We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicole Watson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicole below.
Nicole, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
My journey to finding my purpose started from me living in the shadows of my pain at a time where most children my age were exploring the ins and outs of life. I went from having flu symptoms to being diagnosed with a chronic illness that literally shifted every aspect of my life in a short period of time. My body was fighting internally with an inflammatory disease that started to control me externally after I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease during my sophomore year in high school. I suffered in silence for twelve years from a disease that attacks the lining of your digestive tract without warning. How could this happen to me? The chronic symptoms of living with Crohn’s was taking control over my body and I didn’t know how to navigate through the hurdles of abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, and many other chronic complications. I didn’t know how to advocate for myself, because there wasn’t enough information during the early stages of my diagnosis for me to even have or understand. Imagine being put on the world’s largest roller coaster by yourself! The only person I could gain insight from at that time was my doctor and even that was a challenge because there wasn’t enough data or resources available to understand. I often refer to the early stages of my diagnosis a lab experiment. As time progressed so did my disease and I found myself feeling more alone each day. The only thing I could do was pray and often I didn’t feel like my prayers were being heard. LIfe had been spiraling out of control from one extreme to the next and I was tired of feeling sick every day so I started fighting back at my disease to gain some control . I knew the first thing I had to do was build up my faith in God to help me shift my perspective and that meant learning how to use my voice to communicate with Him. My voice became my resource and I started sifting through the layers of my journey to advocate for myself. One of the hardest parts of my journey was accepting my diagnosis and not feeling like it was a punishment placed on my life. I knew my testimony was growing and I wanted to break free of the survival mode to start living in my purpose. I thought I was the only black person living with this disease for so long. I wanted to be a light of inspiration, so I started using my voice to make the invisible become visible by sharing my story to empower others.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I work diligently as a Ostomy/Mental Wellness advocate and Mentor to help empower others. I suffered in silence long enough to know how lonely life can get, especially when you are battling a debilitating disease. I’ve been blessed to become a mother after having a miscarriage and being told that the severity of my disease would prevent me from having children. Our voices are so powerful and support is a critical resource to navigating life. My purpose to serve others helps me stay resilient in my own journey. I know my faith in God plays a significant role in my life so I don’t take that lightly at all! The things that happen in our lives, that try to destroy us, don’t have to define us. In 2018, I had emergency ostomy surgery that saved my life. My battle with Crohn’s disease started 27 yrs ago and I’ve had ten surgeries throughout that time but you wouldn’t know it by looking at me. I know first hand what it’s like to go to God wounded and be restored. My advocacy work allows me to be a supportive link in the chain in our communities. I love children and I believe it truly does take a village to help our youth grow, so aside from my advocacy work I am also a Head Start Assistant Teacher. I am blessed to be a blessing to others, so I try my best to plant many seeds of love and light in any way that I can.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I often use the words Inspire, Impact, and Improve to navigate my journey. I think in life we can build a healthier perspective when we look beyond the surface level of who we are, the relationships we build with others, and the journeys we travel. Life is going to present ebbs and flows no matter what, but we still have the tenacity to shift through either phase. The word Inspire allows me to focus in on those areas where something or someone had an affect on my life that led me to move forward in my journey. The word Impact helps me reflect on the ways I have elevated my voice after living in silence and how I gained the confidence to not let my disease define me. I am a firm believer that we are students of life until our time on earth comes to an end. The word Improve is the work I’ve done and will continue to do for myself and in the communities with others. My journey has been that of darkness and of light. I ‘ve learned from both and found peace in knowing that each one serves a purpose of how I continue to use my voice as a light to Inspire, Impact, and Improve the lives of others.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My dad passed away when I was 16, a few months after I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. My love for hats, art, and music come from him. I’ve used all three to help me along my journey in different ways. Art and music are very therapeutic for me! I recently learned how to meditate and sometimes I play music during that time. Writing to me is a form of art that I do the most and it too is a form of therapy for me. My hats are truly an expression of love to my dad. My mom is the superglue to our family and she taught me how to surf the waves of life. The strength and compassion I have is a reflection of the love my mother gives to me. I’ve watched my mom tackle many obstacles and the one thing she made sure we always leaned on was God. I know my mother’s prayers have carried me through some rough times in my life when I didn’t feel heard or seen by God.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @nickyrene3
- Facebook: Nicky Rene
Image Credits
Clutch Ent. Photography
