We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kayla Merritt a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kayla, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.
My defining moment in my life is when I was at my lowest point! I knew I had to turn my life around or I wouldn’t make it to see my next birthday. I struggle with mental illnesses that I am no longer ashamed of, and refuse to be defined by! One day I woke and I realized I wasn’t living a full life . I had let all my pain, insecurities, and disappointment in myself take my joy. The only joy I had in life was seeing others happy and being apart of their happiness. I didn’t realize I had stop caring whether or not I was happy. If I was even okay. I let myself go ultimately, simply because I was tired of searching for the answers I would never find and I felt like no one could help me. Not realizing all the answers I would ever need were embedded in me ! I had the key inside of me the whole time….that would unlock the door to life I longed for. A life of peace, enjoyment, fullness of self, and service to others.
One day I woke up and realized the reason I wasn’t happy and the reason I felt STUCK is because I had no clue who I truly was as an individual. Who I was holistically. It was easy for me to be pulled in different directions because I was living based off of the vision others such as my parents, lovers, friends , and other family members had of me. It was time for me to chase the vision I saw for myself regardless of my fears of failure, not being heard, or understood.
They day I took that leap of faith , and took control over my self and emotions…my life changed forever.
I basically turned everything I knew I needed . Everything I knew any woman who is struggling to find herself needed…into my business Nurture Soul Holistic Care. Which is focused on giving yourself the love you deserve through 100% raw , essential oil based products. All products are curated with much thought and love in mind for internal and external health.
Nurture Soul is not just a product line , but it is also a platform for me to stress the importance of loving on yourself holistically. The importance of taking care of your mental health above all else, and unapologetically having a voice to speak your truth even if others don’t understand it! It’s not for them to understand !
Discovering who you are as an individual human despite all the things the world throws at you, is the ultimate gift to self.
The world will never stop throwing curve balls! It’s up to you to learn how to catch or you will continue to get hit!
Kayla, 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?
Hi y’all, my name is Kayla. I appreciate being able to share my story with you all and hope I am able to inspire someone. Thank you for taking the time to read about me.
I was Born in Tallahasse,Fl where I lived for the first year of life and then my Mom and Dad moved to the small town of Campbelltown,Fl ,where my mom is from. Campbellton is where I grew up. Then, I graduated from Graceville High School, but Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University 🐍RAISED me!!!
I received my Bachelors of Science in Psychology from FAMU and graduated W/ honors. I worked as a Rehabilitation Counselor while in college and once I graduated I moved to Jacksonville,Fl in 2015 to work in the child protection / at-risk youth field as a Social Worker/Case Manager. After several years in the field, life began happening and I decided to chose a less stressful career path, banking. While I worked on my Masters Degree in Criminal Justice from UNF. My long term goal was to become a Mental Health Counselor, Forensic Psychologist or Lawyer.
After several years , and different jobs, trying to discover my way….I fell into a deep depression. This had happened to me before in high school, but this time was different. It’s like I couldn’t escape it no matter how much I tried. I experienced a lot about LIFE . Throughout my storms, trails and tribulations… two amazing little boys were born, it was then that I woke up…and decided to take back control over my life….because they deserved a mother who was was able to love herself first, pour into them and raise them with love and tenderness, wholeheartedly. This time I wanted to be better for myself , so I’d be proud of who I saw in the mirror. Which would increase my quality of life all around.
During my quest to rediscover the core of who I was…..Nurture Soul Holistic Care was born.
I have been in business since 2019. I began playing it really safe, because I truly didn’t know my full potential . I just had a dream…a goal, but not really sure how to fulfill it. 2021 has been the most TRYING time in my Life, but It literally pushed me to pursue my dream … to fight for the life I desire. I have always known God but this year in particular…I FELT HIM all up and through me!!! So with this newfound courage I found I relaunched Nurture Soul Holistic Care in the Summer of 2021 ….and the business has been going STRONG every since!
Nurture Soul Holistic Care is my product line, to promote loving on yourself holistically. Through that I realized I wanted to do more for my supporters than just offer products. So I researched and came across esthetics! I found a school that would allow me to pay as I went, at some point I almost stopped the program because I thought I would fail, but I stuck through despite the obstacles I was facing during that time. I am now a Licensed Facial Specialist, and owner of Soul Glowing Caretique, a Boutique for all things Self Care. My first time ever receiving a facial was in school, and it changed my life, literally. It opened me up to an entirely new world! I found my THING…my Niche ! I now provide Facial and Relaxation Services to Men, Women, and Children ! It was the perfect addition to Nurture Soul .
Everything I do now is so much bigger than me! It doesn’t just fulfill me but if just 1 person is watching me and getting motivated to take that next step in their life then I’m doing Exactly what I’m suppose to do! This season is about ME unapologetically. Once you take the steps to learn and love on yourself as you should…life starts changing…doors start to open, because that’s what God intended.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
Along my journey I have met amazing individuals. I cherish every connection, because I know nothing is done by “chance”. You meet every single person in your life for a specific reason.
I am now apart of an organization called The Queens Collective, a sistership of female owned businesses creating change by working collectively.
I would have never been able to be apart of this organization and bask in this amazing opportunity had I talked myself out of attending an event in Orlando, Fl as a vendor.
I met the owner of this organization from that event. ( I didn’t know her from a can of PAINT) I just really liked her jewelry and I saw people swarming around her table….but I was vending in a new place where I didn’t know anyone. So I watched my table like hawk and tried not to leave it. Also, I was super nervous being in a new space so I mainly talked to the vendors right next to me… At the end of the event while she was packing up… I ran over to her table like waaaiittt…” I would like to buy something , but if your packing up it’s okay I’ll go online” ….she told me I was fine and slowly began explaining her pieces to me! We had a brief, nice, and genuine conversation. Then, I found my ideal pieces purchased them, thanked her….and drove back to Jacksonville. My heart was full!!! I had experienced a new type of vending atmosphere, was surrounded by artist, dancing, singing, able to showcase my products , and met an amazing women who I didn’t know would change the trajectory of my life as I knew it!
A few weeks later I received a message asking me to be a member of The Queens Collective! It’s been an amazing ride/journey every since, and we are breaking barriers and stigmas regularly! I love it , and I’m so grateful to be apart of such an organization.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I started Nurture Soul Holistic Care and Soul Glowing Caretique from the ground up. Literally! In a city where no one knew my name! While going through the toughest chapter of my life and as a newly single mother of two.
That is resilience.
I never gave up. Even when my financial struggles began to take a toll on me. I muscled up any bit of energy I had left to go back to work so that I can supplement for my slow business days, because they happen, and still be able to raise my bright-eyed growing boys, comfortably. I don’t regret a thing. Even now that I have had to go back to work to supplement my dream….my dream is still very much alive and thriving. It’s a beautiful thing. I made it. I’m doing it. All the things I desired to be …I am. All the things I desired to do…I’m doing them.
Only because even in my darkest moments where I wanted to give up on myself….I didn’t . I overcame! I survived myself!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nurturesoulholisticcare.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/nurturesoulllc?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nurturesoulllc
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@beyondtheeeyez173
- Other: LinkTree- https://linktr.ee/nurturesoulllc?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=a00201e9-6506-463b-aa4c-d7d341441a4d
Image Credits
Kiana Shackelford (@shespeaksvisuals) Storyteller Odd Rod (@storyteller_oddrod)