Remember when the "25 things about me" vulnerable posts were so popular on Facebook 15 years ago?
Here are 25 things about me to give you a peek into who I am and why I do what I do.
I am a natural-born US citizen. I was born in Saint Louis, MO to immigrant parents who returned to Nigeria when I was two. I’m told I was a very talkative child.
My parents divorced when I was six. We had quite a bit of dysfunction going on.
I grew up in a conservative culture where I was taught to be “nice” and never rock the boat or question things.
I was held to very strict standards as a child and expected to take care of adult situations - which led to people pleasing, not expressing wants and needs, and always putting myself last.
I was in a gifted program in high school. I was raised in an environment that over-valued achievement and I always felt pressured to be a perfect “A” student. Getting good grades and high achievements was the only way to get love and approval.
I studied Chemical Engineering in college and worked as an Information Technology Analyst for many years.
I LOVE reading and traveling. Beaches are my absolute favorite place to be.
Up to my late 30s, I was a member of a religious community that taught me to sacrifice everything for my marriage.
I got married at age 21 and was married for 17 years. I got divorced at 39. The divorce took 3 years to finalize.
I started a blog in 2004 called “Confessions of a People Pleaser.” I used to have such low confidence, conflict aversion, and difficulty saying “no.” I walked on eggshells in my first marriage because I wanted to avoid conflict and so badly wanted to be liked by everyone in my life.
I have 2 biological children and 3 adopted children. I homeschooled the kids for many years. The children are now thriving teens and young adults.
My ex-husband filed for a divorce when I stopped keeping the secrets about his toxic habits, anger, and rage, and started going to therapy, and setting boundaries.
I was a coffee-lover for 20 years, but my midlife body now can’t handle the caffeine which makes me super sad
I have had to work through my own anxiety, trauma responses, abandonment, people-pleasing, denial of wants and needs, and low confidence with my own coaching tools.
I have always been a self-help junkie. I read all the things, took all the classes, went to all the groups, and watched all the videos to figure out how to transform and create my best life after the divorce.
A year after the divorce, I returned to the workforce after 8 years of being a stay-at-home mom and started earning over 100k
I started my divorce recovery coaching practice in 2016 and quit my job to go full-time during the pandemic in 2020.
I met my totally hot, smart, and supportive second husband in 2018. We met on Bumble after 18 months of online and offline dating. We broke up once for 10 days.
I feel heightened anxiety at least once every day. Sometimes it’s just a brain-fart. Sometimes, it’s a call to awareness.
I have 3 coaching certifications: Trauma Recovery Coaching, a Life & Relationship Coaching, and Feminist Coaching
I have close to 10 “failed” businesses in my past. I see them as practice runs for the successful business I run now.
I remarried in June 2019. We’re closing in on 4 years and I’m so glad I didn’t wait endlessly before dating.
I can be super-goofy and sassy, but I don’t always show that side of me in public. My husband, children, friends, and clients get a peek, and I laugh a lot in those settings.
I have 2 best friends. One has been a friend for 18 years, the other for 27 years.
I am an extrovert, I'm good at networking, love most social situations and social media. I've also learned to cultivate a safe, nourishing community around myself.
P.S I would love to connect with you! I am hosting a 3-Day Event “How to Create an Extraordinary Life and Love After Divorce” January 24 - 26 at 7pm CST
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqc-irqjooG91bDZ9CCl6-Zyy-kPVdYtk6