My Journey to Happiness

Hello, my name is Queen Amina,

I am the Queen of Hearts & Jack of Trades; this is my happy story!

My happy story begins with a not-so-happy beginning. In my senior year of high school, I attentively sat in class amongst the other ambitious and excited 2011 class graduates. With three months of school left a career counselor and co-host popular chef stepped into my classroom and stated this quote,” Work a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life!” It was so simply said and understood as I analyzed the room seeing all my peers just as so. On their successful path to living and loving what they do in complete happiness. The nicely dressed and high-paid career counselor encouraging ambitious youth to find their love career. The co-host chef who's living their cooking fantasy at the fancy restaurant on the Vegas Strip. My friend beside me who’s aiming to become a nurse has already been accepted in college. The A-plus student soon to be a restaurant owner. At last, the go-pride artist that easily struts their free spirit life, freely! As for me, well, that was a challenge. "There's still so much I haven‘t learned about myself,” I thought. With so many intriguing skills, talents, and interests, I didn’t know where to begin.

How do I become open and honest with myself like the go-pride artist? How do I present myself to the world like the career counselor or chef? Some challenges aren't typically taught however they are silently felt. I felt divided and apprehensive of being exposed to the demands of the world. Thinking to myself, "Will they understand me, the real me?" Or "I know I’m good, but am I good enough?" I made a list of all the things I considered myself to be good at, the things I loved to do, as well as the things that made me, Me! I admit I was happy pursuing all my special occupations from sewing, baking, dancing, caregiving, and fitness training. Happiness and success were pouring into my half-full glass, which happened to have a small hole in the bottom of my cup. When vigorously dedicating myself to one of my occupations there was always an annoying feeling within my heart and gut of being incomplete.

I studied, taught, produced, and managed all my talents and skills within four years after graduating high school. Unfortunately, my efforts to find that one gift, that one talent that made me most happy and most successful, led me back to the crossroads. When attending the Art Institute for baking and pastry, I had to drop out of culinary to medically assist my mother with her illness of Lupus. Every venture after felt as if I was leaving a part of me out, no matter how much success gained or how compelled to express myself I felt. Committing to one talent over the other wasn’t satisfying my desire to be completely open about myself or fill my craving for complete happiness and passion for arts.

With spiritual and holistic guides, I sat back at my laptop and changed my search engine from successful entrepreneurs, who had the one thing they were good at and stuck to it, to successful multi-talented celebrities. Which took me on an intriguing journey of the most popular known people who were able to balance their creative talents, maintain success, and live happily. For example, Devon Franklin, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Kelsey Humphreys, just to name a few. Through books, videos, and audios my inspirers help me formulate my self-esteem, and out bloomed my business the Queen of Hearts & Jack of Trades. Providing spiritual and nutritional holistic health education to my community through coloring balancing arts and chakra healing. I found myself, I could finally seal the hole in my cup and didn’t have to give up my desire for learning, enjoyment for teaching, and admiration for arts. I can maintain a creative balance, make a substantial income, and most importantly live freely and happily.

I continue my happy journey with the thankful support of my currently well-living mother, family, friends, and an amazingly supportive community. I’ve learned I can be open, happy, and free! That you can never fail if you don’t try! I also thank Friskar and Vocal for the encouraging help. Appearing on my Instagram just in time to give me the positive,” Go for it!” boost I needed to jump-start my happy journey project called P.O.S.E. A creative photogenic celebration in pride.

Today and forever...I pose for art, I pose to expressive, I am Pride, and I am Vegas Proud!

Sincerely,

Queen Amina - The of Hearts & Jack of Trades.