Simone

Simone’s five words are Calm, nurturing, optimistic, adaptable, decisive. She grew up in the Midwest and now lives in a large West Coast city. She has one older brother but counts my many cousins and close friends as siblings. Her faith gives me a foundation and confidence in how I live and act, and she has been an optimist since childhood: Everything happens as it is supposed to, so even if bad things happen good will come out of it.

Her defining moments are thresholds. Sixth grade was a time of so much change and transition: a new school in the middle of the year, a first period, a first away camp. Senior year of high school brought a breakup, a new love, acceptance to my dream school and her first close group of girlfriends, and this was the year that I felt more free than I ever had. Then she moved across the country: This was the biggest risk that I'd ever taken in my life. I didn't come with a lot of money or with everything in place. Lost jobs, unpaid internships and a breakup followed. This time allowed me to experience in just a few years what others probably had in over 10 years. The timeline she drew also marks the loss of her grandmother. One reading is that she measures her life by doors walked through, and counts even the hard ones as growth.

As a child she ate what was presented to me by my parents or cafeteria at school. Soul food is her food, becuase it's what I grew up eating and also what people in my community and culture eat: barbecue, mac and cheese, greens, sweet potatoes. Now she cooks for herself, around her work schedule. Her food words are Basic, predictable, convenient, tasty, healthy. She calls herself flexitarian, with vegetables at the center and meat as an added side. Healthy, to her, means being able to read what everything is rather than long words and numbers that I don't recognize as food.

Would she try a vegan diet? Yes, I would try it for a period of time. I would be interested to see how I feel. On animals she is direct: I have compassion for animals as I would not harm them myself but I do eat animal products. She holds the tension in plain view, without forcing it closed.

Her hardest challenge was a contract with a brand that ended unexpectedly. She called recruiters and contacts and took on two new opportunities. The lesson: always nurture relationships because someone may be able to help later on. Her superpower is staying calm and collected in times of adversity. Her weakness, she says, is that she can sometimes avoid things. To cope she will stop, breathe, meditate, pray, or even take a nap to reset my mind and then attack the day. Her 2 a.m. person is her mother, the first person I call with good news or when I'm having a hard time.

On Day 5 she wants to consistently (everyday) eat more vegetables. The barrier, in her words: Myself, I am not disciplined enough when it comes to planning and sticking to it. Lists and accountability partners would help. And she would change how she talks to herself: Envision how I'll feel even better rather than beat myself up about past/current food choices. Her letter allows for slips: Even if at some point you fall off or have a cheat day you can still pick back up where you left off at your strongest. Keep going!