We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Susannah Harris . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Susannah below.
Susannah , 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?
Finding my purpose has been such a journey, and to be honest, I believe it is an ever evolving journey. I came into this world as a true creative who loved the arts and anything that went along with expression and beauty. Along the way, my creativity became stifled, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and I found myself graduating from nursing school in 2006 and thrust into a career that was stable, appropriate, and logical. For fourteen years I excelled in my career, delving into the marketing and liaison world of healthcare, all while starting a family of my own and ignoring the creative gene that constantly brewed inside of me. Then the pandemic hit. I found myself in a role where I was in the busiest intensive care unit in Nashville, Tennessee, at the most heightened time of the virus. I powered through for an entire year, becoming the “go between” for families, ICU doctors, and insurance companies. What I witnessed on a daily basis was both uplifting and disheartening. In March of 2021, I found myself knowing that a change must happen. After witnessing so much death, I saw firsthand exactly how short life is. I knew that I must return to who I was and always have been- a true Southern creative. I realized by doing work that filled my own cup, it would not only make me a better person but a even better mother to my precious children. After reading The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, I remembered how much I always loved to write and tell stories as a child. This sparking of memory resulted in my first two novels and the beginning of my blog. It also led me to a completely different “day job” where I work in the college sports industry- another passion of mine I had been ignoring. By remembering my true self and following my gut, I can honestly say that today, I am living my purpose and absolutely love what I am doing.
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?
There are two main roles that I have: (after being a mother to my two kids!) 1. Writer/ Southern Story teller: I love writing and pulling from being raised in the South. I have finished my first two novels: The Carter Charm and Sister Bayou. These are fiction works based in the South (think southern soap operas). After my first publisher was in breach of contract prior to my debut, I am searching for a new home for my writing, and am thrilled to see where they land!
I also have a blog at https://SusannahHarrisWrites.com where I have “Sunday Short Stories”- quick, nonfiction reads that you may find pretty comical!
2. Director of Business Development for HLX. HLX is a white label gaming platform that is partnering with college campuses, collectives, and athletes (both college and professional) around the country to promote community and inclusiveness through online gaming tournaments.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Empathy, faith, and trusting my instinct were the most impactful skills. If you are in your own journey, or what I like to call a season of surrender, learn the unforced rhythms of grace. A friend gave this advice to me once, and now I lean on it heavily. It basically is saying to go in the path where it feels right… trust your gut.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
One hundred percent, Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way, has been the most impactful. Her step by step approach enables people to change their life for the better, even if they have no idea which direction to go. It helps dissolve limiting beliefs and stirs forgotten memories of who you have always been.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.susannahharriswrites.com
- Instagram: @SusannahHarrisWrites
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susannah-harris-a969576/
Image Credits
LeLe Fain Photography
