My Story

I’ll never forget the day a few years ago when I was sitting down to lunch with some colleagues at a new job. As we were eating, the casual conversation turned personal as the question was asked “What kind of things do you like to do outside of work? Do you have any hobbies?” As a recent divorcee and empty nester, I cringed inside as the people around the table listed a plethora of really exciting things they loved to do in their spare time.
 

 As the responses circled around the table, I became more and more nervous when it was about to be my turn. What was I going to say? “I don’t have any hobbies? I don’t really do anything other than work?” How crazy would that sound?
 

 "Surely, Miss 40 and over, you have something you like to do other than work!", I thought to myself... But, the reality is I really hadn’t thought about things that I like for a very long time. Outside of being married for many years, caring for a terminally ill parent, and raising two boys, there really wasn’t anything else that I ever did with my time.
 

So, when it was my turn, to lighten the mood and not sound as silly as I felt, I said “Well…I do love to shop!” turning my awkward moment into one of laughter amongst the group. But after I left that table, I started thinking and wondering “Who am I really?”
 

For many years I had defined myself as the jobs that I had done and roles that I had played for other people. But when it came down to it, I hadn't thought of my own dreams, goals, aspirations, activities or pleasures.
 

It was at that time that I decided to make a change in my life and began focusing much of my time and effort on finding out who I was as a person. Taking care of me, learning me, experiencing me and enjoying just being me. I was learning new things, finding new interests and hobbies, and taking care of my health…things that I had put off for many years to take care of my family.
 

 I returned to college after 20 years to complete the Bachelors degree I had started back in 1991. I began thinking though, about how many other women were out there going through the same things as I was?
 

That’s when the idea for Grown & Sexy Sistah, LLC came to mind. I wanted to build a place where women like me could go to network, learn new things, try new experiences, take care of their health and LIVE! A place where we can share our ideas, share our joy and share our pain.