Meet Jearlean Taylor

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jearlean Taylor a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jearlean , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I found purpose through my survivorship as a cancer survivor. I was 3 years old when I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer (Rhabdomysarcoma). I was not expected to live, but God had other plans for me. I was so young, but my parents explained to me later that I was a strong little girl. I endured through chemotherapy, radiation, and several surgeries, one which changed my life forever. Because of where the tumors were located, I was left with having ostomy surgery. Ostomy surgery is a life-saving procedure that allows bodily waste to pass through a surgically created stoma on the abdomen into a prosthetic known as a ‘pouch’ or ‘ostomy bag’ on the outside of the body. Life as an double ostomate was my life challenges. How do I find purpose through the pain, depression, lost of self, low-self-esteem, disappointments, learning to love all of me, and wearing ostomy bags for rest of my life?

I believe purpose is not found over night. Yes, I believe we all are born with a purpose. Again, how do we discover that purpose is our existence of who we are and who we can be.

My purpose is to make a difference, encourage, inspire, and motivate others that your life is not over because of life circumstances. I found purpose through my faith in God. I found why exist and how can I make an impact for others. I am “different to make a difference”.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a cancer survivor, fashion model, author, public speaker, entrepreneur, and ostomy advocate. My life has had some unexpected outcomes. I guess you can say “life” happened. Through my faith in God, family and friends support, and wonderful medical staffs, I discovered who I could be in spite of my medical circumstances. My insecurities did not change overnight, but I learned to be a survivor. I am now one of the top fashion models abroad (with ostomy bags), national public speaker, and making a difference through my story. WOW! All things are possible when you believe.

I am using my voice in the cancer and ostomy community through public speaking. In October 2023 I am traveling to South Africa to share with ostomates that their life is not debilitating because you have an ostomy. I will be speaking, presenting at various hospitals, visiting ostomy patients, and speaking about the importance of healthcare and not having enough ostomy supplies to several cities that suffer without.

I believe that your life is not over because of life circumstances. I used to say, why me?’ Why cancer, why ostomy bags? Now I say, ‘why not me?

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?
As I look back there are 3 things that helped my journey become a blessing.

My 3 A’s; Accept, Adapt, & Attitude
Accept life happens to us all. Life changes does not have to be sad, especially when there help and support available. There is hope in every situation.
Adapt is willingness to challenge yourself when circumstances change. I adapted to think ahead and constantly focus on the positive. Be the change you want to be and see with a positive outcome.
Attitude can fill your mind with slew of emotions. I developed a mental “attitude of gratitude”. I changed my perspective, so it changed how I thought about myself, situation, and circumstance. Experience your own “lifepertise” to help someone else.

If you are early in your journey know that you matter, your voice matters, and everyone has a journey that can make a difference. Keep striving, believing, and importantly know that you are “different to make a difference”.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
The book that has played important role in my life and will for the rest of my life is “Pretty Girl Blues”. I was fighting a disease, dealt with life changing surgery, and plenty of insecurities. Those things did not change over night. However I learned to be a survivor.

As a result of my struggles journal writing would be the source of my internal healing. Pretty Girl Blues: An Autobiography is an intimate journey into my life of being a survivor. My obstacles have made me strong. The adversities that I have overcome allows me to inspire, encourage, uplift, and spread my story/testimony abroad. I was born with a purpose to make a difference.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Vernon Davis Photography The Lab Baltimore Michael Vega

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