By Donna Watts Burley
DZ: What would you do if you were sure you could not fail? DWS: If I were sure I would not fail, I would open my own Hospice Agency. I have been an RN for over 35 years, and Oncology and Hospice have always been by passion. To help patients and families understand death and dying can be most important, and so heartfelt.
DZ: What would you tell your 18 – 25-year-old self based on what you know now? DWS: If I had the chance, I would tell my 18 – 25-year-old self to never stop learning. Never stop getting more education. Even though I have a degree as an RN, I would have loved to continue growing and maybe even obtain my Doctorate degree.
DZ: How do you define success? DWS: I define success as finding what you are incredibly good at, you feel confident about, and able to pass on to others that can learn from you. I feel that when you’ re successful, there is a feeling of pride.
DZ: What are daily / weekly self-care practices? DWS: My daily / weekly self-care practices include hydration upon awakening after thanking God for another day of life. I then proceed with my morning prayer calls on 2, and sometimes 3 different platforms. I do daily facial and body care. I make sure I have breakfast daily, unless I’ m fasting, and be sure to eat 3 meals a day. 6-8 hours of sleep is what I usually obtain due to work, but I attempt to get more. I constantly walk at work to get my steps in during the day and stay hydrated with water.
DZ: What promise have you made to yourself that you are working to fulfill now? DWS: I promised myself that I would stay as healthy as possible because of my family history of heart disease and Diabetes. I have changed my food choices tremendously over the last 15-20 years and try to stay as active as possible.
DWS: In the company of my sisters,... I want to feel safe to share my feelings, my hurts, and accomplishments without judgement or feelings of mistrust.
DWS: My daily practices of prayer and devotion... are helping me to grow into a woman of faith that I feel resembles my dear mother. She departed this life when I was only 21 and I strive to continue to be like the woman she was. My true role model. A servant leader of God.
By Yecker Stephenson
DZ: What would you do if you were sure you could not fail? YS: I would create many successful businesses that would fund purpose and impact the building of homes for the homeless and create safe and therapeutic environments for battered women and children--places of restoration, dignity, and new beginnings.
DZ: What would you tell your 18 – 25-year-old self, based on what you know now? YS: To listen to the quiet unshakeable voice of God guiding you from within with wisdom and purpose in real time and who is constantly downloading creativity, insight, and ideas into your spirit— which is no accident but by divine design. Learn early to silence the negative noise because not every opinion deserves access to your spirit.
DZ: How do you define success? YS: I define success as goals that I accomplish when they have been prayerfully set, goals that stretch me, refine me, and draw me closer to God. Success is believing that I am successful because I am walking in obedience, fulfilling my mission, and honoring God in the process.
DZ: What are daily / weekly self-care practices? YS: My self-care practice include journaling, intentional rest, and time set aside for meditation and reflection, evaluating my growth when having alone time, realigning my priorities, and giving intentional gratification to my Creator. I also care for myself through moments of renewal, surrounding myself with positive environments, and engaging in activities that restore balance, clarity, and well-being.
DZ: What promise have you made to yourself that you can say you are doing the work to fulfill now? YS: The promise I made to myself is to never give up on the purpose God has place within me. Each day, I do the work by showing up in faith, maintaining through challenges, and trusting God’ s timing and direction. Even when the journey is challenging, I remain committed to growth, obedience, and resilience, knowing that consistency and faith are how that promise is fulfilled.
YS: In the company of my sisters..., where faith is strengthened, laughter is shared, and we uplift one another as we grow, heal, and walk boldly in purpose together.
YS: My daily practices of prayer and devotion... keep me grounded in faith, aligned with purpose, and continually renewed in wisdom, peace, and gratitude.
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