The Invitation to Become
By DeAnna Carpenter, Chief Creative Officer of the Thriving Leader Collaborative
I have always been comfortable around youth. I would come alive facilitating circles and programs for youth, specifically teen girls. It always came naturally, and I felt more relaxed in creating experiences and workshops that youth could relate to. Shortly after leaving journalism as a full-time newspaper copy editor, I turned my gaze and focus to nonprofits and became an interim director for Camp Butterfly, a residential summer camp experience for girls of African descent, ages 7-17. I was in my mid-20s and quickly realized that the corporate path I was on didn’t harmonize with the desires of my heart. As soon as I honored the urge to work with youth and chose work that felt more meaningful, I opened to discovering and witnessing untapped gifts and talents, not only in those I worked with, but myself.
As time moved on, I became aware of more that desired to express through me. Although I loved working with youth and creating fun, thought-provoking, and cool interactive experiences, there was an urge to evolve, to unfold to another level of expression. As that next level began to avail itself to me, I became terrified. I saw myself creating programs and experiences for adult women. “Surely, not me,” I remember thinking. “What do I have to share or teach women – most of whom are older than me?” and lastly, “I’m too young! I haven’t experienced enough life!” Oh, the things I’d tell 28- to 29-year-old DeAnna today, now that I know what I know – and now that I’ve lived a little.
Despite the terror I felt at the time, there was a becoming and unfolding taking place that, despite my worries and fears, I could not elude or abate. I was like the caterpillar who felt an inner prompting to spin her chrysalis and enter the unknown. I was being nudged to trust and surrender to the mystery of my becoming and in time, emerge as an expanded, more colorful, and mature version of myself. This process would take time. I would experience hesitation and uncertainty. I would have the encounters and healthy life lessons that would ultimately prepare me for the next version of myself. All that was required was for me to trust that longing, surrender to the desire to become more, and allow the process of my becoming. And I am still learning how to trust my voice and this path I find myself on. I have learned that there are indeed levels not only to the journey, but there are also levels to me. What a discovery that has been!
Recently, I was inspired to look up the etymology for the word ‘build.’ I have been creating She Who Builds (my brand) since 2010 and hadn’t even thought to research the origin of build. What I read moved me and brought me to tears: Build – to be, to grow; become; happen.” And that is exactly what I have been doing this entire time. I have been true to my name, my nature. I have been allowing and trusting the tone, tenor, and unique resonance of my voice, my expression, my purpose. Yes, I Am She Who Grows. I am She Who Be. I Am She Who (Makes) Happens. I Am She Who Becomes. I am grateful that despite my limited perception in my younger years, I trusted the invitation of that inner nudge to go on the greatest adventure I could ever go on – the adventure of me.
DeAnna Lynette Carpenter is a healing artist, teacher, and creator of She Who Builds – a platform and community that supports women in confidently architecting and building a holistic life of their imagination. She is on a mission to inspire healing, which she describes as “a remembrance of and returning to one’s Truest self.” DeAnna is the author of two books: Lessons from the Fall and In My Solitude. She released her first album, Tsunami, in 2018, and is currently working on her second musical offering, Come Inside. Through spiritual doulaship (individual and group coaching), domestic and international retreat facilitation, sound baths and healings, kundalini yoga, mindfulness and more, DeAnna brings creativity, appreciation for beauty and innocence, her love of people and the land, authenticity, grounding, compassion, perspective, curiosity, enthusiasm, ceremony, and wisdom to every space she encounters.
www.shewhobuilds.com
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