MEet Marquita Livingston

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Marquita Livingston. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Marquita , sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
A few years ago, I was having really bad headaches and ringing in my ear. There wasn’t a day that had went by that I wasn’t suffering from either that or the vertigo. Causing my world to spin whether my eyes were open or closed. At any given time and anywhere. As you can imagine, my day was lived unexpectedly. Not knowing what it would bring. If I would be able to work, write or even just have a good day. As the days went by, it seemed as though I was getting less productive and more anxious. I started to feel claustrophobic in cars. And it felt like life was slipping away. That’s when I knew I had to take charge of my life. So I went to see a neurologist. Someone whom I had hoped would be able to figure out what was going with me. But it was quite opposite. The more he couldn’t figure it out, the more medicine he wanted to prescribe. And the more I wasn’t feeling it. Feeling the way it made me feel. It removed the migraines alright. But it left me sleepy, tired and still unable to properly function. And after countless days and many trips to the mri room, he finally said that it could be MS (multiple sclerosis), which in fact is a mental illness. He said the lesions on my brain were in the same sequence. Not to mention my uncle had passed away from just that a few years before.

It was when he gave me that diagnosis that I knew I would not allow his words to define what God had planned for me. Not only that, he was talking about sticking me in my head to help stop the migraines since my other medication was no longer an option for me. That made me shift into drive mode and start bettering my life. I started eating healthier, cut off all my hair and quit my job. I took my life back and beat the diagnosis. Eating healthier allowed me to lose the extra weight and heal my body. I started walking more. Taking trips to the park. And today, I can say, I no longer have headaches. The ringing in my ear has stopped and my brain, well let’s just say, it’s hasn’t looked better.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My brand is Samiramarquita. Here we strive to push everyone to be themselves. Everyone of us has a unique history, and path. Most of us don’t unlock that power until it’s too late or even at all. I want people to know that no matter what your story is, you can get through it. We all have the power to make it.

I help people see that the “armor” of protection is in them. It’s our own unique stories. Through motivational speaking, I try and brighten someone’s day. Let them know that they are not alone. Give them encouragement to carry out their day. I try and be the person that I want someone to be to me. Showing kindness, gratitude, forgiveness and love.

But then I have my entertainment side through my writing and clothing, that shows another part of me. So a little girl or boy can say “she has been through trauma but look at her just being her.”

Then there is my skincare line that is still in the making. Natural products that make the body feel good. Showing the next generation that you don’t have to follow any trends. You can use natural products and still have the same effect. Teaching young boys and girls that it’s ok to be different. To have natural beauty.

But my biggest goal is to bring awareness to mental health. People need to know that it’s not just what goes on in your mind but also in your body, spirit and soul. That they all work hand in hand. One can’t be fixed without the other.

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?
Three qualities that were impactful were having a big imagination, always being curious and never allowing someone to tell me it’s not possible.

My imagination is what I use to this day to sing random made up songs while dancing in my home. Or coming up with the most ridiculous questions about whatever just out of no where. Without my imagination, I would not be the author that I am. Being able to think of a story, with characters and scenes like it’s a new reality.

Curiosity has always been a huge part of my life. Why does something work that way? My mother use to tell me that I would make a good scientist because I needed to know the “why?” It had to make sense to me. And to this day, I am exactly the same. “Make it make sense, lol.” Which makes doing research fun for me. I can watch a million videos on meditation or why people do what people do. It helps me to educate myself in many different areas to be able to share and motivate my audience.

So many people would tell me that I wasn’t going to be able to do something or that it don’t happen for black people. But there has been so many times where I have proven people wrong. Where I have beat the odds. And because of that, I am able to never give up. I strive to prove you wrong. To show myself that I can do it. Which allows me to dream big.

My advice to anyone just starting their journey is never give up, always dream bigger and let your imagination run wild. If you can dream it then it’s already done. Once you think it, you put it in the universe. Once you put it in the universe, time to work hard. But allow your imagination to get creative in different ways to reach your goals. Think outside the box. Be different. But don’t ever give up! No matter how hard it’s going to get because it’s going to get hard. Nothing worth having comes easy. And there will be people you thought were on your side that won’t be there. But don’t quit. Keep going.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Absolutely! I am looking for like minded people who are trying to help our youth or just anyone struggling with mental health. Looking to partner or collaborate with people who are not just looking to make a dollar but make a difference in our communities.

You can reach me on all platforms @samiramarquita or by email at [email protected]

Let’s make a difference!

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
Is the public version of you the real you?

We all think we’re being real—whether in public or in private—but the deeper challenge is

Highlighter Series
Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?

We asked some of the most interesting entrepreneurs and creatives to open up about recent

Highlighter Series
What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?

Coffee? Workouts? Hitting the snooze button 14 times? Everyone has their morning ritual and we