We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Victoria Johnson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Victoria, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I found my purpose in going back to what I came from which was being raised in church and being faithful to my Christian values as well as giving back to my community.
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?
Today I’m grateful that I found a purpose in life besides alcohol. Alcohol almost ruined my life and the plan that God had for my life. Years ago, I found myself separated, homeless and a single parent for the second time in life, but this time jobless too. Going through life and the things that can break you or shape you is hard. I found myself taking too many turns at our local liquor store trying to mask the pain and hurt of life. What was supposed to be an occasional drink or social drink turned into my every day normal. Trying to mask the hurt and pain while still being a mother, professional businesswoman and maintain some type of sanity almost cost me everything. I went from an occasional drink during bath time to wind down to needing and wanting a bottle almost every single day. Yes, I said a bottle. picking up the pieces and putting my life back together wasn’t easy but my faith in God returned me back to my happy and bubbly. What should have been me going to rehab to detox, only took me taking a serious look at myself and faith in God. In three days, I was clean. Looking at so many women that looked like me going in and out of the same revolving door made me think about my life and how God saved me, brought the podcast to life. Being the host of 12th Street Talk Back has provided a way to get my message out into the community and so much more. I found my voice and my purpose telling my story and giving back to my community. I get excited telling my story in hopes it will help someone else that used a substance to numb the pain. I love hearing other people’s stories and helping to get their message out to the community. Since I launched my podcast, I have had an out pour of people in my community to related and share their own experiences as well also participated in community events. I have also partner with other leaders in other organizations to get various information out into the community.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
God and my faith are keys to help you with difficult times.
Knowing your family history is the very important, because alcoholism ran in my family and lead to most of the deaths on my father’s side of the family.
Learning to love yourself no matter what and loving your family/ children and having the will power to know when you need help.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
The bible played the biggest part in my life going through this journey, my grandmother often said the bible is the road map to life, follow it go straight and turn right. Meaning walk the straight line and if there is anything you need to change that’s going wrong in your life change it, make it right. The bible teaches love, faith wisdom, grace and mercy, I found them all in reading the word daily and applying it to my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: 12thstreettalkback.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/victoriaj_12thstreetalkback
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoria.marshall.7739
- Twitter: 12th Streettalkback@12thstreetalk
- Youtube: www.YouTube.com/@Streettalk12
- Other: Link tree https://linktree./twelfthstreettalk_vj
