We recently connected with Diane Wilkes Tribitt and have shared our conversation below.
Diane, appreciate you joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?
This is an interesting question and I had to think about how to respond. As I look back on my journey from where it began to where it is today, I’d say I started my creative career exactly when it was meant to happen. The cliche that experiences are your greatest lessons, is very true; especially given what I do.
I started writing as a child. I’ve always loved to write for as long as I can remember. I believe even at a young age, I found comfort in putting my feelings on paper. It gave me an opportunity to express my hopes, fears, frustrations, pain, and sometimes unrequited love on paper, in a private medium for my eyes only. I could look back on my writings whenever I felt the need to gain insight from what I went through or was going through at the time. I never dreamed that writing could be a career simply because it was something that I loved and enjoyed doing. Plus, I grew up in an era (60’s) where completing school and getting a “real job” was the only path to consider.
It was not until I married my husband in 1998 that I learned the gift God gave me was meant to be shared on more than just paper. He told me I could write songs, books, plays, etc. to share with people AND make a living doing it. Can you imagine doing something you love and getting paid for it? It made me excited, hopeful, and fearful at the same time. Why? Because I loved to write about things that got to the heart of matters and things I had experienced. When I realized that it could put my life under scrutiny, I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, but now I see why timing matters. I always try to make it a point to share the word God placed in my spirit years ago. He said, “Your past and your pain will become the platform for your purpose.” That tells me there was a time stamp on my path to get from where I was, to where God intended me to be.
Fast forward, I now see that sharing my journey has inspired and helped others and that matters. My journey has afforded me opportunities I never imagined happening or at best, dreamt of. To see them continue to come to fruition sometimes is mind blowing. I calm those my BUT GOD moments.
In getting back to the original question, I said my career launched at the intended time because it took ALL MY EXPERIENCES, to have something to write about in whatever channel was made available to me. Who God created me to be, is what opened the doors for me. Every experience (good and bad) I learned as a child, teenager, young adult, adult, daughter, mother, grandmother, sibling, aunt, cousin, co-worker, advocate, educator, model, podcast host, producer, singer, songwriter, and everything else is what helped me to become who I am. There are two scriptures that I love to refer to that embody my journey.
Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 29:11 (Favorite)
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
My career started and continues according to God’s plan. My only wish is that I knew then what I know now so I could have enjoyed the journey and not stressed as much during it. Yet, no regrets because now I’m wiser and able to enjoy what lies ahead.
Diane, 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?
Diane Wilkes Tribitt is the Founder of D’Lyric Inspired, LLC, birthed from her own personal journey of finding forgiveness and healing from the wounds of her past. She is a survivor of domestic, emotional, and sexual abuse. Diane inspires and encourages others through books, music, stage plays, and advocating. In 2015, she produced her first stage play “Girls Night Out – A Twist of Faith” and in 2017 she produced her second stage play “Matters of the Heart”. Both productions focus on real life situations and received noteworthy recognition.
Diane is the Founder of the Houston Vitiligo Awareness Movement (HVAM), developed in 2016 to provide support for individuals and their families who are living with Vitiligo, an autoimmune disorder that causes a loss of pigment (color) typically in patches on a person’s skin. Diane was diagnosed with Vitiligo at the age of 9-years old. Vitiligo affects about 1% of the world’s population with no regard to age, ethnicity, or gender.
Diane was a featured model for award-winning fashion photographer, Rick Guidotti, for his exhibit, “Body as a Work of Art: More Than Skin Deep”. She was a model for celebrity photographer, Ferrell Phelps, for “The Skin I’m In” exhibit. Diane was featured on OWN’s “The Book of John Gray” which featured her story of living with Vitiligo.
Diane is a Family Advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association. She also released her first book in December 2019, “My Journey To Just Be Me: Moments of Reflection With The ONE I Love” which is available on Amazon. In February 2022, Diane became a host for her own podcast “Faith For The Journey”.
Diane holds a Bachelors degree in Business and Marketing. She is currently employed as a Special Education Teacher. She is married to Bass Player & Producer, Patrick Tribitt. They have 6 adult children & 10 grandchildren.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
The goal that drives my creative journey has been and will continue to be making a difference in the lives of others. Sometimes, we fear exposing ourselves by sharing our stories, not realizing that the breakthrough others may experience reveals we had our own. I believe what gets revealed, gets healed.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
As I shared, I was diagnosed with vitiligo, an autoimmune disease that causes white patches on the skin, when I was 9-years old. Here I was, tjis little black girl with white patches who didn’t understand or even see would impact lives.Back then, there were no support groups and the world wasn’t educated about the condition as it is today. I grew up getting called all kinds of horrible names (bleach eyes, zebra, spot are just a few). I suffered in silence and many times in public too. I didn’t think I’d do the things I dreamt of doing because of the skin I was in. BUT GOD had a plan that I wasn’t able to see then. I didn’t think that I’d ever be living the life I’m living. I now understand that the very thing that I was running away from was what God was calling me to. I continue to be amazed how what I once covered in shame with makeup, would become the very thing that would allow me to change lives, including my own. I can proudly say, Vitiligo’ didn’t stop me, it empowered me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.houstonvitiligoawareness.com
- Instagram: dlyricinspired
- Facebook: Diane Wilkes Tribitt
- Twitter: @dlyricinspired
Image Credits
Ferrell Phelps CJMK Visuals Rick Guidotti