Hi there!
I’m Asha.
First, the most important things about me: I’m heavy on the empathy and advocacy, with a sprinkle of awkwardness, passion, and a whole lot of realness.
I am the mama of two of the most incredible children, and (insert snarky grin here) I don’t think I’m biased!
I’m a lover of all things fitness and moving my body. I found fitness the year before I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was mentally at the lowest moment in my life after an unexpected surgery that left me with one less ovary and a body full of shouting hormones. Fitness truly helped to save me.
I have always loved writing and had my first poem published in a magazine when I was 11. I have often felt a little awkward around others because my favorite form of communication is through the written word. Little Asha would be shocked to know that I have now been published many more times and even enjoy public speaking! (I still get very nervous and sweaty doing it, but I always say it's worth it if I can help just one person feel less alone.)
On the enneagram personality test, I am an enneagram 2w1, which means I enjoy watching people find their calling, anticipating others' needs, and accepting the many differences among us. The unhealthy side of an enneagram 2 is my need to please people. I call myself a recovering people pleaser. I’ve found that there’s many of us out there. Can I get an amen?!
I also have found it hard to say no and to put my needs first.
This past year has been a stretching and growing year for me. I’m learning and unlearning patterns about myself and growing and stretching like never before. I’ll share more at a later time about what prompted it in this season.
I’m coming home to myself and it’s one of the most brave and beautiful things I’ve ever done.
It’s changed the way I parent. It’s changed the way I choose friends now, where I put my energy, and even how I advocate.
Here’s the other part of my life, one that is important but does not define me. I’m a stage 3B breast cancer veteran. (I’ll explain more on why I say “veteran” over “survivor” in another post.) I was diagnosed in 2017, three weeks after I turned 33, and the diagnosis changed every aspect of my life, in both bad and good ways.
I did chemotherapy, radiation, a double mastectomy, and everything in between. I’m currently NED (no evidence of disease), which I’m so grateful for. But I’m also realizing that what they call “survivorship” is harder in a lot of ways than I ever imagined.
I’m now a breast cancer activist, which means I speak, write, podcast, and work with nonprofits sharing my story and advocating for others. Something that I’ve really enjoyed is working with big brands and for-profits to help connect them with smaller breast cancer nonprofit organizations and with us, the community.
Here’s why I do this: Our stories matter.
Your story matters.
Humanizing us as people, rather than just patients, matters.
Especially as a Black woman.
Speaking out about those disparities in our community matters, too.
So, you can expect to hear about all of the above and an array of other things, because life is unexpected and it’s fun to switch it up.
I’m so glad you’re here.
I’m so grateful for this community.
I hope you can pull up a chair and know that you’re not alone and together we can accomplish so much more than doing it solo.
So, here’s to this new adventure and the adventures to come for all of us!
Love you, mean it.