We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nikki Davison. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nikki below.
Nikki, 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?
How did I find my purpose? I had to think about this one for a while and realized that my purpose has shifted over the years.
I retired from the United States Air Force on Feb 1, 2020, after 24 years of active service. When I left for Air Force basic training on Jan 3,1996, my purpose was to take care of myself and not have to have my parents take care of me. My purpose shifted many times in those 24 years with three marriages, three children, one career change from medical technician to enlisted recruiter and 11 total moves. My purpose was my family, to make enlisted accessions goals, to grow future leaders and whatever else the Air Force needed it to be. I went from taking care of newborns, to teaching women’s health, to performing post-mortem care on elderly patients. I switched gears from medical to recruiting and worked my way from recruiting enlisted members and qualifying them, to leading recruiters, then leading support teams. My purpose has changed many times. When I retired, I thought my purpose was going to be in an office, wearing a suit, doing paperwork and human resources things. It was not.
When I retired, the world was going through changes with Corona-19 virus, and life as we knew it, instantly changed, while my own life had instantly changed. My oldest child had just graduated high school and was working, my middle son was in 8th grade in on-line school and my youngest was in kindergarten. What I thought was my purpose had completely vanished. In June of 2020 I was working at a local medical marijuana dispensary when I enrolled in an on-line master’s program at American College of Health Care Science. I finished a degree in Complementary and Alternative Medicine with a certification in Aromatherapy. While I was completing school, I learned about the Usui Method of Natural Healing through Reiki and completed a level one certification with Wendy Borne @ Visions Reiki and Soul Spa. On Feb 15, 2022, I admitted I was powerless over alcohol, quit drinking and began my journey into sobriety. This is when yoga started to have a strong presence in my life and a connected deeper with Reiki, so I completed Reiki level two with Jill Sansom, Briane Agostinelli, Erin Scanlon @ Reiki On. In February 2023 I launched Blue Ripple Blends and began yoga teacher training with Joni Staaf Stamford @ Insight with Joni and graduated November 2023 as a certified yoga (200 hours) teacher with Yoga Alliance. The combination of support from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), embodying Reiki principals, learning deeply about the Eight Limbs of Yoga through the teachings of Patanjali, and connection with my higher power(s) are and were pivotal to my continued sobriety.
Continuing to connect with my purpose, 2024 was a year of learning, trying, and doing, so my purpose was constantly shifting. Spring 2024, I was honored to become a Reiki Master/Teacher with Tracy Campbell @ Joyful Soul and expand my understanding and teaching of Reiki. I completed the Recovery Coach Academy with Armstrong Indiana Clarion Drug and Alcohol commission and became a certified Recovery Coach. We discovered a life changing opportunity to be certified in Trauma Process Yoga Group (TPYG), which regulates the nervous system and introduces yoga. In November, along with my co-star, Briane Agostinelli, we completed a 12-week trauma process class, to a group of veterans through VetPets of SWPA. Her and I also had the pleasure of co-hosting a day retreat for women in recovery focusing on self-love, and we were invited to participate on a panel with other courageous women during an ‘All for Her’ event hosted by the Observer Reporter in Washington, Pa. I was also asked to speak and share my story of transition from retirement to small business owner at an Air Force recruiting conference for women in San Antonio, Texas. I’ve learned that sharing my story, speaking about my recovery, and growth has helped inspire and empower others on their journey. AND I got to co-host a women’s weekend retreat with my talented friend, Faith Spicer from Moon & Mane Hair Haven, where we connected with, forgave and loved our inner child through words, actions and play.
Shew, looking back on it, I am humbled and grateful for such an impactful year with a floating, shifting, drifting purpose.
While my goal, my drive, my reason, my target, or my intention has changed over the years, I do feel my main purpose is to love as hard as I can and to share as much light as possible. That purpose, has been consistent my whole life.
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?
Blue Ripple Blends came to life in February 2023, with the intention of blending multiple healing modalities to create a unique, customized experience. Blue is the color of the throat chakra, which allows for clear communication, the color of water, my dad’s favorite color (he left this Earth in Feb 2017), and an Air Force color, so of course I love it. Ripple was inspired by one of my most favorite Grateful Dead songs, Jerry’s phrase “ripple in still water” reminds me to be my true authentic self, to make ripples in my own unique way and to share that authenticity to encourage others to live theirs. If you’ve never listened to the lyrics, it’s an inspirational story about one’s own journey (in my opinion). The logo was intentionally designed with symbolism representing herbs, calmness and balance.
Blending modalities can really enhance the overall experience. For example, a session may include some essential oils, breathwork, movement, reiki, crystals, chakra talk and sound healing. Individually, each method has healing potential, when combined it expands that potential. When I quit drinking, I had to re-learn life, I didn’t know what my emotions meant, let alone how to control them, or how to calm that shaky feeling on the inside. Yoga allowed me to get out of my head into my body. I didn’t realize how much yoga meant to me, until I realized how much yoga meant to me, it was a bridge that connected me to all my other healing, and my support family. Once I realized that I was capable of rippling in still water, I wanted to share all I learned with everyone I loved, and to those I hadn’t met yet.
Inspirations in the works include offering customized experiences for corporate, community, and nonprofit organizations. Some of the experiences will include retreats, classes, lunch and learns and customized experiences to enhance community connection, empower healing through play, and a better understanding of how silence the outside noise and tune into self. In the meantime, you can find me teaching yoga and seeing clients at Indigo on Main in Washington, Pa where we offer a variety of classes, or reach out for private events as well.
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 impactful take-aways from my continued journey are, I learned how to regulate my nervous system through yoga, mediation, breath techniques, and mindfulness. I try to see situations with all three eyes open and expand my perspective with a curiosity and growth mindset that encourages constant learning and growth. Developing an understanding and expression of self-love and love for others has been one of the most impactful experiences for me. For me, it means I’ve learned my boundaries, I’ve learned my yes’s and no’s, I’ve gained respect for my body, and for the situations that took me from self-loathing to self-love. Self-love is so much more than massages, baths (don’t get me wrong, I love a good bath!) and gifts. It’s honoring your past, recognizing and releasing resentments and speaking kind words to yourself, even when no one else can hear. When I would drop my keys, I’d think “you dummy, how stupid, what an idiot” …. ummmm…I dropped some keys, calm down, me. I’m human having a human experience. I realized I spoke to myself internally in a way I’d never speak to another living thing. I learned to give myself grace and change those words from being hurtful, to being heartful.
For those starting their journey, be easy on you. It’s taken a lot to get you here, it may take some time to get there, buy try to enjoy the path along the way. Love yourself. Be kind to yourself. Be true to yourself, no one else is you, no one else can do what you do, embrace your authenticity. Meet yourself where you are, and trust that you are exactly where you need to be, divinely led. Lead from your heart, speak from your heart, and be willing to hear all other perspectives to allow yourself the experience of others, to find ways you are alike, not different. Please forgive yourself for past “mistakes.” The current version of you has new information the past version of you didn’t have. That past version of yourself was doing the best they could. We are all doing the best we can. Appreciate it, appreciate the lesson, and move forward in love. Finally, find your community, your tribe, your people, the other half to your teeter-totter. Life is way too beautiful, way too much fun, and way too fast to do it alone.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
Finding alignment in the expertise and wisdom we have and how it aligns with what the community needs has been one of the biggest obstacles lately. Building our business from a place of personal integrity, living our core values, and creating an environment where both employees and clients thrive is a priority and a constant practice. When I first started Blue Ripple Blends, I thought maybe I’d target women, or veterans, or those in recovery, or maybe the LGBTQ+ population (I’m bi-sexual), but I realized that most humans, of all ages, genders, sizes and shapes could use some guidance, mentoring and love. I am married to a wonderful man, I’m raising three men, I have brothers and dads, our men need love, connection and healing too.
We are currently working on a program we feel will benefit most of the population in helping to regulate the nervous system that incorporates a baseline foundation of understanding while learning through play. Our target audience is anyone who is looking to find some relief from racing thoughts, feelings and emotions, wants to find meaningful ways to connect to the present moment and is willing to be willing to invest in themselves. We are fine-tuning finances and trust the abundance of money will be there when we are ready and open to like-minded partners interested in helping the healing process grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bluerippleblends.com
- Facebook: Blue Ripple Blends
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