We were lucky to catch up with Gabrielle A. Hill recently and have shared our conversation below.
Gabrielle A. , appreciate you joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
Growing up, my parents always supported my dreams! No matter the performance, athletic event or formal function, they showed up for me. These actions taught me early on to take the big leaps and know that even if I fell, I had a support system to catch me.
My mother has always been a boss. She modeled for me how to balance using creative expression and professionalism to deliver a quality experience to whomever I was supporting at the time. She gave me my first set of business cards when I was in elementary school and became an official “conflict mediator.” She wrote stories for my brother and me, worked in non-profit and corporate areas, and had her own businesses over the years….boss!
When I was a child, my dad helped spark the wonder and dramatic expression in me. He would make the mundane tasks seem fun by adding a cool voice or space to play. Storytime came alive, and I learned how to navigate in a room full of people.
As an adult, my stepfather has created a space where I can share an idea and instantly a plan and resources are put behind it. He showed me that there is no need to second-guess myself and to go with what I know to be true.
They have all shown me that we are all human and perfection is an illusion. They have inspired me to be myself, and I don’t know if I’ve said that to them until now.
Gabrielle A. , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I was born and raised in Toledo, OH and I currently reside outside of Columbus OH. I am a licensed professional & school counselor, certified yoga teacher, and founding author at The AntHill Creative, an independent publishing company. The publishing world needs diverse voices and I’m here to support that. I utilize my love of art, music, mindful movement, and writing, to create content to promote mental health, self-expression, and social & emotional learning for all.
The goal around my website and content is to empower others to tell their stories and come into alignment, mind, body, and soul. Creating a personal yoga practice became my way to reset, gain freedom, and place my purpose into perspective.
This revelation led me to begin offering yoga classes, interactive workshops, virtual webinars, and speaking engagements, which are all available to YOU!
Last month, I re-launched my wellness brand “G. Hill Creates” and I am so excited! The goal of this community is for me to honor all of the expressions of myself and to provide practical tools to help you achieve a healthier lifestyle and become your best self. We offer a variety of services to help you reach your wellness goals including yoga, meditation and creative workshops. Our vision is to help you live a life of balance, joy, and self-expression.
Overall, I help the “helpers” sit down and breathe.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
While I am still building, I have found that being visible and consistent despite what “the numbers” say has helped me build my reputation within the education and wellness market. The algorithms and statistics may have you discouraged thinking you’re not making an impact and then you get that email reply from your newsletter thanking you for the encouragement or you run into someone and they say “I see you, keep going!” Those are the moments I know my reputation is building within the world of Wellness.
One of my strengths is relationship building and I’ve found that these skills help with networking and building community. I also do my best to show love when I enter a space. Recognizing that we are all moving through this thing called life and a little kindness goes a long way.
Here are some tips if social settings aren’t your cup of tea:
-Set your intention: I usually say phrases like “God, move in me and go before me.” “This setting will be the place for Divine relationships/partnerships.” and “I receive all that is for me and release all that is not mine.”
-Make eye contact: let the person you are talking to know you are with them.
-Show genuine interest: Ask a question or 2 or reflect back what the person has said to you “That’s cool that you _____________, I want to try that myself”.
I’ve found it to be true that taking time to connect with people is how you can build something beautiful and greater than yourself.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
Yes, if I could go back, I would pick the route of being an educator, counselor, author and yoga guide. As some one who moves through anxiety, yoga and music have been (and still are) my coping strategies. I’m honored to be able to share these and many other strategies with other especially in the times they are feeling anxious. I feel that all the experiences leading up to this point have built upon each other, I just didn’t know it at the time. While the journey felt disjointed, it actually was all aligned, and now I feel like I am able to utilize all of my gifts to fulfill my purpose. I will say choosing this heart work definitely took a level of self reflection and honesty that I wasn’t necessarily prepared for. At first, I thought I would just teach a couple lessons and classes and go on about my day, but I realize that my work with in the community is a reflection of the work that I do within myself. It’s a process. It’s a daily practice. I have learned to ask myself the hard questions and wait for the answers, this work can definitely be a mirror.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ghillcreates.com
- Instagram: @ghillcreates
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghillcreates/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ghillcreates
Image Credits
Wonderfully Made Images and Media, LLC.