We recently connected with Kimberly Willis and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kimberly, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Oh this is a great question! By definition, to be resilient means to recover quickly from difficulties or the capacity to withstand. I believe we all have some level of resilience built in us.
Think about as a child when you would go play and scrape your knee! As a child, that was difficult, especially if blood was involved! That felt like the world was over!!! But, as our caregiver bandaged us up, we discover that everything would be okay!
For me, I draw from simple moments like that! Yes, as an adult it becomes more complex, but the principle is still the same. As we hurt, seek help! Whether it’s the doctor, a therapist, a spiritual advisor, or even a vacation, there is power in allowing others to help! Bishop T.D Jakes states that we only have two hands. We can only go so far on our own. We need others to help us achieve our designed goal.
As a cancer survivor, I used my family as a spring board to assist me with home cooked meals, helping me style my daughter’s hair, and most importantly, encouraging me in tough moments!!
I learned that the little girl in me is a fighter! I learned that other people are fighters too! We just get tired from time to time and that’s when we need our community!
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
As a stage 3 breast cancer survivor who has witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of cancer on my family, I am driven to create a supportive community for cancer survivors and their loved ones. With both of my parents and my husband also affected by cancer, I understand the emotional, physical, and financial toll that this disease can take. Through Survivors Corner, I aim to provide a platform for survivors to share their stories, connect with others who have gone through similar experiences, and access resources to help them navigate life after cancer.
In addition to this, I host a podcast called “Get Into It, Live Chats With Kimberly Willis” where I provide a platform for survivors, caregivers, and anyone connected to the cancer community to share their experiences. The podcast is currently streamed on YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn, making it easily accessible to anyone in the world.
I don’t stop there, as a life coach and speaker, I help empower and inspire people to get through difficult situations in life whether it’s illness, finances, or emotional concerns.
My overall goal, whether it’s styling a survivor, producing an impact book, being a podcast host, or speaking, is to provide mental, emotional, and health equity to every person I encounter!
As a wife and mother of four, doing this life work can be challenging, but I have an amazing support system! My husband is my best friend and we push each other into greatness!!! He is an accomplished author himself amongst being a Senior Pastor and Behavioral Consultant! So we have each others backs!!!
For upcoming events, I have a vendor show coming up with New J Church at their annual Community Fest. Both my cancer wear line from Survivors Corner and my boutique clothes from 49Rose will be present. Stay tuned for upcoming podcast episodes by following www.youtube.com/@survivorscorner.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Wow! Let’s see how to narrow this down! I believe being a great listener, being compassionate, and being a believer is most impactful in my journey.
Being a great listener not only works when you listen to others but also to listen to your body and your gut. Our intuition is powerful and our body communicates if we pay attention to it. That’s how I was able to find cancer! My body was telling me something wasn’t right. I felt a lump and I saw about it!
Being genuinely compassionate goes a long way. It builds relationships, it can put you in rooms with people that will advance your career or mission all because you were nice!!! I have been able to serve more people because I care about their well being.
Finally, being a believer is the MOST important quality that has impacted me in my journey. My faith has helped me push past suicide, my faith has given me strength to deal with my parents death that was 82 days apart. My faith has given me hope to keep living even when I was given bad news. My faith has given me courage to speak out to help others. My faith has been the blueprint and navigation system to get through life!!!
My advice for those early in their journey is to know who you are and whose you are! When success starts to hit, you can change if your foundation isn’t strong. When failure hits, you can change if your foundation isn’t strong! Some people don’t have a plan when either hits. Take the time to think these through. Draft a 3 month, 6 month, year, 5 year, and 10 year plan. Make adjustments along the way and NEVER GIVE UP! It was once stated that you miss 100% of shots you don’t make.
So what you missed the shot, learn from it and try again. Eventually you will succeed. And once you succeed, do you have the right team surrounding you? All of those things are important!!!
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
We are all affected by something, so I am no different. I am dealing with having so many trials and tribulations pile on me at once. It sometimes feel like I’m trapped in a pile of debris and I’m sticking my hand out for someone to rescue me! The weight of that is excruciating!!!
I am relying on my faith to get me through, along with therapy, and a good ol vacation! I’m learning self care isn’t selfish, it’s necessary.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.survivorscorner.net
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/k_willis83
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/survivorscorner
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlywillis49/
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@survivorscorner
Image Credits
Ynobe Concepts
