We recently connected with D. Rica Wilson and have shared our conversation below.

D. Rica, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

In 2014, I suddenly became disabled and lost my ability to walk. My life literally changed overnight. I had a newborn baby, and I was unable to lift my new son on my hips and take him to the park. His brothers enjoyed this luxury, but he would be excluded from hip rides due to circumstances beyond my control. What started as a few broken bones morphed into my new way of life. I heard about doctor’s leaving patients in a state of frenzy, but I never imagined that a medical professional would alter my entire life with a few too many mistakes. I spent the next several years trying to ambulate without an assisted device. I hated looking at the wheelchair that had become my new primary transportation. I had a deep disdain for the walker, crutches, and cane that were preventing me from walking fast, climbing stairs, or running. I rolled my eyes as the home health workers entered the house to help me navigate my day. I could not believe my new normal. It was during those extremely hard and humble moments that I became a better version of myself. I thought I was humble before becoming disabled. I had a nice tenure-track job at a local college, a beautiful office, retirement, a home, and all that I could dream of acquiring. I was so proud of my summer savings that I reserved, so my sons could travel during summer months. I really thought that I was living my best life. It wasn’t until I lost everything-including my ability to walk that I saw myself. In those dark moments of despair, I realized that all of the stuff was just that-stuff. Summer vacations, more toys, a nice office, and countless hours working all day was not what I needed. I needed to really evaluate my why, my purpose, that thing that really tapped into my heart center. When I checked myself while learning to walk again, I found a new me. She was fierce, bold, and unapologetic about her dreams and goals. That was indeed the most defining moment. Now humble and taking baby steps have a new meaning for me. With each small step, I realize that all we really have are moments, tiny moments, and we must make the best of each one.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a mother of three brown boys, a country cook and servant-leader. I remember the first time that I had the opportunity to serve the community. I was a young girl in rural South Carolina, and my mother purchased items from the local grocery store, Piggly Wiggly to help families who did not have food for Thanksgiving. The experience of dropping off brown paper bags filled with food to families who lived in single-wide trailers on rural dirt roads started a fire inside of me. We continued helping local families until I left home to attend college. While in college, I became the president of my class and continued community outreach in Raleigh, North Carolina for the next four years. Today, the work continues through my non-profit, Brown Girl Wellness, Incorporated.

I started Brown Girl Wellness, Inc. to encourage and empower women and youth who were experiencing hopelessness and oppression. My personal experiences with poverty, abuse and hopelessness gave me a viable platform to encourage and inspire others. Brown Girl focuses on the power of writing and storytelling as justice. Our pivotal healing literacy workshops are designed to offer transformative experiences for participants. I am most proud of the journey to this moment. I spent several years teaching in university classrooms, but there is no greater joy than watching literary miracles happen on street corners and rural roads as a result of voiceless women and youth taking their power back while using their voice and sharing their stories.

Our work is unique because we use a blend of ancestral love through sharing food inspired by my southern roots, writing and storytelling to promote healing and literacy in underserved and overlooked communities of color.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2014, I suddenly became disabled. One day I was walking and the next day, I was in a wheelchair. I didn’t learn how to walk again for several years. In the midst of recovery, I was unable to return to my full-time job as a professor. As a result, I eventually had to modify my lifestyle significantly. There were no paychecks every two-weeks, my retirement was quickly decreasing , and there were no vacation funds for me to take my children out to enjoy summer vacations or weekly entertainment. I had to lose everything and build again. It was very difficult. I knew what it felt like to live in poverty as a child, and I vowed to work hard to avoid poverty as an adult. Unfortunately, I did not create a poverty recovery plan based on becoming disabled. There were days that I sat with overwhelming sadness and depression. After a counseling session, I pondered on the words of the therapist. She encouraged me to “paint a new picture”. I never dreamed of painting a new picture and creating another reality post disability. I took her words to heart, and I painted again. I created a new picture of what life looked like without a salty from a traditional job. I downsized and learned to live on what finances were available based on my situation, and I learned new ways to find joy in the moment regardless of the challenges that I faced. The power to pivot changed my perspective and encouraged me to live joyfully.

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

Giving up is not an option! Giving up is not an option! When I really began working on Brown Girl Wellness, I could not walk. I would show-up in my wheelchair and later use a walker, crutches, or a cane to represent my brand in different places. I saw the strange looks, and I am certain people wondered why I was still showing-up without the ability to walk without an assisted device. I had to overlook the questionable stares and keep moving towards my dream for the organization, women and youth still had a story to share regardless if I showed up in a wheelchair or with a walker. My voice regarding narrative justice didn’t change because my situation changed. Many days I crawled around my house parenting my boys as a single mom and organizing a time Girl events because I could not walk or stand due to overwhelming physical pain. The pain didn’t stop my purpose. There was still purpose despite my pain. Starting any type of business comes with a variety of challenges, but one must have a purpose in their heart to keep going despite the challenges. Brown Girl Wellness, Inc. is an example of pushing past the pain to walk in your purpose. The purpose is greater than the pain.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bgwellness.org
• Instagram: @brown.girl.wellness
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/ykRZOyZCDAY

Image Credits
@Nellsware Photography (photos with green camera watermark) Justin Hardee Corey Fraction (Augusta Fells photo flyer)