We recently connected with Chemine Sharpe and have shared our conversation below.

Chemine, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?

I think true kindness is a lasting kindness. A kindness that enriches and changes and cannot be easily forgotten over time. A kindness that leads up to joy and internal peace. A kindness that is brought to mind every single day and influences your life in a thousand different ways. A kindness that can be distributed without taking anything away from the giver.

As such, I would say the kindest thing that anyone has ever done for me is teach me about Jesus. He influences my life, He influences my outlook, He influences my relationship with others. By putting God first, an active participant devoted to being a life long learner of His word and a life long spreader of His mission and vision, I am able to live out my life fully and creatively. I am able to grow spiritually and holistically.

I wish I could give an exact moment in that so you can fully appreciate the context and understand how I felt, but that can be hard to pinpoint given the broadness and ongoing nature of my selected kindness. But the honest truth is that I cannot think of anything truer and kinder than that. A kindness that brings out the best in you so that you have no choice but to extend it to others. Nothing can compare. Nothing can suffice. I’ve seen the way I’ve been able to move about the world and so I’m holding on to that light.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Absolutely can! Hi! My name is Chemine, but for over 50,000 of my online readers, I’m Harper Nightingale. A pseudo poet and writer who posts snippets on Instagram and likes to explore every facet of human nature and life, the good, the bad, the ugly, the unknown, and draw necessary conclusions and correlations, scientific, spiritual, and more, that remind us to keep on living when we find ourselves on the brink of despair, lost, and crying on the bathroom floor. From mental health and depression to identity and calling, worth and purpose, and God and religion, I use my talents and charisms to remind others they are not alone, I use my talents and charisms to remind others they matter, I use my talents and charisms to remind others to be kind to themselves, and I use my talents and charisms to bridge the gap between the secular and the holy.

I got my start in the industry for two reasons. In a broader sense, because I wanted to be able to create the worlds I read about in books, and in a deeper sense, because I wanted to challenge myself to do more. Doing more is one of the core values of a Jesuit, and as a graduate of a Jesuit college, it was important to me to be able to express myself in a variety of different mediums. I was always a creative individual, and in earlier years, that took the shape of writing fiction and music, but the words were always meant for me. And while with poetry I am able to get the self care that I need, I am now able to be a poet for the people. Out of the hundreds of poems that I’ve written, perhaps only 10 of them start with or include the word, “I”. I’m a woman for others for sure. Another Jesuit core value. I want my readers to see themselves in my words because all of us collectively are the true storytellers. These are our stories. “We’re all walking each home.” I am just the pen-holder observing them and bringing them from your inner mind to your front door.

I am most proud of the collections I’ve put out into the world, “in a world where you are here”, my first book, and “this is the nature of all of us”, my second book, also known as the To Exist Among Infinity series. I’m especially proud of the second. While both talk about who we are, what we are made for, what we experience, and why we’re here, I really challenged myself to write longer pieces and add the spiritual element that was missing, the core and common uniter of my message of hope and love, and the way I’m able to honor God for the graces that He has bestowed upon me. Readers should know, however, that they do not have to be religious or spiritual to read or understand my books. My intention is not to shove my beliefs down your throat. I write what we experience, and I think everyone already has a stake in that.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Wonderful question! To answer this I’m going to segue and define a word I referenced earlier, and that word is charisms. Christians like to use this term when speaking about spiritual gifts, “given to us by the Holy Spirit to be a channel of God’s goodness and represent Christ.” There are 24 charisms, and if there was ever one I would identify with, it would be the charism of Writing.

“The charism of Writing empowers a Christian to be a channel of God’s creativity by using words to create works of truth or beauty that reflect the fullness of the human experience and bring glory to God. Those who are seeking to discern between a charism of writing and a skill or natural ability might ask themselves the following questions: Is writing a form of prayer or contemplation? Is it one of my favorite spiritual exercises? When I seek to express my love for God or serve the Kingdom of God, is writing one of the first activities that I turn to? Do others tell me that my writing has nurtured their faith and encouraged them to seek out the good and true? Do others tell me that my writing has brought them closer to God?” (http://www.standrebessette.org/discovering-your-charisms.html)

I’m blessed to say that not only have I had people tell me that, but I’ve also had people tell me I’ve saved their life. Most times I don’t see or know how, but maybe that’s the point. I know that I’m the vessel and God is in complete control. It’s an honor to even just be used. That’s what’s most rewarding.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

See 3.! Haha, no I’m happy to reiterate why I’m here and why I do what I do, and thank you for these thought-provoking questions. I love how they all interweave and relate to each other to tell a story.

I think there are a lot of goals and missions driving my creative journey. First and foremost, I want to spread God’s message of salvation, love, and mercy.

Secondly, I want people to believe in themselves and the good they have to bring to the table. A lot of people think that they don’t have what it takes to be a poet or writer, but words don’t have to be grand. It is in the grandness that words can often lose all its meaning. Especially when you’re saying something just for the sake of saying something. It’s important to write what you feel. When you look up at the sky, how do you feel? When the sun is on your back, how do you feel? When the world is in pain, what is it that you so desperately want to change? Start with that.

And lastly, I want others to know that life is worth living. They are wanted here in this world. The world is better with them in it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.harpernightingale.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harpernightingale/
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BHQT17V5

Image Credits
Mo Mihalik