We were lucky to catch up with D.L. Kyles recently and have shared our conversation below.

D.L., looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

The story behind my mission is my inner child. A little girl from Dallas who has an extraordinary light that she doesn’t know quite how to use from being shut down and not accepted. She sees how people react to her being herself and is in conflict within herself because of it. I was someone struggling to make the outside world fit her inner world. I live every day to shine my light and remind people to be the best versions of themselves and always add good to the world without dimming their light for the comfort of others.

D.L., love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a writer who writes for the greater good of inner happiness and inspiration. My journey here was through trial and error. I thought I wanted to be a successful basketball coach and an English teacher, but those two things weren’t enough for me to really reach a wide range of people. I had to make a pivot and get into a place where I could allow my light to shine all around. As a writer with an English degree, I decided to get a master’s in creative writing to hone my skills and put more respect behind my name. This was strictly by choice, so in the future I could possibly be a creative writing professor at a university somewhere. I then decided to get into Mental Clinical Health as a student at Saybrook University where I am strategically working to become a licensed and certified therapist. Again, shining my light and helping people in broader areas.

I say I got here through trial and error because at one point in life, I dreamt of having a private practice but was deterred by life. I got disconnected from my wants and needs. Teaching high school English and coaching basketball wasn’t the best option for me even though it seemed to be the best light that others could see for me. That is why it is my mission to encourage the old and the young to live in THEIR light and not the one others see for them. I wouldn’t be here without a single experience, and this experience is why I put mental health first and now becoming a practicing clinician.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn is about speaking up being looked at as being disrespectful to elders. The story behind this is simple. A lot of people during the adolescent stage of life, get told to hush even when they are hurting internally. This also has something to do with the stigma behind mental health in our communities and not knowing how to effectively and healthily express our traumas and hurt. This is also why we see children blaming their parents for their upbringing. Through majority of a child’s life, they are told to be quiet. It puts us in a position of inferiority and unintentionally teaches some that their internal space does not matter. Personally, I don’t blame my parents for anything I have went through; however, I had to learn how to take ownership of my life by understanding the truth of what was really going on in life outside of my internalized experience. In order to effectively communicate, you have to know the difference between what is being internalized and the facts of what is really happening around you. This allowed me to gain my voice and come to a realization that I can speak freely without being disrespectful no matter what some listening ears may feel about it. This is in the home and outside of the home. Learning to advocate for yourself and others is the difference between rolling over and social justice. Delivery is everything. I couldn’t have unlearned what I call, “the disrespectful myth,” had I not taken ownership of both my internalized experience and the truth.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The goal that is driving my creativity is ultimately wanting to be a retired grey headed writing and counseling professor who owns a couple private practices with teaching and encouragement in mind. That is my ultimate goal and it drives me to out do myself, to keep on writing books that encourage and teach the old and the young. I am also an herbal tea maker that helps with illness and pain and inflammation. I hope to one day be able to share these things with everyone that comes into my office where I feed the mind, body, and soul.

A near future goal of mine is to start my podcast for mental health called The Day is Won. We started on instagram as a page to remind folks that the day is already won; we just have to get up and go get it! Life is good, and I love to encourage people to live their days the best they can.

Thank you for having me!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @thedayiswon and @dl.kyles
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dee.kyles.9

Image Credits
Pictures by Me, DL Kyles