Hi friend,
This week, I’ve been sitting with the thought that one stranger can change everything in your life.
That feels so simple to say, but I think we forget this sometimes.
The people who eventually become part of our story do not usually arrive with a flashing sign that says, “This person is going to matter.”
Sometimes they are just standing across from us at a creative event and sometimes they are part of a room we almost talked ourselves out of walking into.
That is what happened with me and Keisha.
We met through a creative event years ago, and we immediately clicked. I did not know in that moment that she would become one of those people who tells it how it is, lights a fire under me, helps me move faster, and reminds me to use what I already have.
But that is what community does when you keep showing up.
Strangers become familiar.
Familiar people become friends.
Friends become mirrors.
And sometimes those mirrors remind you who you are before you fully believe it yourself.
That is one of the reasons I still believe so deeply in meeting people in real life.
Not because every room will change your life, but because you never know which room introduces you to someone who becomes part of your becoming.
This week on Rise + Rebel, I sat down with Keisha Brooks — producer, actor, writer, creative, and founder of Helping Hands Productions.
And let me tell you, Keisha came with fire.
This conversation is not just about creativity or entertainment.
It is about resourcefulness, follow-through, asking for help, knowing your time is valuable and it is about creating the opportunity instead of waiting to be invited.
One of my favorite parts of the conversation was when we talked about what happens when people do not invite you to the table.
Keisha’s energy was basically:
Do not just build the table. Build the whole world.
And honestly, that is the kind of energy I want to carry into this season.
Because I think so many of us are waiting for permission.
Permission to create, to start, to ask, to be seen, to charge, or to walk into the room.
But the truth is, the world we are building may not come from waiting to be chosen.
It may come from showing up, asking questions, using our resources, following through, and trusting that we are capable of creating something real.
In this episode, we talk about:
• How Keisha became so resourceful
• What creative entrepreneurship taught her about not quitting
• Why “a closed mouth does not get fed”
• How to ask for help when you do not have everything figured out
• Why your time is not free
• The importance of boundaries when you are a giving person
• What success means when it becomes less about trophies and more about living fully
This one is for the creatives, the builders, the helpers, the women learning to protect their energy, and anyone who knows they are meant to create something — even if they are still figuring out how.
And if it speaks to you, I would love for you to subscribe to the Rise + Rebel YouTube channel. Every subscriber helps the message reach someone who may need it.
A Small Reminder About Community
This episode reminded me that community is not always instant.
Sometimes community is built through one conversation, one event, one follow-up, one “let’s stay in touch,” and one person deciding to show up again.
That is what I am practicing in this season of my life.
Showing up more.
Meeting people.
Building in public.
Letting the work be seen before it feels perfect.
Letting the business grow in real time.
Letting support come from places I could not have predicted.
And yes, as a startup founder, I will gladly say this part out loud:
I am open to support.
Not in a desperate way, but in a human way.
Rise + Rebel is still new. The shop is still growing. I am still learning what people love, what they reach for, what they try on, what makes them smile, and what helps them feel confident.
So if you are local, come see me this week.
Come say hi. Come hang out. Come give me feedback.
Come bring a friend. Come be part of the becoming.
Where You Can Find Me This Week
Thursday, June 11 at 4:30 PM
CharlestonHacks Hacker Night
This is a community night for people interested in tech, creativity, film, AI, startups, experiments, and big ideas. If you are curious, creative, building something, or just want to be around people who are making things happen, come through.
Saturday, June 13 from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Rise + Rebel Shop Pop-Up at Indigo Reef Brewing in Charleston, SC
I will be there with Rise + Rebel pieces, and I would genuinely love your support. Come shop, come browse, come say hello, come bring someone with you, or just come be part of the room.
Sometimes that is how it starts.
You show up somewhere.
You meet someone.
You have a conversation.
And years later, you realize that person became part of your story.
That is how Keisha became part of mine.
So here is my reminder for the week:
Keep showing up. Not in a way that drains you.
But show up for the rooms, people, and opportunities that feel aligned with the life you are building.
Because the next friend, collaborator, client, creative spark, business idea, or beautiful connection may begin as a stranger.
And you will not know unless you go.
As always, I wish you the best because you deserve the best.
Until next time,
Aya