Hi, i’m Taina and this is my story

From the age of 4, I was convinced I was meant to be a missionary doctor because I knew they helped people in adventurous ways. Everyone in my life affirmed that path because I was a “gifted” black girl so I pursued medicine well into my 20s…

Meanwhile, I was unconsciously becoming a woman God would use in an entirely different way that I’d ever imagined.

I honed the gift of influence as the go-to friend, sister, cousin, co-worker for advice, insight, support. I honed the gift of writing, excelling in classes, winning publishing contests, becoming college newspaper and yearbook copy editor, writing countless online blogs. I honed my creativity as an accomplished pianist, singer, and percussionist.

By the time I graduated college, I sensed God pushing me away from medical school and into some other avenue of service—but what was that avenue exactly?

From age 21 to 29, I tentatively followed where He lead: to a volunteer role in AmeriCorps that taught me media training and project planning; to my dream school for a master of public health degree, concentrating in behavioral science and health education program planning; to my first big girl job at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a communication specialist; a pivot into higher education as a college advisor and success coach that became a promotion into administration as a director of student experience.

With each tentative step forward, God revealed how I could build an abundant life by allowing the gifts He gave me to make room for me. In 2019, I decided to turn my personal social media use into a blogging hobby where I could share my new journeys as a working mom and wife. In 2020, I took another step forward, deciding to monetize that platform and share