KISH:Tell us about you..
Melinda:Melinda Harris is an international best- selling author, speaker, I coach professional women who are stuck by helping them identify barriers which have kept them stagnant and assist them in creating a Next Level Plan to help them pursue their God given purpose , and a Domestic Violence Advocate. Her two best -selling books, “I Survived It”, and “Turning Your Pain Into A Weapon Of Mass Destruction” has positively impacted 1000’s of women around the world she is a servant leader loves prison ministry speaking to the ladies behind the wall always inspiring them to keep pushing as I continue to share my message of helping women to love themselves. I have a passion to Educate, Equip, and Empower women although women as natural nurturers wear many hats however these hats become burdens and we are forced to mask what’s weighing us down -unhealed hurt, financial strain, unhappiness, being overworked, dissatisfied, mistreated, disrespected, abused, and so much more or simply stripped of our God -given identity and purpose. I experienced all of that along with depression, rejection, shame, and being embarrassed but by the Grace of God over the course of years I gained strength and faith to turn the impossible to possible. It took me quiet a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it I will no longer be silent.
Everything that I have endured in my past made me stronger and better which led me to speaking inside Women’s Prison because that could have been me in an orange or tan jumpsuit with a number on my back. My way of giving back is volunteering in and around my community. It’s feeding the homeless, serving at a women’s shelter, speaking at any event someone needed me. I’m there however I can help. I’m there for it.
KISH: What is your dream and how will accomplishing your dream benefit you and others?
Melinda: My dream is to be able to buy the block back in and around my community, I look around as I’m driving throughout my community I see so many abandoned houses in my mind I see myself purchasing them turn around renovate them help thousands of single moms across the world with providing housing being that housing is so expensive right now for a mother barely making ends meet how can she dream big of owning a beautiful home. She may have lost or given up on her why. My job and assignment is to always educate, equip and empower women lift as you climb is my motto I want to be able to help those single moms to be stress free, and debt free as well, give them hope to dream again, to encourage them they can live their best life in spite of their past mistake it’s all life lessons. I have a dream of purchasing acres of land building cottages for single moms. I have been preparing myself to learn more, to put myself at different tables with people that can help me or partner with me to make this dream a reality. I just want to be obedient to God and do his will not my will but his will makes my soul feel good when I put out good I expect it back just makes my heart heart to know I have done what God has asked me to do.
KISH: Who or what inspired you to pursue this dream?
Melinda: My mother has always been my number one cheerleader growing up. My mother and father divorced when I was about 13 or 14 years old and my mom became a single parent. I also remember growing up I’m about to tell my age I’m a 70’s baby lol my mother was a stay at mom home she took care of myself and my siblings while my father worked he paid all the bills. So when my parents split my mother was faced with getting a job I know she had fear or doubt in the back of her mind as to how she was going to make it with three kids. By the Grace of God she made it only by his GRACE and MERCY. I watched my mother work hard. My mother has always encouraged me to go after my dreams. Every choice I make to make a difference in the community I think about my childhood and where I came from and how I want to help others in need.
KISH: What challenges have you encountered while pursuing your dream?
Melinda: I have lost some friendships because I dream too big or refuse to settle for less, the ones I shared my dreams with didn’t necessarily believe in me at the time I was speaking things into the atmosphere all of a sudden things started happening that I either wrote down in my journal, or had it on my vision board or spoke it when those things started manifesting my naysayers those same ones that doubted me are now watching me. I was faced with rejection, heartache and pain because if I consider you a true friend I expect you to ride it out with me and I do the exact same thing for you. I take friendship very seriously when I look back over things it was necessary because as that saying goes everybody can’t go where you’re going and that is so true.
KISH: Who or what inspired you to keep pushing regardless of the challenges you’ve encountered?
Melinda: My mother, and a very close sister of mine who has received her wings and was called home back in November 2018 Angel Foster. These two ladies inspired me to keep on keeping on regardless because as both have said as long as you have God,nothing is impossible just keep the faith, stay focused and work towards your goals. I’ve always kept that positive mindset. I refuse to let my sister down as I know she is very proud of my progress thus far. I have a ways to go. I will get there. I’m determined.
KISH: Please provide final thoughts/advice for others by finishing this sentence… dream.
Melinda: My advice to anyone always dream big see yourself doing the things you have dreamed about. It could be driving the nice car you want, or living in a huge house, or having the career you’ve dreamed of having whatever it is go for it. Take a risk on yourself. You may loss some things on your journey just stay focused. I’m 48 years young. I have always wanted a boat, yacht etc back in July 2020 during the pandemic my brother and I started a boat charter business called H & H Boat Charters never saw myself doing that but had boats, and yachts written in my journal, and on my vision board. I want to encourage everyone to dream so big it scares you. Dreams do come true just depends on how bad you want it, with anything you gotta put in the work. You can have it all!!!
Last modified: November 18, 2020
