We were lucky to catch up with Brittany Renee recently and have shared our conversation below.

Brittany, appreciate you joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

What did my parents do right? From a child’s viewpoint, sometimes we can only express what our parents did wrong. As an adult, I understand that my parents did the best they could with the tools they had at the time of raising me. My parents and I fall under the same zodiac sign, so there are a lot of characteristics that we share. I can say that the greatest thing they both instilled in me is to take the leap of faith and keep pushing forward even through your ugly days.

I watched my parents take risks in their careers when I was a kid. I remember being around 6 or 7; my dad was working at Hardee’s and wanted a change. He decided to return to school to work towards receiving his GED. Even though I was young, I remember his days being long from my standpoint. Once he conquered that goal, he moved on to his next plan: to get his commercial driver’s license to become a truck driver. He accomplished that goal as well. He was super proud of himself, from working locally driving trucks to driving long distances over the road. This transition helped him change in so many ways, both positive and negative. However, watching him take that leap of faith helped me understand through the years that no matter where you come from or what you have been through, never give up on yourself. I also watched him start many business ventures, some successful and some weren’t, but he never let an idea in his mind die. My dad dropped out of school in the twelfth grade. He always encouraged me to finish high school, because that was something he never got to experience. Watching him regain control and backtrack to clean up the mess he created for himself and accomplish goals he could pave the way for me to become something great. His journey taught me to always believe in yourself even when the world beats you down and tells you no, you’re not good enough. You’ll always be good enough if you have faith in yourself.

Then there was my mom; she worked for a pharmaceutical company called Abbott Laboratories. When my parents were going through a separation, my mom learned that her job location was being shut down. She had to relocate or start her career elsewhere. Unlike my dad, my mom had graduated high school and had some college education. But, with two daughters and living in a fast-paced world, she didn’t want to start over in her career entirely. Even though she was a single mother working 12 hours on the third shift, she had to decide on her next chapter. She decided to relocate and start over with my sister and me. Though she and my dad were facing a divorce, she didn’t let that stop her. We moved from one small town to another. Even though the process was stressful, she reminded us we still had each other.

Her making this move with little support always made me think my mom was some fearless immortal being. As a single mother today, I appreciate being by her side to experience her journey with her. Through her, I learned what determination and strength were, and I’ll always hold that close to my heart.

She may not have been the most incredible mom during that time because of her obstacles and struggles, but she never showed that she was sweating through the process. She taught me to keep a poker face even when the world is on my shoulders, and never let them see me sweat. I learned that even if you have to show up alone, always show up for yourself.

Both of their experiences made me fight for my spot to leave my mark with a purpose. Without them, I wouldn’t be here today as a small business owner tackling everything thrown at me. They both taught me to take risks and, as my mom says, “Take a walk on the wild side” and be who I am destined to be.

Both instilled in me to always believe in myself even if I’m rolling by myself and don’t bring myself down while I’m going through life because sometimes I may be the only one that’s there to lift myself back up.

I’m forever grateful for them and love them even through their ugliness.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

My name is Brittany Renee. I am the owner & creator of Honey’s Harmony, LLC located in Durham, North Carolina. I created my business during a transition in my life. I turned a hobby into a business. Honey’s Harmony is a blacked-owned herbal tea company. I’m also a Doula offering expecting mothers coaching on their birthing journey. I started my business from my own experiences. I’m a tea lover and herbalist, so it only made sense to create from my passions. I have also worked in the medical field for over ten years, so compassion comes to me easily.

Honey’s Harmony offers over 20 flavors of herbal tea & herbs ranging from green teas, burdock root, lavender, turmeric, and ginger root, to even black teas. Growing up, to cure our colds or illness, my family would give us things to drink like yellow root or make the famous “hot toddy” with a shot of castor oil to beat our colds. So starting an herbal tea company is like second nature to me.

I love tea, and I also love helping people heal their bodies and minds naturally, especially with me not being the type to take many OTC meds.

As I was on a weight loss journey, I was incorporating teas and herbs into my diet and lifestyle. I didn’t think I could be an inspiration or even help someone reach their goals if I wasn’t a testimony myself.

Also, while on my journey, I battled through Postpartum Depression for four years of my daughter’s life. I knew I wanted to change because I felt like I was spiraling out of control daily.

I had to take care of my mental health, it wasn’t an easy task, but I conquered it. That led me to become a Doula. I didn’t have much emotional support during my birthing journey.

Once I got through therapy, understood where I was in life, and saw that my life wasn’t over from my past experiences, I knew I had to help save another mother suffering in silence, especially in my community.

Black Maternal Health is also taboo to African Americans, I knew I had to be the change & the voice to bring awareness to those suffering, especially black mothers.

We carry the world inside us.

I created Honey’s Harmony as a safe space for individuals needing the inspiration to move forward through life holistically and naturally. I use my teas as peace offerings.

When my customers come to me, I let them express what the problems are in their life, from mental illness to gastric issues, even to reproductive issues, I offer herbs and teas to help them.

Even if my customers need something to help build their immunity or a feel-good tea to enjoy every day, I offer that.

My vision for Honey’s Harmony is to” Create A Legacy In the Midst of Doubt.” Creating this vision means so much to me because many people in the world can’t see past the clouds. We all need a reminder that even when doubt haunts us, keep moving forward and creating. The Most High put us all here to work through our purpose, and doubt can kill that in the blink of an eye.

What sets me apart from others in the same industry is that I create and speak from my experiences and from a spiritual sense. I create a no-judgment zone for customers, especially my moms on their birthing journey. Life really be having us in a chokehold, and sometimes we need a place to release, and I know I’m that light for so many people.

The thing I’m most proud of when it comes to Honey’s Harmony & myself is that I believe in myself through business and life. I had a lot of storms I’ve faced, but even when I was drenched, I knew my rainbow was in sight.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

What helped me build my reputation within my market was completely being myself and standing in my truths. I remember starting my business and worrying about how people would perceive me or if I would be good enough.

As I continued to grow my business, I learned that my customers and even other small businesses who I’ve conducted business with appreciate that I am my complete self.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I feel that resilience should be my first name. From my journey, I feel like I have shown resilience the day I became a mom and had to navigate life with my daughter by my side. We were displaced from our home in 2019, and my daughter became my biggest cheerleader. She was battling her own health issues, but she never missed a beat in letting me know how amazing I was to her, even when I didn’t have the answer. I removed her and myself from a toxic relationship when she was one year old, and I didn’t want that residue left on her or her to resent her dad or me through the process. There were days when I had nothing but a baby and clothes. Without experiencing that journey, I wouldn’t have been granted the position to become a business owner and work solely for myself. Being resilient taught me that I could bounce back from almost anything in this lifetime, even when I feel like I’ve been dealt a bad hand.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.honeysharmony.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_honeysharmony/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/honeysharmony/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/honeysharmony/

Image Credits
Photo Credits – Brittany Renee Douglas (myself)