Monday – A Sip of Flava ☕🌻

The Skills Time Gave Me

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the skills I’ve gained over the many years of working.

My first job came early — I was 12 years old, working at a local flower shop through a school work-credit program. I babysat too. Back then, work wasn’t optional; it was something you learned to do, and to do well.

I spent over 20 years in the floral industry. Of course, I learned how to design flowers and understand the ins and outs of that business — but more than that, I learned how to listen. To hear what customers wanted, even when they didn’t quite know how to say it. That’s where sales, marketing, and people skills really began for me.

Those early years taught me:

how to listen and respond thoughtfully how to organize, order, and manage details how to handle accounting and responsibility how to read people and situations

Those skills didn’t stay in one lane. They carried me into many roles over the years:

Corporate Wyndham Hotel International Import Operations Lead Domestic Violence Advocate Homeless Advocate

I also stepped into ownership:

A Touch of Sunshine (floral)

Flava Coffee House

Lady Flava News (media)

Later chapters brought:

Elder Care

Staffing Coordinator at a rehab hospital

Neurosurgery Patient Service Specialist

What I know about myself is this:

I have strong people skills.

I read energy.

I understand organization and workflow.

I take time to learn the why behind a culture and its core values.

My work ethic is solid — built on morals, values, and integrity.

I’m responsible. Dependable. Present.

A huge influence on that came from watching my parents and the elders I was exposed to growing up. I was also blessed with strong mentors along the way — people who helped me see my strengths and showed me how to grow in the areas where I wasn’t as strong.

Working today is a very different experience. The umbrella of an organization might look good on paper, but the real culture is shaped by immediate supervisors, administration, and coworkers. That’s where things either align — or don’t.

What I know now is this:

I bring valuable experience into every workplace and relationship. Even when those above me don’t fully see my value, I know it. My workday ethics are strong. I show up for my responsibilities, for patients, and for the medical teams I work alongside.

And now, at 65, I find myself thinking differently. I look forward to retirement — and to creating a feasible, meaningful way to generate income from a home-based business that honors my experience and my body.

So I’ll leave you with this:

Have you ever really looked at the skills your life has given you?

Are you fulfilled where you are right now?

And what does retirement — or your next chapter — truly look like for you?