I would very, very powerful parents who raised me to get be independent, learn how to do things on my own. And so for me to actually step I guess, I kind of like, you know how you call it compared to a step outside of your so like the moment I said yes to hey, you know, be willing to pay for my deposit. Okay, that's what it takes. Guy. Let me let me let me know what you want for me though. Here we are. A year later for me and not announced anything? Yes, you Yeah. I wouldn't be like I'm gonna go overseas and just do me and try to step in and help even again, you know, it's been life changing for the both of us.

YuShawn Bell 34:45

But the one thing I don't believe I share with you, although I had put my date in mind that I was going to save some money or get some money to go to landmark or I didn't have the money. Because when my son passed away, I was only getting like 50% of my pay. And you know, that was like I was working for corporate America. And that was my full time job at the time, but I wasn't there long enough to get more benefits around more money. So I was kind of live at that same year. I clicked on a button through x and another coworker and she told me Oh girl that I know this, click on notes, all of that. And what I clicked on no for was insurance for my son. Yeah, so we had to pay for his funeral out of pocket, had great support with the funeral home the guy was staying and my ex husband and me who was able to pull it together and and do that. So outside of that, the only money I had was, you know, the money that was raised for me. It wasn't raised. It was like you know how people pass away they give you money. So I had money through cards, but that's how I paid my kids during that time. And I noticed my everything that I had on auto pay my money was deeply, like negative two years, so I didn't know how I was going to pay my deposit to even go and this lady can't remember her name. I remember her face was going in so I will see. I'm happy to ask what's her name? But she paid my deposit cuz she paid for it for her friend and her friend chose not to go and she asked me, yeah, she could pay the deposit for and I knew I had tapped into something or met some wonderful people because nobody has ever did that for me. So I was like, You know what? It's worth a try. Like that was so profound for me because I'm using that for everybody and somebody took the chance to stop what I was doing see me and now that I needed this, and I put my deposit down so I made sure I paid the rent. Yeah, so yeah,

Zaakirah Muhammad 37:01

but you know, like, you know, just like, when we travel, we look at flying. We vary for everything else, right? Like assuming we made that commitment to ourselves. Everything just happened like I wasn't I think maybe there was a moment that I went through that same plan. I'm like, I don't know if I'll be able to finish clean up what happens if I don't pay it off? And she was like, Are you sure that what you want? I'm like, no. Yeah, like, literally like the power of believing in yourself. And I think that's really what happened. Yeah. And speaking of testing yourself. We didn't talk too much about how you became a lot Titian when did that when did that happen?

YuShawn Bell 37:42

So that happened. I came from like SolarWinds and the Braves because I still embrace my natural hair. But you know, the society really didn't embrace natural hair like that. And I knew I wanted drapes. had been looking for a long time but a lot of people I was looking at sister live so nobody knew really what they were other than life and I'm like, No, that's all different. That's that's not large and everybody will say they can do it. So you know as a cosmetologist because I'm a lifeguard and I was in your work or send me some pages. I used to be in those groups and fine and sometimes they get snappy and act like it's a whole secret society around the process and the technique and it really is because it's copy written. So you kind of want your legacy to still have integrity. So I understand that but you know, I became present to it. Some women out here they have access to this and they just treat you know other people because they do have questions like really bad and I was one of those people. I'm a professional. I've been a professional since 1999. But I had to go and get my license because the license people was telling it on me because they felt like I was taking their clients and wasn't licensed to do so. So that's what made me go ahead and get my license but the locks is because I had this big, beautiful hair at first and I was embracing it and liking it and becoming who I was and my son passed away and my hair fell out. And it was time. Matter of fact, it was time for me to take the braids that I had down down during the funeral but it was just too No it was too much. So when I finally took them down I noticed that my hair started falling out and it was falling out like really bad because I couldn't eat like my whole back my body just my whole being just wait like it was night day everything sweet grow, don't grow like everything. Just cut out eat don't eat. So whatever was positive to being you know, a human and to live my body cut off and did the complete opposite. So my hair suffered, and and I couldn't work. I couldn't I wasn't confident with doing this always I'm pulling it out more or anything with tension. So I've went to research and then I'm like, I have to do some laps. I didn't even really know how to have a conversation because I really lost my mind. So I was very inquisitive and was trying to find questions or on a question to ask around this thing that I've seen and I knew I wanted it and how I was showing up or how I looked it just looked like walking dead. So I got you know I finally found a lactation. She did the process around the perimeter of my hair husband was and I didn't have any in the top because my hair had fell out. And I was just getting locks on top of the loose straggly hair that I had. But what was happening was I had to go back to work and we're ready to go back to work. I had to spare in my phone. So I was forced to go back to work so I had to make my appointments at five in the morning. And that just wasn't it just didn't work for me. And I had to be at work at eight didn't have no more time to take out so I would you know just read the one word. And I knew that I wasn't according to the World presentable but I needed to get something done. So that's how I ended up getting my labs and because of time that I had to go it didn't work for me. So I was like I need to go learn how to do my own retype it and research and again, I learned how to do this is something that I can make extra money on the side because I was like drowning, really suffering with finances around having to pay for

Zaakirah Muhammad 42:01

so detail that you're peppered which truly truly rediscovered and kind of take away at what point do you let me ask you that? At what point do you feel that you're peppered with rediscovered?

YuShawn Bell 42:17

Oh, I I've always really discovered my purpose but what I wanted to do the type of women that I was around I just benefited from being a friend but I was not fulfilled so I knew that was something that I naturally did. But I got to be creative with doing hair. Because I used to be the one in my younger years I used to be the one that could write the names in your head and I might straight perfect lines around architecture that I wanted to do an element all of that so I could put it in Yeah. Hey, so it was collapsing, but it wasn't collapse. Heavy literally. It was hard. Yeah, it wasn't heavy. It was like art for me. And in like doing art because it was like a blank canvas because I'm a makeup artist too. So I get to play with colors. But what was associated with that was broken women. And it was broken women that learns how to look. Going through something. So their reward was not just what I can do for them. It was just in my conversation with them. So they lived for their appointments. Matter of fact, it was so bad. They were called when it wasn't their appointment. Just to sit with me and talk with me, but it was draining. For me it was very draining because I'm like, I'm trying to deal with this. And your girl was just dumping all of this to me. How does that work? And I can boldly say, because I'm brutally honest Why are you doing it because that's not even What's your prophecy? You not even happened? Why are you doing it? You know, you don't have to do that right? And I quickly start my mom like all the women in my family started popping up all of my clients just, I became very present to Oh, so we were a culture of women that we are doing something nobody stopped to tell us hey girl, you know that you don't have to do that or you can do something different. Like nobody ever stopped to tell them do it and I got your back. I was at space for them. That was rewarded once I took because I'm like I just I don't want to I don't want to do this and I got out that on my mind. So I always knew it. I just didn't know how to tap into what I naturally do because nobody ever stopped to say, you know you're good at that right? Or they would accept it and receive it and go and take it and make it and still that's what they discovered. But it was out of me kind of cup of coffee actually coaching them that they got to discover that they could do something else with their lives. So I'm your cheerleader. I'm your best friend and I often push you beyond the sideline, I'm that person that's cheering you on and that's just what I gain but I didn't embrace it immerse.

Zaakirah Muhammad 45:36

No, it sounds like you're gonna be embracing it now.

YuShawn Bell 45:40

I am I love it now. I love it now,

Zaakirah Muhammad 45:43

what are you doing now? Like professionally or like what what transition are you making?

YuShawn Bell 45:48

So I'm transitioning so I still have my my Luca to lock lock Titian business being a system consultant. But you know, there's a lot of wear and tear on your body. And I didn't realize that because it was something that I naturally did or did all of my life and I have never been affected by. So now I'm affected by and I pivoted I'm good and I can pay did really good. Oh, okay, so this is something else that I naturally do and my clients always right. I asked me to write a book, do this do that I was so like, I was so come talk to you and I'm like okay, I'm gonna say but if you don't guess what it is somebody else that will. So I just kind of do that and if I don't know how to do it, I'm good at going to get a coach even for me to coach me through how to get to my next level. Every coach needs a coach. Every coach needs a coach. i Every coach have a coach and I just don't know what download it.

Zaakirah Muhammad 46:50

Well should be prepared to go off topic real quick. But both of us have been in the entertainment industry for a long time and with being in the entertainment industry in recording now know like yeah

YuShawn Bell 47:12

I know somebody they know somebody they know something. Yeah, yeah, yes. Yeah. But then being close to being manipulative to get to whatever you

Zaakirah Muhammad 47:19

like immediately Okay, cool. And so now how do you how can other women work with you?

YuShawn Bell 47:32

Other women can work with me first via email, or you can book a consultation with me to my email is traveling. t r a v e l i n g foodie, f o de ie beauty. b e a u t y@gmail.com.

Zaakirah Muhammad 47:53

Okay. Not travel guru beautiful traveling and what about your social media networks?

YuShawn Bell 48:01

They're all under that name itself a tick tock I love tick tock is entertainment in its art and its culture. So it's traveling. I got locked out at the original so is traveling foodie beauty. To to go to number two. If

Zaakirah Muhammad 48:16

you love data we're going to connect and plan on

YuShawn Bell 48:20

my travels, my bouncing and dancing. I just liked the art of dance. Food, I love food and all things associated with beauty. According to me makeup sisterlocks hair out of that.

Zaakirah Muhammad 48:38

Okay, so traveling food, beauty and type of thing.

YuShawn Bell 48:47

Yeah, and purpose. I like take the bull by the horns and I ride it totally and on purpose. I make sure I do all things around my purpose and my my DNA and just my my makeup. God makes me Yeah, okay.

Zaakirah Muhammad 49:08

And good. As you can see we are both beat today. On about beauty. That's how you love yourself too. I think some people have, you know, I know I were for a long time I was you know, holistic everything because, at least to me being a cancer survivor, I had to be sensitive about everything. So you know, my hair got that long time ago. Way makeup only when I was in a blue moon when they're traveling, not natural to me, but even for me, I'm not going to be in a five star hotel that's with me. I'm gonna be up there with a local like

YuShawn Bell 49:45

so yeah.

Zaakirah Muhammad 49:47

But traveling food and beauty definitely something we have in common definitely don't need to wait for women to love on themselves. Especially if it's something that they love to do. And they don't know that they can do it every single day.

YuShawn Bell 50:00

Yeah. It literally makes me smile. Okay. Like all the cute stuff make you smile and you you haven't a whole experience and don't even know that's intuitively something that you need to look into.

Zaakirah Muhammad 50:17

Speaking of. Would you kind of give out the secret right now but the headshot that everyone would see on on you know, the flow, the promotional kind of way that I photograph it right. Yeah. And then so with the photograph, I kind of told you what we're able to duplicate we're literally just like, Okay, put the business hat on take pick, you have to be you know, certified. And so I told you after the photo shoot of Liberia, my third time picking up a camera in a minute. And I was like, let me do that every single day. You know, so that's how you know that that's your purpose. Right?

YuShawn Bell 50:52

Yeah. When you said that I was like, Girl Okay, now what can we do so we can get to doing this because you like knit up around all experience. Yeah, it was so fun. Yeah, I loved it. When I tell you I love that. Like the camera. So how can we make this happen? Like every day because we were so inspired around?

Zaakirah Muhammad 51:14

Okay, and now. Now time for the fun rapid questions that I tend to ask. I'm with every guest ready?

YuShawn Bell 51:25

I think I

Zaakirah Muhammad 51:26

do. Okay. Question is where do you want to travel to next? I believe

YuShawn Bell 51:35

No, right. But they are do I want to travel to Canada? I've been dying to get not literally but I've been trying to get there for the longest. But I always remember it's cold there. But yeah, I think it's time for me to kind of go ahead and go and see what I liked about him.

Zaakirah Muhammad 52:00

Well, would you prefer the 120 degree Texas a decade or the COVID and negative degrees of dead?

YuShawn Bell 52:06

I will prefer Texas so I'm like I see why people are snowbirds though. So that that's something Yeah, no

Zaakirah Muhammad 52:15

good. Okay, next question. What do you want your legacy

YuShawn Bell 52:22

to be? I want my legacy to be remembered. Or this girl wait for from a country town that smiles and dance and have a love, new love for life. New love for intentional people and this abundance of love for my kids, not material things. They will have access to material things because of my legacy. But really knowledge wisdom understanding location

Zaakirah Muhammad 53:01

and name something that helped you it could be anything but person, platform, whatever name something that helps you to like when I mean discover your purpose. I mean like this is a and I'm taking it and running with it. That's a name that one thing that helped you to discover your purpose.

YuShawn Bell 53:31

When just women in general, my conversations with when it would be my compensations because they saw rewarding for me and for them.

Zaakirah Muhammad 53:43

Okay, got it. And we're almost at the end and if there is anything that no one got from this conversation, what is one thing you want women to remember? I want

YuShawn Bell 53:57

women to remember that the answer to everything is just love and genuine, authentic. And even if you don't know what that is, I'll be more than happy to help you access that but just having a new love for life around authentic love and what love actually Eve Yeah, that's what I love.

Zaakirah Muhammad 54:24

I love the love and picking up love I give you one last

YuShawn Bell 54:29

Thank you for having me. It's always a pleasure you would enjoy yourself and book, whatever she got going off good, get helpful. Book a photo session and just bask on what your presence I promise she won't buy it sorry.

Zaakirah Muhammad 54:56

Thank you thank you now speaking of we can have if you want to be a guest on the see life and podcast visit calorie.com forward slash phocused Media Group forward slash podcast and your submit your initial information your social media who you are your bio the whole bit but what it will turn into depending on our conversation and depending on what you submit it may become a whole full package for media branding package because I want you to match the entity that you say you are a match your paper. Your aesthetic, your social media, everything that you represent online to match exactly what it is that you say you want to do. So visit calendly.com forward slash podcast. So kennedy.com forward slash focused mediators forward fat packet to become a guest on a podcast. Thank you for watching and thank you for listening and we'll see you on the next episode.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai