Peddling the stress away with Jamila
It’s been a while since I’ve posted on this blog. I took a few steps back in life and slowed down for a couple of years due to a virus you might have heard of. That b*tch, however, shall remain unnamed in this space. Moving on! My little hiatus made my writing game a bit rusty, but I will do my best. This space was never meant to be perfect. To me this blog is about learning, creating, and growing. Even though lately my life got busier than ever, the amazing women of New York inspire me to keep going with this project. I couldn’t ask for a better woman to rekindle my passion for this blog then Jamila. She is the light and the glue to the community. I am extremely proud to share my photoshoot and conversation with her in the first post in a while.
I met Jamila over a year ago at Spiked Spin & Wellness where she works as an amazing instructor. It was one of my first spin classes ever when she spotted me in the back row. I was vibing to her playlist and having the time of my life while sweating the stress away. It was still a time of uncertainty and restrictions, but we were all happy to participate in a small group activity. I quickly learned that Jamila was a nurse which made her one of the frontline heroes in the disaster that started in 2020. Even though she had witnessed the worst, she never lost her light and positive energy for the people. To me, coming to her spin classes was one of the first steps towards normalcy and a way to put myself in a good mood for the rest of the week. I became stronger, happier, and got my groove back too! Every class with Jamila is a dance party. She makes intense workouts fun, which is not an easy thing to do. That’s why she’s always booked.
I met with Jamila in Prospect Park in July of this year to talk and take photos reflecting her beauty. The creative atmosphere in the park matched her own unique energy. Moreover, her mom happened to walk her dog near the location of our photo shoot. Coincidence? Who’s to say.. :) It was actually a pleasure to see Jamila interact with her mom. I quickly understood that helping people was not the only passion the women shared, it was was also the love of dance and performance. Jamila’s mom made sure her daughter remembered how fierce and excellent she was while modeling for the photos. That set us off to a great start. I love when women inspire and support one another! After a very fruitful photo shoot, I sat down with Jamila for a short conversation about womanhood. Please enjoy what we created.
AsW: What is your proudest moment?
Jamila: Right now, I work as a full-time nurse practitioner. My proudest moment by far was when I found out I became an RN. This was a life-long dream for me. I really wanted to be a registered nurse because growing up I saw my mom being one. One time, she took me to the hospital and I saw her on a case. I was standing out of the operating room and I thought: “I want to make a difference in peoples’ lives.” I would have to say my proudest moment was when I became a registered nurse because I had the task to save lives and help others.
AsW: What was the most important lesson you had to learn or unlearn in your process of adulting as a woman?
Jamila: I had to learn how to trust myself, which is very hard. As a child, you rely on others around you, your parents, grandparents, any elders. So, I had to learn, as an adult, that I was in control of my life. Whatever decisions made I had to live in them and I had to be bold and confident. It was very, very hard transitioning from the little girl to the adult woman and to trust in myself. However, it’s been a beautiful process because even though mistakes are scary, they make you better and they make you who you are in the end of the day.
AsW: How do you think women can support one another better?
Jamila: I think that women can support one another better by listening to each other. That’s how you build sisterhood, that’s how you build community. Really trying to understand that you are not the only one in a certain situation. Other people have experienced their own things just like you. Being able to open up to one another and to listen to you fellow sisters is definitively important. We can build sisterhood and trust amongst one another and we can build love. I think it’s so important to have sisterhood. Man control the world.. and I think, together, we are so incredibly strong. But first, we need to listen to each other.
Dear Jamila,
It was so much fun to photograph and talk to you! That day was one of the highlights of the summer. I am writing this post on your birthday and I want to wish you all the best! You are beautiful inside and out and you deserve great things in life. You keep inspiring and motivating the community that I am happy to be a part of. Have fun on your glamorous vacation! I will be there on bike #2 when you’re back! ;)
With love,
Anja
