Gospel Unfiltered
Gospel Unfiltered is a one-hour weekly podcast that goes beyond the pulpit to create space for honest conversations, real stories, and Kingdom truth. Hosted by author, motivational speaker, and community advocate Cornell Bunting, the show explores faith as it is lived—not only on Sunday mornings, but through life’s struggles, relationships, healing, leadership, purpose, family, and service.
Each episode features authentic conversations with pastors, ministry leaders, authors, entrepreneurs, community advocates, and everyday people whose testimonies reveal the power of God at work. No masks, no judgment, and no polished religious performances—just meaningful discussions about the victories, questions, failures, lessons, and faith journeys that shape us.
Listeners will be challenged to grow spiritually, confront difficult truths, strengthen their relationship with God, and turn their faith into action within their families and communities.
Gospel Unfiltered airs every Friday.
Beyond the Pulpit: Honest Conversations. Real Stories. Kingdom Truth.
Gospel Unfiltered
From Resilience to Results: Shalonda Washington on Business, Leadership, and Building Impact
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On this episode of the Stories to Create Podcast, Cornell Bunting sits down with Shalonda Washington — award-winning entrepreneur, transformation speaker, mindset coach, nonprofit leader, and respected businesswoman known throughout Southwest Florida as “The Permit Queen.”
With more than 30 years of experience as the CEO and Founder of Reliable Permitting & BSS, Shalonda has built a reputation as a trusted expert in construction administration and building permitting, helping contractors, homeowners, realtors, investors, and business professionals navigate complex processes and achieve success.
Beyond business, Shalonda is passionate about empowering others to rise above obstacles, unlock their full potential, and pursue purpose-driven lives. As a sought-after transformation speaker and mindset coach, she shares powerful insights across business, nonprofit leadership, women’s empowerment, and personal growth.
In this inspiring conversation, Shalonda opens up about entrepreneurship, resilience, overcoming adversity, leadership, family, faith, and what it means to continue climbing while lifting others along the way.
A proud wife of 31 years, mother of five, grandmother, and community leader, Shalonda also co-leads a nonprofit ministry alongside her husband, serving youth and families in the Immokalee community. Through her initiative, A Day With Sho, she continues creating spaces designed to elevate and empower women in business and leadership.
Recognized for her impact through numerous awards and nominations and celebrated for her remarkable journey from challenge to achievement, Shalonda Washington reminds us that resilience, vision, and purpose can create extraordinary outcomes.
This episode is filled with wisdom, inspiration, and practical insight for entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone striving to build a life of impact.
Because here on the Stories to Create Podcast… we do not just tell stories—
We create them.
Thank you for tuning in with EHAS CLUB - Stories to Create Podcast
Yes, yes. Welcome to another episode of Stories to Create Podcast. Right here at ES Club. I'm your host, Cornel Buntin. I am excited to bring you the wonderful guest we have on the show today. I know I told you guys a little bit back that she'll be here. We didn't give you the specific date, but hey, we're here now. So listen, I am so excited. This guest is a distinguished and award-winning business owner who has made significant impact on the communities in Naples. And I'm sure. So we're just going to say South West Florida. Because you know, this is the space we're in right now. Over 30 years of experience as CEO and founder of Reliable Permitting and BSS. And she's going to talk about that. You know, we we won't give you the whole thing because of course you guys are going to hear a little bit about who she is, her journey, what that looked like as we run through the show today, and we take you guys on a on this wonderful journey. So listen, without further ado, help me welcome Shilanda Washington.
SPEAKER_00Hey, thank you for having me. I'm excited.
SPEAKER_05Listen, you got so much energy. Like when I look at some of the stuff that you're doing and how you're empowering these, the women out here, the the youths, even the business that you have when you do permitting. It's it is so dope. Wow. The queen of permitting. I think I think that's that's a nickname I saw somewhere.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_05Wow.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. And I didn't give myself that name.
SPEAKER_06Wow.
SPEAKER_00You know, I just know that when you have been purposed and called to something, you don't have to chase other things, right? Yes. And in that name was given to me by the people that I was serving.
SPEAKER_05Right, right. Amazing. Amazing. So, you know, one of the things we do on the show is we treat our guests to a tale. So I want you to take our listeners back to the early years. Where was Shilanda born? Where'd you grow up?
SPEAKER_00Oh, I was born in Naples, Florida.
SPEAKER_05Okay.
SPEAKER_00At Naples Community Hospital. Okay. Grew up in River Park. Okay. Okay. Which was the projects of Naples. You know, everybody say they they, you know, Naples is always known as the wealth and all of that.
SPEAKER_01Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_00But no, there was a project. And it was very povished. Everyone in there had the same financial status.
SPEAKER_06Right, right.
SPEAKER_00And to be surrounded by wealth, but then never see the wealth or know and was caged by what I saw.
SPEAKER_06Right, right. Right?
SPEAKER_00It was drug infested.
SPEAKER_06Yeah.
SPEAKER_00The drug game was really big back then. And so, yeah, Naples, Florida. That's all I know. I haven't been anywhere else.
SPEAKER_03That is amazing. It's a lovely local. This is so beautiful.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_05Wow. What was school like? You know, being as you're you're living in the project at the time, how how how'd you adjust to kind of just, you know, keep a good face or a sane face when you go to schools?
SPEAKER_00Well, first of all, we walked from the River Park all the way down Goodlit Road.
SPEAKER_05Okay.
SPEAKER_00You know, when it when it came time to elementary school, because Lake Park Elementary is right by the mall.
SPEAKER_06Right, right.
SPEAKER_00So we had to walk from there all the way down to the mall. And walking, all we had was just highway.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00So we really didn't see, because then there was all the, you know, the man that carried a lot. So you didn't see the homes behind that. So all you saw was just highway.
SPEAKER_06Right, right.
SPEAKER_00So for me, it it was, you know, it was a dark time. It was like I only think I can explain it as a tunnel. Wow, wow. There was nothing that was exposed to me that would give me light or make me dream.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, yeah, wow. There was no dreaming. Wow. So you had to be chosen.
SPEAKER_00Come on. Come on. That's why I walked in here like I belong here. Okay. I I don't even know why I'm here. How I got here. Lord, I don't know nothing about this, but you sent me here. And so, but I had to grow to that place too.
SPEAKER_05Yes, you had to. I know a lot of work had to be put in. And so, with that, how was family life? How was that like with your parents?
SPEAKER_00Well, I was not raised with my parents. My grandmother had to take me from my mom at three months. Wow. My mom was being arrested, and my granny got called, and she took me at that point and never gave me back.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_00My mom was serving multiple prison sentences.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_00And so it was my grandmother who raised me in the projects.
SPEAKER_05Wow.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_04Okay, okay.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_05Well, shout out to grandma. Thank you for doing that.
SPEAKER_00Yes.
SPEAKER_05She's still around?
SPEAKER_00No, I just lost her last year in January.
SPEAKER_05Okay. Well, how's mom? Is mom trying to come back?
SPEAKER_00Um, my mother passed away at age 50 four. And I'm now 52 myself.
SPEAKER_06Wow, wow.
SPEAKER_00So, you know, the, you know, the rough life and the things and the way she lived. But one thing I've been blessed to see, though, is that she was chosen.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00But she didn't enter the promised land.
SPEAKER_06Right, right, right.
SPEAKER_00And everything she possessed, I'm not having. I picked up the mantle. Now it took me some time to realize all of this, because before it was like, you know, but it was revealed to me on her deathbed.
unknownOh, okay.
SPEAKER_00Because my mom, I ended up having to get my baby brother when he was going into fifth grade, because my stepdad, who my mom was married to in Georgia, he passed away. So then that caused my mom to relapse. Because she did have a period of time where she did remain clean for maybe 10 years.
SPEAKER_01Right, right.
SPEAKER_00But then that threw her over.
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_00So then I had to get my baby brother. Yeah. Right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00But with that, I was able to get her to Florida because in my mind, all those years, I felt like I just need to make a lot of money. I just need to do well. And then I can help everybody. You know? And but when it came time for her to leave here, and the hospital called me, and I went and got her, and then they said she needed to go to hospice.
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_00She did pass away with full-blown AIDS.
SPEAKER_01Wow.
SPEAKER_00Hepatitis. So the life of drugs, you know, was still there and the consequences of that. But when she was leaving here, the people that came in there to see, and my mom had only been back to Florida for maybe a year.
SPEAKER_06Right, right.
SPEAKER_00And the lives she had impacted. I saw women come in there that my mom impacted them in prison.
SPEAKER_06Come on. Wow.
SPEAKER_00And that's when it was, I was like, oh my God. Yeah. And and they're pastors now.
unknownWow.
SPEAKER_00And they would they were crying. And they were Hispanic, they were Oriental, Oriental, there was black people coming in, Haitian, and they were crying saying how much she had.
SPEAKER_05Wow.
SPEAKER_00And I never saw it.
SPEAKER_05Right, right. Yeah, yeah. Wow. Yeah. Wow.
unknownMan.
SPEAKER_05You know, I gotta say, you know, because sometime and and I and I see it. And you know, sometimes we try not to touch too heavy on the spiritual world or, you know, God and stuff for people that won't fully understand what that looks like. Right. Because, you know, they say you can't feed baby hard food, right? Right, right, right, right, right.
SPEAKER_01Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_05But, you know, it's one of those things where it's almost like sometimes you get chosen, but it's like the devil finds a way to present you with the stuff that the flesh craves. And then the flesh, the flesh grabs that and then it just it just holds them. Yes. Seemed like that was what really happened to mom.
SPEAKER_00But oh yeah, but that's the thing, you know, and that's what helped me to understand that she was fighting her own demons.
SPEAKER_05Yes, yes, yes. Right?
SPEAKER_00Because my mom was a singer. People in Fort Myers know my mom. My mom, my grandmother first moved to Fort Myers. She lived on Dora Street, and her name was Dora. Wow. So my mom, as a young age, was a singer. Like she was an entertainer. I would say, Whitney Houston, who? When my mother at her funeral, I played a drop-down screen. She sang at her own funeral.
SPEAKER_05That's amazing.
SPEAKER_00So, you know, it's not to say, but what I how I tell my story is the fact on the turn of, you know, it was a strategy so that we would not fulfill or she would not fulfill that. And then there were some decisions I had to make.
SPEAKER_05Right, right, right. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00She might not have fulfilled it, but I will.
SPEAKER_05Yes, I love that. I love that. Now, you know, because of a lot of what was unfolding even back then, and a lot of people are curious on those stories right now. And I said, listen, guys, I'm gonna try to tell it in a unique way where we have different guests, just touch on their little side of what that looked like. When the when the tracks was happening and and the situations with all that, what kind of impact was that? Was you seeing any of that or was you dealing with any of that type of stuff?
SPEAKER_00Oh yeah, oh yeah, definitely. I've watched, you know, I mean, even though my grandmother raised me, my mom still lived in the projects. So it would be like early in the morning, I would get up because I know she's walking the streets.
SPEAKER_01Right, right.
SPEAKER_00And she's, you know, been high all night. And so to see that, it broke my heart, but my granny was very protective because she knew it wasn't good for me. Right. Right?
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_00So there is times where there's this one moment where I saw my mom early one morning and my granny was sending me somewhere to go because everything was in the project. Like you had all your little house stores, everything. So we didn't even go outside of that. It's crazy to be in Naples, and and that's why I do what I do with the young people in a mockly, because it's like, yeah, you're here, but there's a big world, right? But anywho, and I was, I saw, I was passing by this breezeway, and I saw her, and I was like, that's my mom.
unknownWow.
SPEAKER_00And I just want to smell her. Like, literally, I just wanted to like smell her. Right, right. And and I'm walking in this breezeway, and all of a sudden she's shooing me away. But I didn't care because I was like, that's my mom, right? No one's around. I can go to her. Maybe I don't know what I wanted to do, but I was maybe about like nine, eight, nine years old. Yeah. So I'm going down and she's shooing me away. Oh, and I'm still going toward her. Yeah. And then all of a sudden I see this guy come around, the bend. So, you know, whatever was going on, you know, she's probably doing what she does to get her fix. And and then as I was getting closer, and the closer I got, and then she was yelling at me. And then she had a purse and had a chain on it, and then she started swinging it at me. I still have the scar now today in my arm, and but I didn't care. And even though she was hitting me, and I I just wanted to touch her. I just wanted to. So for me in that moment, yeah, yeah, that is where I made a covenant with myself, and I said, my kids will never.
SPEAKER_05Yeah.
SPEAKER_00At eight or nine years old.
SPEAKER_05Come on, man. Amazing. Wow.
SPEAKER_00You know, so that is what, and I believe, because we're not supposed to make, you know, covenants with ourselves, right?
unknownRight.
SPEAKER_00I believe that is where the challenges began for me because then I was being driven by what I said would never.
SPEAKER_05Right. Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And that could be good and that could be bad.
SPEAKER_05And that could be bad. This is true. This is true. Now, high school, college. When did you know you wanted to step into the world of just housing permitting, all that stuff?
SPEAKER_00I did not. I became a teen mom at 14. Okay. So when I was in high school, tenth grade, I I got into a relationship in ninth grade. My granddad didn't know anything about her, she would have killed me. Right. Because she was, again, I was her second chance.
SPEAKER_04Right, right, right.
SPEAKER_00So a lot of her hope was riding on me that I was different and you know, that I would be able to do it and I wouldn't be like my mom, kind of thing.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And but knowing that those places and spaces were missing in my life, the first person that showed me attention. Right. Because I was unseen.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Literally. And even though I didn't know what my granny was, because she worked night and day. Right, right. And I mean, at three years old, she would call the nursery and say, send her home.
unknownWow.
SPEAKER_00And she was standing outside and walk me, walk, you know, fun time nursery. That's still there now. Yeah. Right? So, and would watch me walk across. I mean, that's how it was. And I had to do all these things alone.
SPEAKER_06Right, wow.
SPEAKER_00And so high school was like the first person showed me attention.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00It felt different. I loved the feeling. And I became pregnant in 10th grade. And so, yeah, that was like, what am I doing now? So after I had the baby, college was not an option for me. Because I was not gonna leave my daughter now with my grandmother. Right, right. Right. And so I had already made the covenant. My kids would never. Yes, yes. So abandonment, leaving, all this stuff. No, no, no.
SPEAKER_06Right, right.
SPEAKER_00So it was my senior year. Well, after I had the baby, when I was going through that stage, there was a the counselor called me in because I was pregnant, walking around Naples High School, pregnant with a stomach. Back then, there was no TAP program. You didn't see that, right? And so I got called in the counselor's office to tell me the option of taking my GED because, you know, this is not safe. You know, we want to protect you and the baby. That's the way it came across. And I'm saying, well, I guess so. Yeah. I didn't have anybody to tell me anything different. So I'm thinking, well, nobody ever sat me down and even talked to me.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, wow.
SPEAKER_00About my life choices, what I'm doing. I'm just, just, just blindly going through life. And there was a woman, Miss Terry, Roy Terry,'s wife. He was the superintendent, school superintendent back then. Roy Terry's wife, she worked at the front counter as a reception at that time.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_00And she overheard them telling me. So as I was leaving, she said, Come see me later. You don't have to do that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And I was like, okay. So now these people are talking to me, and I'm like, I don't, that's not even an issue. You know, I don't talk to people like that. Right. I came after school and she said, You don't have to do that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00I'm going to find someone to tutor you from your house. You're going to take your final exams. You're going to come here to take them after school. Right. And you're going to do it. And so she found a man, a Dr. Gasparino, who came, he's now the he's over the adult education now in Carrier County. And he came to my house.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00My little apartment. Yeah. And he we walked through the school stuff. And I went and took my exams after school and I went to the next grade.
SPEAKER_06Come on. Come on.
SPEAKER_00And after that, I was student of the month for three months in a row.
SPEAKER_05Wow. Amazing.
SPEAKER_00And so college was not in the future, but then it just began. And then there was this man who came, Dr. Ocho. He was from Africa.
SPEAKER_01Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_00And he came and he did the Excelsior Club. Okay. And it was business leadership skills for minorities.
SPEAKER_05Okay. Okay.
SPEAKER_00This is why the work that you do is so important.
SPEAKER_05It is. It is so important.
SPEAKER_00Listen, like, I didn't know it then, but ask people, but ask me my story. And I'm just really getting into this really like doing this for like maybe two solid years now. Right, right. I would talk to one-on-one and people like that, but to know that this is what it is. Yeah. And so from there, it was like, hmm, I I am good at something. I'm good at, I like clerical. I like to dress up. I like. So that opened the door up for my mind a little bit. And so from that, I got out of regular English. I took business math, business English, accounting, you know, the basic accounting classes. I got out of all that other stuff and I started focusing there.
SPEAKER_01Wow.
SPEAKER_00So then I worked two jobs and I went to school.
unknownOh man. Wow.
SPEAKER_00Because I didn't want my granny to have to do anything for my daughter.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00And so back then there was first choice haircutters. Remember that?
SPEAKER_05Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_00I, at the at night, I'd drive from one shop to the next shop closing their books at night.
SPEAKER_05Wow. So you were already doing the numbers. Come on. That's amazing. In high school.
SPEAKER_00So it wasn't, I had to grow up fast. I had to figure it out fast at this point. And so I signed up for a temp agency. And they I love clerical. So at this point I know it's clerical.
SPEAKER_01Right, right.
SPEAKER_00So I said, let me go to the temp agency so they can find me some places, some spaces to work. So I thought it was gonna be legal secretary.
SPEAKER_06Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And so I went to Voltec.
SPEAKER_06Okay. Okay.
SPEAKER_00But prior to Voltec, in high school as well, in the summer, because we were low income, JTPA, summer youth program, came through the projects.
SPEAKER_04Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_00Set up at the little community center, the River Park Ray.
SPEAKER_04Yes.
SPEAKER_00And began to interview kids and stuff. So at this time, I'm 14. Well, I just had my baby, so I'm like almost 15.
SPEAKER_06Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And so we qualified because we had low income. It's now the program is now JA, junior achievement.
SPEAKER_04Oh, okay, okay. Same program. Yeah. Yes.
SPEAKER_00And so they set me up at VoTech to work in the front office with eight women.
SPEAKER_06Oh, okay, okay, okay.
SPEAKER_00So now when I showed up, hey, sister with gold in her mouth, you know, I'm like, listen, I'm a good secretary, I'm gonna be the best secretary, you know, dressing, talking, however, no tack, no nothing. Yes. And but these ladies worked with me. Yes. They worked with me. And they would tell me things and and they would say, you could be whatever. And then if I did, they sent me somewhere I show up about two hours. They were like, where in the world have you been?
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And so, but they never talked down to me. They never saw the Shalanda Washington that's sitting in front of you right now.
SPEAKER_05Beautiful. I love that. I love that. Don't you love that when people see the potential? Amazing.
SPEAKER_00Yes. And so that's how from that, the temp service and the temp service placed me in a couple attorneys' offices.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_00And then it was like, okay, nothing's just not going. I want it permanent.
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_00It wasn't going anywhere. So then she said, Well, I don't have anything like that today. So, but there's a construction site. And it's over at Erickson, I mean Erickson Hunt construction.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And they do all the road uh highways now. In the middle of the night, they're out there. And catch K Winstar, Bay Shore.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00At the end of that, they were just building that.
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_00And she said, So that's a spot. It's clerical.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00And I said, okay, but I'm not going to be ahead in this dirt and all this doing these trailers, child. I need to be dressed up. I need to be behind a desk. You know what I'm saying? I don't know. I'm going to do it for a minute because it's money. Okay. I ain't turning no money down. Right, right. And ended up, it was a family-owned business. And they started entrusting me with more. And then they bought me out from the temp agency. Oh, amazing. And I was like, oh, this it. Oh, yeah. This it. I mean, these people are like, this is family. Like these people really, you know. Yeah. And yeah. And then I'll go to the county with their stuff. And people come to me. How much would you charge me to do this? I hate doing this. Yeah. I say, huh? People pay for this.
SPEAKER_03My hold up. Wait a minute. Hold on. Wait a minute. Wait. What? Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And I'm like, my work for somebody. I was like, I paid anything to get this done. This is ridiculous. They were like, you were mad. People were angry. And I'm just doing it like it's a breeze.
SPEAKER_04Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Yeah. Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_00And so that is how it kind of popped off. There was a man who owned Creative Homes at the time. And he kept following, like, I don't know how this man got my number. He kept calling, kept calling me. I just want to take you to lunch. I want to take you to lunch.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And it was around Christmas time. I've always worked two jobs.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00By that time, I had met my husband. Um we got married. And so I'm like, okay. And then he said, you know, why just go to lunch? It won't hurt anything, right? And I'm like, yeah, because this man, I'm going to go to lunch with this man. He needs to stop calling me. Because I ain't leaving my job. This people are good to me. Yes. They believe in me.
SPEAKER_04Right, right.
SPEAKER_00I'm good. I got a little security.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And I was working another job at um, because I was working two during the holidays because I need money for the holiday stuff and then pay my bills. Yeah. And this man made me an offer.
SPEAKER_05Okay.
SPEAKER_00I've never worked a second job in my life.
SPEAKER_05Come on.
SPEAKER_00Since then.
SPEAKER_05Amazing.
SPEAKER_00And I jumped in, worked for him, and then I administrated all of the and all of the homes that you see I'm going to get estates. I'm living in one of the houses.
SPEAKER_05Yes. Yes. Yes. Come on.
SPEAKER_00And that's how I got into permitting.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. Wow. Wow. That is amazing. That is amazing. That's how I got in there. Wow. And then, because, you know, you know, we touch on your marriage just a little bit because your husband's a pastor.
SPEAKER_01Mm-hmm.
unknownYes.
SPEAKER_05Now you become a first lady.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_05So that's a beautiful thing in itself, right there. So now you got a whole lot going on. And for a lot of, you know, my listeners and viewers are going to ask, how do you manage that? How do you balance what that looked like?
SPEAKER_00Well, let me just say this, because I I have to keep it real, right? Because I know there's a lot of ladies that struggle with this. It was 20 years before my husband became safe. I accepted Christ in our marriage counseling. Uh huh.
SPEAKER_04Okay.
SPEAKER_00So we just trying to do the little right thing. Get the little count, you know, try to get get married in a church. And most pastors that are real, they ain't gonna just marry you and not see where you're at, right?
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And we just walked in off the street. Oh, okay. And guess who the pastor was? I don't know if you know Pastor Leon Williams. That's something. Yeah. That's our rev. That's my Revy Rail. Yeah. So I ended up accepting Christ in that counseling.
SPEAKER_05Amazing.
SPEAKER_00Walk out save, he walked out not.
SPEAKER_05Come on. Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_00Another path, the God.
SPEAKER_05Walk out save. Your husband at the time did not walk out safe. Ooh, okay, okay. Interesting. Yes.
SPEAKER_00So I was, because I had so much going on trying to figure out life. Now I'm married. Now you got two histories colliding.
SPEAKER_06Yes.
SPEAKER_00And I wanted to be successful in everything.
SPEAKER_06Okay, okay, okay.
SPEAKER_00And if Christ was what he was offering that was gonna bring success to my marriage, I wanted it.
SPEAKER_05Oh, lovely. Lovely. I like that.
SPEAKER_00And that was a question he posed. He said to me.
SPEAKER_05Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Christ, he created an instituted marriage and family. And if he's in the middle of it, it'll be a success. And I say, I want success.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00I didn't say I want Christ.
SPEAKER_05Right. You want success.
SPEAKER_00I want what came with that.
SPEAKER_05Yes, yes, yes.
SPEAKER_00It was just a setup.
SPEAKER_05Yeah.
SPEAKER_00You understand? It was a setup.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_00It was a setup.
SPEAKER_03I love that. I love that.
SPEAKER_00Situations are created.
SPEAKER_03Yes.
SPEAKER_00And that's why I do what I do, and I don't look at numbers.
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_00I don't look at who's going to be there. Yeah. How much money I'm going to make. It's like, what is my purpose? Right. This is why I say to people all the time, you always say, well, what do I got to say? You know, there's a thousand people doing a podcast. Why would I do a podcast? Right. Right?
SPEAKER_04Right, right, right, right.
SPEAKER_00Well, because somebody's waiting on your voice.
SPEAKER_04Yes. Yes. Your voice. Yes.
SPEAKER_00So a whole conference can be created, or a whole narrative can be created. A whole lunch meeting can be for one person.
SPEAKER_05Oh, definitely. Definitely.
SPEAKER_00And that's what I believe happened for me.
SPEAKER_05I I love that. And just hearing you, you speak affirmation, just it's amazing.
SPEAKER_00And that's why I say our walks have to be individual before they're collective.
SPEAKER_05Yes, yes, yes.
SPEAKER_00You understand?
SPEAKER_05Yes. And you're patient with it too.
SPEAKER_00I don't know about that. I don't know about that. Because I just was like, Lord, okay, listen. I don't know if I can do this part. Nah, this part hard. Like, I don't know, right? But but what he was doing though, he kept it together until it got together.
SPEAKER_05Yes, yes, yes.
SPEAKER_00There was no way I could have done it. He sustained me.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00He sustained everything that had to be done.
SPEAKER_05Wow. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Without that, I know I would have been like, what?
SPEAKER_05See, and that had to be a part of the testimony. He couldn't happen no other way. Mm-hmm. Come on, man. Ooh. That is amazing. Now, and because I can see, you know, that you've already had a lot of the sisters coming at you from back then. So at some point, you needed to become a true leader of just empowering women.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and I didn't see it that way.
SPEAKER_05Okay.
SPEAKER_00Because I thought, hey, I'm free, I'm delivered, I'm just there, I'm living my life now, I'm healed. I went through the healing process.
SPEAKER_06Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_00Very important.
SPEAKER_06Yes.
SPEAKER_00I didn't dream until I got healed.
SPEAKER_06Okay. Okay. I like it.
SPEAKER_00Come on. Yeah. You cannot listen. This is why I do what I do with the day with Shalanda Washington. If you can see her, you can be her.
SPEAKER_05Yes.
SPEAKER_00You cannot be what you don't see.
SPEAKER_05This is true. This is very true.
SPEAKER_00And in order to have vision, it starts most of the time with a dream.
SPEAKER_05Yes, yes. Come on.
SPEAKER_00And dreams are not cultivated in a pit of pain. As a matter of fact, it kills the dream.
SPEAKER_05It does. It does. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00You understand? Because we're emotional creatures. We're emotional beings, right? Yeah. So I had to do the healing. And when I got healed, I'm just, listen, I'm free. I just, you know, I hope y'all get it. Hope y'all can be all right. Because I done came out, I done made it out now. I hope y'all can do it.
SPEAKER_04Yes.
SPEAKER_00You know, I'm going to root you all from the back.
SPEAKER_04Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_00And the Lord said, no, there's a mandate on my life to do it. And once he began to give me that passion and the zeal, and it was a setup to get with women because we were at a church, and the pastor came and said, you know, can you guys just hold the church down for, you know, until my wife had this baby? And then I'm like, what? I don't know about that. I can help you, Pastor. You get up there, I can do whatever you want me to do. And put me in this situation. And then I had to run the women's ministry. I had to run.
SPEAKER_04Wow.
SPEAKER_00And every time, women would come and they would just pour. Had a woman come to me and she was 76 years old. She called and she said, Can I just meet with you? And I said, okay, yeah. And she was in a mockling.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And I drove and I said, Well, let's go to lunch. She said, What else? You know, I'm on the fixing. I said, No, no, no, I'll cover it. Let's go. We'll go have lunch. And this lady said, I'm 70 something years old, been in church all of my life. But now I have a hunger to know God and to read his word and know him for real because of your story.
SPEAKER_01Wow.
SPEAKER_00And that did something to me. And I said, okay, God. But it also let me know it had to be all him because you only he can touch hearts.
SPEAKER_05That's it. That is it. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00I take no full credit.
SPEAKER_05Right.
SPEAKER_00Because I have to flow in the thing that empowers me to do what it is I've been called to do. Right. Or if I taint the whole purpose.
SPEAKER_06Right, right. Yeah. I like that.
SPEAKER_00You understand? Yeah, I like that. And how I wear all these hats, because Christ put his super on my natural.
SPEAKER_05I love that. I love that.
SPEAKER_00I could not do this without him.
SPEAKER_05Hey, I don't want you guys to miss that now. He put his super on her natural. Come on.
SPEAKER_03Come on. This is amazing.
SPEAKER_05Listen, I gotta tell you, because I was doing devotion, I do my devotion for an hour every day before I do anything. And this morning, you know, and some of the stuff you're touching on with this that you met with, it's like a confirmation on what that looked like. Because a lot of times, and in the devotion I was doing, it was it was talking on people that was saying God, but don't necessarily know God. Right? And then there is you know, like how people would say, you know, I know I have time and and all these things. But it hit me today. No, you no, once you once a seed is planned on God, you need to get to know God. Because you can say you know God, but if God don't know you, it how is he gonna help you?
SPEAKER_00Yes. Not only that, you know, we can we can think that we're doing what we say. Okay, let's just say this.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00In this, this is why he says, lean not on your own understanding.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00Okay, and a lot of people equate their relationship with God based upon their own experiences and what they know God to be, instead of reading his word, taking them at his word and saying, God, empower me to understand and to just believe it, do it because you said it. Yes, yes, and until you can surrender at that place, and you'll never exhaust him.
SPEAKER_05This is true.
SPEAKER_00I can't say today, oh, I know. I what did Job say? Job said, I knew it, but now I know him.
SPEAKER_05Now you know him. Now he knows him, yes.
SPEAKER_00So it's like you have to always stay before him and learn of him. Just like in a marriage relationship.
SPEAKER_04Oh, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00You know, the relationship is not gonna always be the same. I've got to know, you know, my husband has to know me at this place. I'm not the same woman he married.
SPEAKER_04Right, because you when I was 21 years old. Right, right. You understand?
SPEAKER_00I'm 50 plus two. Right. You know, a lot of things that chase is the You've grown up. Yes.
SPEAKER_05Yes. I you know, that is so true when you touch on that and understand. 10 years ago, 15 years ago, 20 years ago is a different me now. I think a lot of people are still struggling with what that looked like. And for those individuals that says, you know, why did this person that I was cool with decide to not be cool with me no more because I wanted to treat them the same way I knew them when we were growing up? How can you speak to those individuals? What would you say to them?
SPEAKER_00Listen, everybody can't go. And everybody comes for reasons and seasons. Yes. One of the things I teach the women that I mentor, that I coach, is that every relationship, you need to ask what is the nature of this relationship?
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00Why is this person brought in my life? Because a lot of times we we want friends, especially as women, we want a girlfriend. Right, right. And you expect that friend to be everything.
SPEAKER_04Right, right.
SPEAKER_00Even in marriage. Yeah. I said to my husband, I said, you know, even when I was going through things that I was going through, I was expecting him to heal a heart that he didn't break.
SPEAKER_06Right, right, right. Come on.
SPEAKER_00So it's like, what is his role?
SPEAKER_06Yes.
SPEAKER_00And even now, even in our marriage, he gets asked a lot, like, we've had pastors call us and say, How do you handle your wife being out front so much?
SPEAKER_06Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00And he would laugh and say, because that's who she is. Yeah. Right? Because I know, and he said to me, and we was in the Bahamas.
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_00And we were in, and you know, you know how they do the thing, or your inverse, you kind of thing. And so this guy came up and said, We were all in a pool, and so all these couples started navigating toward us. Yeah. And they asked the question and said, What's the secret to staying married? Because we've been married 31 years this year.
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_00And he said, Jimmy, so he asked him, What's your challenge in marriage?
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And the guy said, Man, she just talked so much. She just don't never be quiet. She just don't listen. She don't listen. She just talks a lot. And so he my husband started laughing, right?
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And he's like, Oh, I know. That's like when I met my wife boy, she was like a radio, didn't have no dial. You couldn't push it, you couldn't turn it off. He said, but he said something next that was so profound.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00He said, But if I wouldn't understand what God had blessed me with, I would have cultivated that gift. Come on. She has the gift of gab. Yes. For real. Yes. And he said, we'd probably be traveling well, everything, all this stuff. Just from her talking because it was a gift.
SPEAKER_02Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_00And so I said all that to say that people are brought into your life for reasons and for seasons. Yes. And a lot of times we want them to be there for us. But what have you been, they've been brought in your life for you to be there for them?
SPEAKER_05Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_00Because you also need to bring value to the relationship.
SPEAKER_05That's it right there. Wow. That is amazing.
SPEAKER_00And I don't take relationships lightly and I don't call people my friends lightly because it takes time.
SPEAKER_05It does, yes.
SPEAKER_00You have to put in time. You can't say you're my friend or that you, you know, that you care for me and we're in a relationship and I don't even really know you.
SPEAKER_05Listen, I'm I'm glad you touched. I'm listening I'm trying to put her on the panel right now. You guys gonna see this. So, because we have I did a thing. I did a thing a couple couple shows back, I had a panel of guys. There was a lot of women that did not like how the panel went because they felt like the guys attacked them and no one was there to defend them.
SPEAKER_01Wow.
SPEAKER_05And so they're like, we need a panel now, Cornell. You need to get this panel done so we can have the conversation. Hey, if Miss Shallando is available, I warn her on that panel, ladies. I'm just saying, because I, you know, one of the things the guys, one of the things that the guys were saying, because we were touching on mental health, and men are going through all these different mental health challenges that no one knows about right now. And you know, they don't necessarily open up to brothers, but the women send in questions. And one of the questions was, how can I help you in your mental health state? Wow. And one of the guys said, listen. And you know, they took offense to that a little bit because they felt like they do listen. The guys might not be here. How can you speak on that?
SPEAKER_00Well, in my marriage, that has been a challenge. Okay. Right? Because, you know, knowing that, okay, I'm driven and I'm I'm very passionate about everything, right? Yes. And so my nature is to fix it.
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_00Okay, okay, we got let's go. And so what we've done is we've come up and he will say to me, Yeah, I didn't come to you to respond. I just want you to hear me out.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00Yes, want you to listen. And so because I am a woman of faith, yes, I've learned to pray in those areas. And whenever he says that to me, I begin to pray inside.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And to listen means to hear the concern. I mean, we have to put ourselves, how do we want them to listen to us?
SPEAKER_06Right, right, right.
SPEAKER_00And we want them to come back with the well, say something.
SPEAKER_06Yeah.
SPEAKER_00You ain't gonna say nothing. And they be like stunned. Like, I you just said a lot. Yeah. I need to die. My husband will say, I gotta digest all of this stuff and break it up into little bite-sized pieces. Yes, yeah. So I can see, because I want to do the right thing. Yes, yes. And I want to say the wrong thing. Right. Right? But I have learned that when he does that, yes, he's looking at us as the safe place.
SPEAKER_05Yes. Hey, did you did you ladies just hear that? Yes.
SPEAKER_00That that's a huge compliment.
SPEAKER_05Yes.
SPEAKER_00For a man to say to you, Yeah, I'm pouring my heart.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00And we always, I have a few young girls that I'm mentoring right now, and they're like in middle school, high school, and they come with their brothers sometimes. And every time I tell one of the brothers to do something, just like, let me just, Miss Show, he's not gonna do it. I said, but wait, wait, wait. Every time you do that, you're saying he's not capable.
SPEAKER_06Right, right, right.
SPEAKER_00And then so every time I give him a task now, he be like looking, waiting for Valentine to come over and be like, take it from him. Because then they shut down.
unknownOh, right.
SPEAKER_00Then they won't do, and then we say, Yes, well, you don't, you, well, you never give me a chance to do it.
SPEAKER_05Right, right, wow, wow.
SPEAKER_00We have to listen, there's two sides to a man.
SPEAKER_05Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_00The fool and the king.
SPEAKER_05Come on.
SPEAKER_00Which one are you gonna speak to?
SPEAKER_05Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_00And that changed the trajectory of my marriage. Although I was in church and saved and my husband wasn't, I needed a new frame to put him in. Yes, yes. And I prayed and I said, God help me to see him differently. Yes. And the Lord gave me a name for him, and it was my king man.
SPEAKER_04Come on.
SPEAKER_00That's why I call him that it was on my ringtone. Yes, it was on my refrigerator, it was on the mirror. He saw it, and he would get up. I'm not nobody's king. Why do you keep calling me king?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00You understand what I'm saying? So I call, and when people meet me in the stories, even men, they'll be like, tell your kingman. I mean, no, tell my king man, no, your king man. You know, that I and women will say, one day I'll have a kingman. I said, Well, let me tell you how he got that way.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00It was a journey, and I had to see it before I saw it.
SPEAKER_05I love that. I love that. I love that.
SPEAKER_00I had to see it before I saw it.
SPEAKER_05You understand fate.
SPEAKER_00Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_05You understand fate. I don't, because you know a lot of people struggle with that. How do you how do you hope for something that you can't see?
SPEAKER_00And you've, you know, it's You speak it into an existence.
SPEAKER_05You hear this.
SPEAKER_00Come on. Speak it into existence.
SPEAKER_05Yes. For you know, and you know, we have a lot of uh single women that, you know, listen to the show as well and and watch the show. And how how do you speak to them on the struggles now that a lot of them are going through where they don't necessarily understand how to really take care of self but also take care of everything else that is tugging at them to be handled? They don't know what they should prioritize.
SPEAKER_00Listen, first of all, I take everything to the Lord seriously. I know it may be cliches, right?
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00But he's life to me.
SPEAKER_02Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_00And until you know that you are limited in your own strength.
SPEAKER_06Right.
SPEAKER_00There's no there's times where I end the day and I'm just blown away and I'm just huffing and puffing when I'm laying in the bed. I'm like, how in the world did I do all that today?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00And then when I think I can see God's hand here. Oh, yeah. I can see God's hand there. I can see why? Because I've surrendered my day to him.
SPEAKER_02Yes. Yes.
SPEAKER_00You know, you really have to, because he's not gonna do it. That's the other thing. Like, we leave no room for him to be great in our lives. And I'm like, I I I didn't I didn't make my name great. He made my name great. You know, he made me a household name. You just said on the show, like you met so many people has already said before I even so my name has been spoken in rooms I haven't even entered. Who does that?
SPEAKER_04Hey, hey, hey, who does that?
SPEAKER_00Hey, come on. It takes it takes the man who wrote the plan that's already written for your life.
SPEAKER_02Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_00It's written in heaven. Let it be done on earth as it already is up there. And we have to be patient, and we gotta know that listen, okay, Lord, I made some mistakes, and I know I got these emotions, I got these feelings, I got all this stuff, I got all of this going on, and that's what I had to do. I had to finally say, okay, I need to have Jesus in the therapist too.
SPEAKER_05Definitely. None of this is script. None of this is script. I promise you guys. Come on.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and and just like if you have a toothache, where are you going?
SPEAKER_05Right.
SPEAKER_00To the dentist. You go to the dentist. You know, and I'm so I'm upset with these Christian people talking, my well, you know, God is all you need. No, God gave you when you want to drive, it's like you go to the DMV. You don't say, well, let me go start driving and break the law. No, you go to the places and the things that God has provided in this earth to accomplish the things. This is why you don't have to choose. I do ministry and marketplace.
SPEAKER_06Yes. Yes.
SPEAKER_00Because why? I don't turn this thing off and on.
SPEAKER_06Right, right.
SPEAKER_00Depending on the environment I'm in. And that's half of the problem, knowing who we are.
SPEAKER_06Yes.
SPEAKER_00And getting rid of this imposter syndrome, which makes us feel like we're juggling a lot when you really, if you're in your purpose and calling, you're not juggling nothing.
SPEAKER_05No, you're not. Wow.
SPEAKER_00You're actually managing and stewarding your callings. These hats are callings.
SPEAKER_04Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_00The question is, what hat you got on? Is it yours?
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And do it fit you.
SPEAKER_03Does it fit you?
SPEAKER_00Ooh.
SPEAKER_03Ooh, come on.
SPEAKER_00Does it fit you?
SPEAKER_05Yes. Wow.
SPEAKER_00Because we'll put on other people's hats.
SPEAKER_05This is true. This is true.
SPEAKER_00If I don't know my purpose and my calling, anything goes.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00This is how I prioritized.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00This is how I know what I am to do. And when you're clear on that, other stuff don't even come to you.
SPEAKER_01I love it.
SPEAKER_00It can't even penetrate. It don't even become an issue because you are, and it's not a struggle. Should I, should I, not? I don't even battle with that kind of stuff no more.
SPEAKER_05All right. I'ma throw, I'm going to throw two concerts at you happening at the same time. Gladys Knight. Shirley Caesar. Who we go to? You can only choose one.
SPEAKER_00I want a Gladys Knight. I'm on a Gladys Knight. Come on. Seriously, I mean, listen, it's okay to enjoy life and have fun. You can do everything but sin.
SPEAKER_05Yes, yes. You understand?
SPEAKER_00Now if Gladys Knight singing in her song, love go get the other lady man and stuff like that, then I'll say, wait a minute, Gladys. We ain't doing that.
SPEAKER_05Wait a minute, Gladys. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00But you're saying midnight train to Georgia. You have a real love for someone. I've experienced that.
SPEAKER_06Yes. I'm in that. Yes, you are. Right?
SPEAKER_00And I'll drive a midnight train all the way to Georgia for my man mind. My madmind. Okay.
SPEAKER_03Love it.
SPEAKER_00So I'm feeling that. Yes. But no, it would be glad to snipe.
SPEAKER_05Ooh, okay. All right. I love that. I love that. Now, you know, there's been this whole thing on the food that is that food that, you know, you look to every week. What would that one mean look like for you that you look to every week that you feed your vessel?
SPEAKER_00Ooh. So you talk about spiritual food. Well, I don't know. It's it's my my Sabbath.
SPEAKER_04Okay, okay, okay.
SPEAKER_00Um, because the Lord had me do a really deep study on the Sabbath and how we don't understand that it ignites your spiritual growth.
SPEAKER_06Right, right.
SPEAKER_00At our church, our theme for this year is grow up.
SPEAKER_06Okay. Right?
SPEAKER_00That's our word. And last month, because this month is women's month, but last month we dealt with the spiritual disciplines that increase your spiritual growth. Yes. And you have to be disciplined for that. Because I thought resting was like, girl, I'm gonna get my hair done, get my nails done, I'll spend this time, you know, or go to church on Sunday, that's your Sabbath. No.
SPEAKER_01No.
SPEAKER_00Sabbath is really sitting with God and doing things that even, let me just say this. Chick-fil-A even understands this.
SPEAKER_05Oh yeah, oh yeah.
SPEAKER_00This is why the business is soaring. Come on.
SPEAKER_05Oh yeah, that is true. That is true.
SPEAKER_00And then and when you read their biology, uh biography and it states the reason why they do it, so that people may worship if they choose to.
SPEAKER_06Right, right, right.
SPEAKER_00So it's a time to really worship the Lord with no distractions, no talk to him about whatever that is. But the real thing is, is you look back and see how he's carried you all week long. Oh yeah, oh yeah. That ignites something in me.
SPEAKER_05Oh, definitely.
SPEAKER_00The miracles, because we we think miracles are like feeding 5,000, making people who blind see. No, miracles, just the fact I made it through the week, Lord. That's a miracle with all this stuff coming at me at one time.
SPEAKER_05Yep, yep, yep.
SPEAKER_00So I take a Sabbath, and I don't say, Oh, it's every Sunday, every Tuesday. No, no, it's whenever the Lord, I flow with the Holy Ghost.
SPEAKER_05That's beautiful.
SPEAKER_00That's my power.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00So that's what I look forward to once a week.
SPEAKER_05Yeah.
SPEAKER_00My Sabbath this week was Wednesday. Okay. It wasn't even Sunday because I worked on Sunday. And a lot of us that's in ministry, yeah. It's not a Sabbath. You're serving, you're working, you're serving. Others.
SPEAKER_06Right.
SPEAKER_00No, that's your service. Wow.
unknownWow.
SPEAKER_05I love that right there. Right now, you know, one of the things that a lot of gens, I want to make sure wording it properly for you guys, because I don't know, you guys come after me sometime and like, you know, Cornell, you should have said it this way. Um but introverts have an issue now with the way society is moving. And you know, we now we have to deal with genders.
SPEAKER_01Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_05Out outside of what God said, this is what's happening. What do you say to those introverts that just they they just can't handle a conversation and they just don't want to go into it because they don't know how to address it?
SPEAKER_00Okay, so I'm gonna be sorry I'll listen to your question. Now you're talking about gender, whether they're confused. Yeah. Okay. Well, I mean, it's it's an identity confusion. I mean, it really is, because we do have a creator, right?
SPEAKER_02Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_00Um, and in all honesty, you know, my youngest daughter, you know, she is attracted to girls.
SPEAKER_06Right, right.
SPEAKER_00And we found this out in middle school.
SPEAKER_01Okay, right? Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And so nobody in the churches at that time, I that was never a discussion.
SPEAKER_01Right, right.
SPEAKER_00Right. But what it has done for me and what I've learned, and as I just go before the, because he created her.
SPEAKER_04Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00And so I told my daughter this. I said, in God's eye, yeah, sin is sin.
SPEAKER_06Right.
SPEAKER_00Whether I somebody sleep with somebody else's husband or you know, somebody tell a lie.
SPEAKER_06Right, right.
SPEAKER_00And whether you desire to be with the same sex, it's just the fleshly desire to take over.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00You understand what I'm saying? So I love her, I treat her the same way. I'm always, I taught to her, it's just like the same thing. If if my if my boys are not married and they're, you know, cohabitating, this, that. Right. I mean, we all do things that does not line up in the word.
SPEAKER_06Right, right, right.
SPEAKER_00Does that excuse us? Absolutely not.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Everybody has to come by way the same way. I had to recognize that I need a savior. You understand? Yeah. And we all need that. So, what I would say to them is just think about the fact that you were created.
SPEAKER_02Yes. Yes.
SPEAKER_00And the fact that if you really want to know who you are and what your purpose is, you first got to look at what you're allowing in your eye gate and your ear gate.
SPEAKER_01Come on.
SPEAKER_00Because that all affects when seeds are planted, they're gonna grow. And it started somewhere.
SPEAKER_05Yes, it did. Yes. I love that. Wow. Wow. Listen, you guys are welcome. We gotta bring you back on the show. We don't have enough time because there's so many that we we want to touch and that we we're not even be able to touch because we're in the final, you know, part of the show right now. But for individuals that want to find you, want to do business with you, what does that look like? How can they find you?
SPEAKER_00Oh, all of my social media handles, reliable permitting on Facebook, Instagram as well, and then I'm on TikTok, but I don't know what that is. Y'all just look at my name, Shalanda Washington. Yes. I don't do my own posting. Right, right. So, and on Instagram as well, Shalanda Washington. Beautiful. And you can inbox me. Also my website, reliable permitting and bss Inc. And for a day with Shalanda Washington, you can go see everything, all things Shalanda Washington on www.shalandawashington.com.
SPEAKER_05What would you say to someone that feels like they're losing hope?
SPEAKER_00Wow. That's a deep question. Because hope, when people lose hope, they're ready to end it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00And so I want you to know that if you're still breathing, you're still living, you're still here, and you're waking up every morning, there is hope and there's purpose for your life.
SPEAKER_02Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_00Trust me, there is because I've been in that place too. Yes. Yeah.
SPEAKER_05Wow. There you guys have it. She said it. Ooh, mic have been dropped. Thank you. You're welcome.
SPEAKER_00Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.
SPEAKER_05Listen, until our next episode, we'll have another decorative guest right here at Yas Club. Thank you.
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