We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Charmaine French. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Charmaine below.
Hi Charmaine, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?
My generosity is a replication of the relationship I have with my faith. Faith based generosity is a force that moves me to give first without the expectations or receiving. This idea is often least practical, foreign, and often complex to develop. However, through trials and errors, experiences, and as a descendent of a selfless bloodline. I’ve been blessed to live a generous life. Being labeled as a generous individual does come with lessons and inwardness. It requires me to realize the importance of needing and asking for help. Egotism and generosity typically do not coincide and I have to constantly reminding myself I am human living the human experience. With humility as my driver it allows connectivity to the next person to be so much more impactful. My time, affirming presence, and listening ear reassures each person perceptivity. Making the active choose to be generous and pour into the next person cup, fills my cup. Operating in generosity daily brings me joy. It reminds me to give grace first, because honestly we all feel alone and in need of a little kindness.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
At short hand I would describe myself as an artist. In depth, I’m a creative roaming the planet in need of leaving behind artifacts of joy, passion, inspiration and love. With much effort and resistance I’ve found myself walking the journey most fit for me. I originally started my footing as an Elementary teacher and succeeded in growing young minds for five years. In my fifth year, I felt a tug pulling me from out of the classroom and into a world, limitless to imagination and exploration. At the time, the how to manual for a life of freedom was not at my fingertips, only frustration and complacency.
The conduit for my shift out the classroom was through a head on collision Spring Break 2019. Driving home late mid night my car collided into the rear end of a parked car without any lights. My Chevy Sonic was traveling at speeds of sixty-five miles per hour and I had no time to avert the collision. At the time I was unaware of the driver of the other car abandoned me and I mistakenly went to check on them. This poor decision left me to the highway pavement, surrounded with debris, fluids, glass and oncoming traffic. My decision also left me with a shattered and dislocated hip. At the age of twenty-eight, I had to have emergency surgery the following day and placed on bed rest for three months , and an additional three months of physical therapy was needed to learn how to walk again. Three months before the collision I moved in with my parents and since walking up steps was out of the question, they created a makeshift living quarters in the middle of our family room. The first three months was excruciating, I could only sleep on my back, I needed a brace and walker to move around, injection to stop clotting, and staples and stitches woke me up every night. Simple task such bathing, dressing myself, and even using the restroom I need assistance. There was no escape and all I could do was face myself and ask why? Why me?
My why was found in my art. I was gifted a set of color pencils and a sketchbook. And late at night after crying my eyes out I would pick up my sketchbook and sketch. I’d color in the colors most vivid, and I’d draw the images that were the most comforting. Eventually my art kept me busy and it was all I heard. The more I listened the clearer the vision became. My car accident changed me for the better. It allowed me to see the true meaning of life, which is to keep living. There are moments in life which are undeniably hard and often unbearable, but what keeps us alive is the power of our thoughts. Most days, during my recovery, talking was exhausting yet the freedom of scribbling was freeing. Eventually I no longer cried myself to sleep and started waking up excited to finish drawing. And five years later, I still wake up each morning eager and excited to see where my art will lead me today. My journey through art has also, funded me financially, connected me with communities and, allowed me to engage in an authentic life.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three things that are most impactful for me in my journey is asking questions, committing to lifelong learning, and listening. I’ve learned to do these practices with every career, relationship and experience. My advice on how to best develop or improve on building confidence to asking open-ended questions, commitment to learning, and building listening skills is to start with your self. These practices have to grow subconsciously first before it can become your reality. Before you see improvement with the world you interact with you have to check in with yourself for growth and mastery.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was loved me. As simple as it may seem, my parents spoiled me with love, encouragement and support. They allowed me to see a marriage that is still growing, shifting, and surviving thirty-nine years later. Through their display of love they modeled for me humility, dedication, humor, grace, resilience, and grit. My parents gave me the space to challenge my development as their daughter, they breathed life into my creativity, and at every corner and avenue I venture they are right by my side. I know who I am today is through the sacrifices they made in their life’s as my parents. On top of all the mistakes I’ve made as their child they’ve never held it against me or defamed my character and as I journey through my adulthood they are the first people I council with when making a decision. The greatest blessing which I am forever thankful for was them allowing me to move back in and rebuild myself after my car accident and career change. At the time I didn’t realize my recovery would turn into a six year transition, but oh what a transition. Me moving back home made my bond with parents unbreakable, as well as coupled with my authenticity and financial literacy and freedom. Simply put the most impactful thing my parents did for me was be my parents.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Unapologeticallychar
- Facebook: Charmaine DeLisha
- Youtube: Unapologeticallychar
- Other: Tik Tok: NoApologiesChar
Image Credits
Charmaine French
