The Call

Welcome to “The Call,” a blog I am starting where passion meets purpose and service intersects with leadership. This space is dedicated to exploring and celebrating the multifaceted journey of answering life’s most compelling call: the call to serve, lead, and love.

When brainstorming on the name of my blog, “The Call” came to me because I am in a place in my life where I truly feel I am answering the call God has put before me– to nurture the untapped potential in others to succeed through mentorship. It also has a special meaning to me because it’s the name of a weekly newspaper that has been published in my hometown of Kansas City, Missouri (Go Chiefs!) highlighting the stories of trials and triumphs of the African-American community since 1919.

Every post here is more than just a story; it’s an intimate exploration of the pivotal moments that define our paths. I will share my experiences and knowledge to help you embody the essence of living a life fueled by purpose and passion. In “The Call”, you’ll find a wealth of resources and practical advice on how to cultivate a life of service and leadership. From setting boundaries to embracing your authentic self to allowing you to fulfill your calling, this blog is not just about reading my experiences; it’s about igniting a movement of individuals dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the world.

Whether you’re seeking inspiration, guidance, or a community of like-minded individuals, “The Call” is your sanctuary. Join me as we dive into the heart of what it means to answer your call and embrace a life brimming with purpose, passion, and the power to make a difference. Welcome to our journey. Welcome to “The Call.”

Exciting News!

Starting off, my new website is officially launched! If you click the read more button below, you can look at it, too. I am so happy with how it turned out and I can’t wait to fill it up with more content as I release a new blog every month.

I want to give a big shout-out to the Delta Dental Institute which recently gave a very generous grant of $75K to my nonprofit, Diversity In Dentistry Mentorships, Inc. (DIDM) to expand our Diversify  Dentistry Youth Summit into more dental schools across the country. Our Youth Summits and Mentorship programs are making meaningful contributions to the oral health professions by exposing and encouraging more historically underserved groups to dentistry, driving health equity in all communities. You can visit our website at Diversity in Dentistry Mentorships to learn more about our programs and how you can be a #MentorfortheMovement.

What I’ve Been Up To

I recently had the honor of giving a presentation on boundaries at The Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, a constituent of the American Association of Orthodontists tripartite at the most magical place on earth, Disneyland! As orthodontists and orthodontic team members, it can sometimes be hard to set the necessary boundaries for a balanced life. During my lecture I discussed burnout prevention, how to recognize and address boundary violations, how to set, protect, and accept your boundaries, and scripts to say “no” to common boundary violations. These are all essential pieces to know and practice for everyone, especially healthcare professionals.

Before the lecture, I had an intimate conversation with the Women in Orthodontics Breakfast where I surprised the attendants as the “Fairy Boundary Godmother” dressed in my blue cloak and wand in hand.  This talk was titled “Fairytale Boundaries: Disney Princess Edition”. During this lecture, I went through a few situations with our beloved Disney Princesses and labeled them as “magical boundaries” or “poisonous boundaries” for us to discuss. If you know me, you know I love a good-themed presentation, and this one was a truly enchanting experience.

Between both of these presentations and the holidays coming up, I was inspired to practice what I preach and do something I’ve never done before… participating in the month of NO’s.

The Month of NO’s

This last December I challenged myself to flex my “no” muscle and set firm boundaries. If I’m honest, I wasn’t excited about it, it was something I needed to do. Four weeks seemed like a lot, but I figured what better time to not take on anything new, to slow down and relax, than around the holidays?

The challenge ended up being very rewarding, I might have to do an entire blog post on it!

I want to challenge all of you reading this to partake in the month of NO’s with me! For a whole month, turn down those new requests that you don’t want to take, say no to going out and yes to staying in, and most importantly, set boundaries.

To help with this challenge, I’ve compiled a list of ways to say “no” without saying the actual word, so you’ll have some responses ready:

“Sorry, that doesn’t work for me.”
“I’m not taking on any more responsibilities.”
“I’m afraid I won’t be able to.”
“I’d love to, but I can’t.”
“That’s not something I can do.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I have to decline.”
“That is out of my scope of expertise.”
“I’m not able to accommodate that request.”
“I’m sorry, but I have other commitments.”
“I’ll be able to answer that when I’m back in the office.”

If you want more support and insight, I have the perfect thing for you! I created a freebie, “The Boundary Blueprint”, to dive deeper into setting boundaries for healthcare professionals. You can download it here.

Saying “no” may seem uncomfortable at first, but the more you do it the easier it becomes. Your future self will thank you for not taking on anything more! As I said earlier it’s not going to be easy at first, but I believe in you! Let’s flex our “no” muscles together.

What’s to Come

2024 is already looking to be a very exciting year for me. I have a lecture on “Leading with Inclusion” at the Mommy Dentist in Business CEO Roundtable coming up, as well as a lot of DIDM events, which I will be sharing here. Also, speaking of what’s to come, this blog is not the only thing you can read from me…

Blog and Newsletter

That’s right, I have a newsletter that you can subscribe to right now! You’ll get monthly updates for me, tips and resources to help you flourish in your professional and personal life, and a sneak peek into my newest blog posts and offerings. This is going to be the best way to keep up with me. I can’t wait to have you on this journey with me!

Thank you so much for reading my first blog. It’s the first of many and I’m looking forward to sharing all of my experiences and lessons that I’ve learned with you! If there is something you would like me to dive deeper into, such as writing a book, getting into speaking, or turning your passion into a nonprofit, let me know by leaving a comment. Welcome to The Call!