We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lakeisha Grimes Fletcher. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lakeisha below.

Alright, Lakeisha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I jumped out of an airplane. No, there wasn’t an emergency. No, there wasn’t a fire. Yes, the plane was fully operational and safe. Yet, I jumped out of an airplane. And, I jumped out of a flying airplane for fun. Yes, it was risky. Yes, I could have died. And yes, I still jumped. This activity is done by many people and it is called skydiving.

The day I decided to go skydiving, I had checked the weather before leaving the house. The weather forecast showed clear skies, which meant it was a perfect day for skydiving. I also ate a very light breakfast of toast and water as this was the only meal I could eat due to being so nervous. I did not tell anyone I was planning to go skydiving, just in case someone tried to talk me out of it.

I did my research to learn about skydiving for my personal knowledge and sanity. I was nervous from the time I left my home until I returned safely to my home, after skydiving. Yet, through the nervousness, I moved forward and remained focused on completing my task of skydiving. Once I arrived at the location, I mentally prepared myself for my big jump. Prior to getting onto the plane, there was on-site training and detailed instructions on what to do and what not to do. There were lots of documents to review, read and sign. There was also special equipment to wear including a parachute and multiple safety checks. I was nervous yet excited at the same time.

Soon, it was time to get in the airplane to take flight. As I took my seat on the airplane, I reviewed the instructions over and over again in my head to ensure I understood the proper body position during the fall and landing. It didn’t take long for the airplane to reach over 10,000 feet and soon I heard the instructor say, “lets go.” And at that moment, there was no turning back. And I jumped.

So many emotions filled by body. I was nervous, happy and excited before my jump. During my jump, I felt freedom, limitless and confidence. After my jump, and once I landed safely on the ground, I felt accomplished, successful and secured. It was such a thrill.

Facing this specific fear prepared me for many other experiences in life. To explain, I often reference my skydiving experience to validate my current experiences where I might feel uncomfortable or nervous. If I feel uncomfortable or nervous, I tell myself “If I survived skydiving, I can survive a 30-minute speaking engagement, etc.” I took the risk because I wanted to experience something new and face a fear. And this experience has taken me on an upward trajectory ever since my big jump.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Lakeisha Grimes Fletcher and I am a published author and poet. In high school, I completed a 15-page short story for a journalism class. I was tasked to write a short story and, in doing so, I received a passing grade. That experience changed my perspective on writing… the purpose of writing…the influence of writing….and the creativity in writing. I continued to write throughout high school but not for class assignments. Instead, I wrote for me.

My journaling was my therapy!

As I journaled, I noticed a rhythm in my writing. I found joy in my writing. I would spend hours filling the pages of my journal with a flow of words that dance on the paper and sound like music to my ears. I was becoming a poet through my writing. So, I saved my journals from high school and continued to write as an adult. The more I journaled, the purpose of my writing became clearer; my influence became stronger, and my creativity grew bigger and more expansive. I was to become a published author and poet.

With confidence, I publicly released my writings into the world as a published book titled, “Rediscovering The Goddess, Journaling Through My Journey To Redefine Me” by Lakeisha Fletcher in 2024, which demonstrates the recreation of goddess-like habits and routines to restore and rejuvenate one’s self through journaling. Within the pages of my first published book, I provide my readers with 88 unique poems of my truth, in addition to, a space for reader(s) to journal and create their personal daily practices as I serve my readers by empowering and inspiring them to become the best versions of themselves.

Today, I am an Author, who tells her story to the world to empower and inspire others. I entertain through my words and expand my readers’ imagination through my storytelling. I am a Poet who creates art from words and rhythm. I use rhythming words to express words and feelings in an artistic way. I am also a Transformative Life Coach & Healing Leader who listens before she speaks. I create safe places for individuals to heal and brave spaces for individuals to speak. I am a dedicated Yogi who practices a holistic lifestyle and teaches others to do the same. I am a Holistic Gardener who is kind to the earth and a conserver of life’s precious elements.

And, I am most proud to be an Author and Mother, who nurtures the next generation and communicates the importance of physical, spiritual, psychologically and intellectually well-being. My legacy lives in my children and their children. As a result, through my many roles and responsibilities, my integrity and work ethic set me apart from others. With integrity and a strong work ethic, I demonstrate honesty about who I am and what I am capable of, which keeps me grounded, focused and thriving in life.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was how to “be independent’. As a young woman, I was taught to be independent as an adult. I was taught not to rely on anyone for anything. Instead, I should be able to provide for myself, develop life skills to thrive independently, and embrace my mistakes then fix them, with the assumption that no one is going to come and save me. This way of living and thinking was taught to my parent and my grandparents. Thus, generationally, this lesson and way of thinking had been passed down into the next generation without much thought or change.

This was a lesson I had to unlearn because being independent can be heavy, burdensome and lonely, if not understood and applied correctly to one’s lifestyle. As an adult, I had to learn more productivity can get done through collaboration. I learned there are levels to independence. I had to learn I could build my goals and dreams into my reality with help and support from others.

I unlearned that accepting help doesn’t make me weak. Instead, I learned working with others, through positive collaborations, will increase my skills, efficiency and visibility. In turn, it makes me more self-aware, efficient and effective as an adult.

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

Life is a journey and resilience can be experienced daily as there are minor setbacks in life and there are major setbacks in life. For me, my minor setback shows my daily resilience. For example, as an author and poet, I experience writer’s block where I am unable to produce new work, or my creative process slows down tremendously. I demonstrate resilience by taking a break and revisiting my work later. As a mother, I must be adaptable and understanding of my children’s choices knowing they will make mistakes. I use resilience to stay calm and trust my parenting skills which will help my children in making the best decisions. As a holistic gardener, I have many setbacks regarding pests in my garden, global warming issues and unpredictable weather. Yet, I use my available resources and find ways to manage my garden and grow my fruits and vegetables, nonetheless.

Instead of falling into despair with all of life’s changes and difficulties, I ask for help when needed. Not only do I give myself self-compassion but I remind myself that I am in control of my life. I also remind myself to look at the negative from a positive perspective which means I always see my cup as half full instead of half empty. With this thinking, I can reframe my thoughts, remain positive and better cope with any minor or major setbacks in life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.LakeishaGrimesFletcher.com
• Instagram: Lakeisha Grimes Fletcher
• Facebook: Lakeisha Grimes Fletcher
• Linkedin: Lakeisha Grimes Fletcher