As we celebrate another trip around the sun, Dr. Anissa Short joins me in a conversation that is both a balm for the soul and a catalyst for empowerment. This isn't just any dialogue—it's a shared spiritual journey where we intertwine hymns and wisdom, and where faith becomes the beacon for entrepreneurial women. Dr. Short, a beacon of motivation herself, offers her invaluable insights as we honor my birthday, exploring the significance of faith, family, and finances, and the transformative power of authenticity across all roles in life.
Every woman's pathway to confidence is as unique as her fingerprint, and Dr. Short eloquently unpeels the layers of building such confidence through a steadfast foundation in faith. We navigate the intricate dance of parenting with grace, and the remarkable impact of mentorship and relationships on personal and professional evolution. It's a testament to the strength found in vulnerability and the importance of recognizing our worth as described in the scriptures—more precious than rubies.
Wrap your heart around the compelling world of fiction as we discuss "The Gift of Freedom," a story that mirrors the liberating journey of love and forgiveness. Anastasia's tale is a vivid illustration of the universal struggle to find healing and the profound freedom in letting go. Our episode concludes with a prayer of gratitude for this podcast platform and the vibrant community we've cultivated. Join us as we seek to ignite the embers of inspiration in your own life—may this episode be a gift that keeps on giving, long after the candles on my birthday cake have been blown out.
As we celebrate another trip around the sun, Dr. Anissa Short joins me in a conversation that is both a balm for the soul and a catalyst for empowerment. This isn't just any dialogue—it's a shared spiritual journey where we intertwine hymns and wisdom, and where faith becomes the beacon for entrepreneurial women. Dr. Short, a beacon of motivation herself, offers her invaluable insights as we honor my birthday, exploring the significance of faith, family, and finances, and the transformative power of authenticity across all roles in life.
Every woman's pathway to confidence is as unique as her fingerprint, and Dr. Short eloquently unpeels the layers of building such confidence through a steadfast foundation in faith. We navigate the intricate dance of parenting with grace, and the remarkable impact of mentorship and relationships on personal and professional evolution. It's a testament to the strength found in vulnerability and the importance of recognizing our worth as described in the scriptures—more precious than rubies.
Wrap your heart around the compelling world of fiction as we discuss "The Gift of Freedom," a story that mirrors the liberating journey of love and forgiveness. Anastasia's tale is a vivid illustration of the universal struggle to find healing and the profound freedom in letting go. Our episode concludes with a prayer of gratitude for this podcast platform and the vibrant community we've cultivated. Join us as we seek to ignite the embers of inspiration in your own life—may this episode be a gift that keeps on giving, long after the candles on my birthday cake have been blown out.
You called me out upon the waters, the great unknown, where feet may fail. And there I find you, in the mystery, in oceans deep. My faith will stand and I will call upon your name and keep my eyes above the waves. When oceans rise, my soul will rest in your embrace. I am yours and you are mine. Your grace abounds beneath this waters. Your sovereign hand will be my guide when feet may fail and fear surrounds me. You've never failed and you won't start now. So I will call upon your name and keep my eyes above the waves. When oceans rise, my soul will rest in your embrace, for I am yours and you are mine and you are mine.
Speaker 1:Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders. Let me walk upon the waters Wherever you would call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior. Spirit lead me where my trust is without fault. Let me walk upon the water Wherever you would go, wherever you would call. Take me deep. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, and my faith will be strong. Spirit lead me where my trust is without fault. Spirit lead me will be made strong, jesus of my Savior Spirit. Lead me where my trust is with no one. Let me walk upon the cross wherever you lead me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever walk. My faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior Spirit. Lead me where my trust is, with no borders. Let me walk upon the waters wherever you call me. Take me deep within my feet and I will walk upon the waters wherever you call me, and I will walk upon your name.
Speaker 1:Wake up my little child and keep my eyes above the waves. Wake up, my little child. I will rest in your embrace. I am yours and you are mine. I am yours, you are mine, I am yours, you are mine, you're mine. Yeah, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. So, oh, the love of God. All the saints and angels, they bow before your throne. All the elders cast their crowns before the Lamb. Abide and see. You're worthy of it all. You're worthy of it all, for from you are all things and to you are all things. You deserve the glory. All the saints and angels Bow before your throne. All the elders passed their crowns before the.
Speaker 2:Lamb of God and say You're worthy of it all, you're worthy of it all, you're worthy of it all, You're worthy of it all. Yes, that was Worthy of it. Oh, with Cece Winans and I have such a special guest for you guys today. Welcome to the Listen Linda Show I have today, dr Anissa Short.
Speaker 3:How are you today, hi, ms Cox, I am fantastic. How are you?
Speaker 2:I am blessed and highly favored. I am so, so glad that you have decided to join us in the waiting room.
Speaker 3:Thank you for the invitation.
Speaker 2:I appreciate the opportunity oh no, no problem for you guys who don't know, dr Anissa Short also invited me next month, on my birthday, to do a podcast interview with her as well, so we're going to speak more about that later on in the week. Before we get started, I always start either with a hymn or a prayer. Today I did both. I did Oceans by Brie Babineau and I also did CeCe Winans. Worthy of it All. I'm going to start with prayer and then we're going to jump right into the questions. Sounds good, dear Heavenly Father, we come before you today with grateful hearts as we prepare to interview the incredible Dr Anissa Short on my podcast. Listen, linda, the Waiting Room. My podcast Listen, linda, the Waving Room. I ask for your guidance and wisdom, lord God, as we dive into her journey as a motivational speaker, author and entrepreneur. May this conversation be a source of inspiration and empowerment for all who listen. In your name, we pray Amen.
Speaker 2:So now let's get right into the questions. To anybody who know me no, I got questions. I got questions, honey. Yes, and I never ask my guests. Oh, tell the audience who you are, or you know where you come from. No, no, no, not me. I do my research and I quilt my questions based on what I find. So for the first question, your bio mentions that you have transformed your decades of entrepreneurial experience into engaging events that educate, empower and encourage women, especially female entrepreneurs. Could you share some key principles or strategies that you emphasize during your events to help women thrive in their entrepreneurial journey? That's an excellent question.
Speaker 3:I so appreciate you doing your research. So, first and foremost, most of what I do on a platform, or most of what I host or engage in, serve women. Whether they be female entrepreneurs, domestic engineers, corporate attorneys, it doesn't really matter, because I believe that our community of women do a great job representing in the marketplace in their various capacities, but we need a community of women also to be cheerleaders, to be supporters, to be guiding lights and things of that nature. So all of my events are geared in that vein or in that fashion. I started my first entrepreneurial consistent, I should say entrepreneurial journey in 1999, working within a direct sales industry, mainly with an industry that 98% were women.
Speaker 3:One of the things that I truly believe is that we should operate our businesses and live our lives from a principle space, and so my faith is a very vital part of what I share. My educational platform uses biblical principles. The way I encourage, just from a place of who we are, educational standpoint, from an entrepreneurial standpoint, from a career standpoint, should always be centered around keeping the priorities of faith, family and finances in perfect harmony not necessarily equal to each, but making sure that those areas are first and foremost in our lives. So all of our decisions are filtered through that principle, or through that principle or through that foundation of making sure that the decisions you make concerning your education, your career, your business practices, et cetera, serve to benefit your faith, your family and your finances. And if it doesn't do that, it just doesn't make sense that it just doesn't make sense.
Speaker 2:Amen, look, you caught me with the last key at the end. If it does not fit your faith, your finances or your family, then it is not for you and keep it moving. I appreciate that Now, as a bestselling author and conference speaker, you've had the opportunity to share your message with a wide range of audiences, right? So how do you tailor your message to resonate with different groups and what impact do you hope to make through your work?
Speaker 3:As of today. So far, the majority of the people that I've had privilege of speaking to or speaking for have been the audience that I've served, which is women. So the networking events that I've gone to, or I may have served as a workshop presenter or speaker, the attendees were mostly women. The larger stages for which I've been able to represent on, which is the Forbes Business Council and the TEDx stages, I either had a message that was geared towards entrepreneurship and I represented from that space, or either I served as an emcee, and so I was able to not only speak from a place of representing as an entrepreneur, but also as an author and et cetera representing as an entrepreneur, but also as an author and et cetera.
Speaker 3:So one of the things I know with certainty, ms Cox, is this is that when you operate from a principled place, it doesn't really matter your audience, because when it comes to principles, they're universal. You know, for example, the law of gravity is a universal law, a universal principle. If it's a man, woman, boy, girl that jumps off the roof, they're going to all get the same result they're going to fall to the ground expeditiously. So when I speak to my audiences because everything that I choose to share stems from a principled place. It really doesn't matter the audience, it really doesn't, but I am always wanting to leave a nugget of inspiration or a seed, or plant a seed of encouragement or hope, and so that's something we all could use.
Speaker 2:I can agree to that and I can respect that as well. Your favorite quote by Marianne Williamson speaks to the power of letting our own light shine and inspiring others to do the same. How has this quote influenced your approach to motivating and empowering women?
Speaker 3:You know. I'm so glad you asked that question because the first time I heard that quote by Marianne Robinson of course it's much more to the quote than that but that particular segment of it spoke to me because if we were to look at, look into the, the night sky, you're going to see of course it's a clear night, that is, you're going to see the moon shining brightly, but you're also going to see stars, and some of the stars the brilliance of the movie a lot, a lot more visible than others there. Some are going to radiate more, some are going to seem like they're more, they're closer to you, are going to seem like they're closer to you, some are going to seem like they're further away. But when you look in the sky you can't really differentiate one from the other. But you do know one thing they're all shining bright and I believe we as humans have a light within us that can shine bright as well.
Speaker 3:And if we would, rather than focus on why someone's light might be brighter than yours or dimmer than yours, why don't we just focus on doing our best to shine bright? And when we do, we all bring together, and when we all come together, when each of us focus from that perspective and we all come together, we create the beautiful skylight. We can create something beautiful just like the skylight the skyline would be on any clear night. What does that tell me that I need to do as an individual? I just need to focus on my shine. I need to do what's necessary so that I not only shine, but I shine brightly.
Speaker 3:And we do that by way of becoming better versions of ourselves, on doing what's necessary to increase our skill set, to overcome fear, to make sure that we become more polished versions of ourselves, and we can do that by way of our faith. And we also can do that by way of the people that we choose to connect with, because when people come together and you're around the right circle, they help to bring out in you. Sometimes we don't even see in ourselves. So that segment spoke to me and it says basically that everybody is a light. Everybody has the opportunity to shine and everybody should maximize the opportunity to shine in whatever way. That means Some lights won't be as bright as others, but it doesn't matter.
Speaker 2:You're still a light, so shine matter, you're still a light, so shine. I love that so much. And that reminds me of so many things, especially this one interview that I saw with Kelly Rowland. She was on um uh, I think his name is Ibram or Ibro Show, and he was saying oh, you know Beyonce this and Beyonce that. And she was like well, I'm a light too, you know, like I got my own light. I'm not focusing on anybody else, I'm focusing on my own light. We are all lights and like that, I truly believe that light. It definitely diminishes darkness.
Speaker 2:And like you could be so focused, like my grandma used to always say, just like a classroom, like don't look on somebody else but focus on your own paper so you can pass Exactly, you know, and your testimony.
Speaker 2:So we so busy focusing on everybody else and what everybody else got going on. And I've learned that just recently, within the past few years, that if I stopped looking at what everybody else is doing and and why ain't nobody looking at me? Well, take that same energy, put it inside of yourself and watch. Like just this past six months, I've exploded in my career, I've exploded in my faith, I've exploded in just everything, because God has catapulted my life, because I put my focus on the word. I put my focus on him and my trust and my faith in him and I you know faith without works is dead right. So I put all my energy into everything that he's told me to do and it has worked and he has blessed it beyond measure. And it's all because I focus, like you said, on the light, the light which is him, which is in us. So I can appreciate I got once I saw the quote, um, I was like wow, like that's deep, so I definitely had to ask you give yourself permission.
Speaker 3:When you look at that quote, it says we all have been given a light and we all have permission to shine. So if we truly focus on being the best light that we can be, the best version of a light that we can be, we wouldn't have time to be even comparing ourselves to other people because we're so busy. We're so busy taking care, we don't have time to.
Speaker 3:But the thing is is that? Here's the thing. A lot of people don't consider themselves as light, and that's the unfortunate part. So my platform is to ignite the fire, or to help people to see that you do have value, you do bring something to the table. Just be the best version of what you can be and that's good enough. Just always focus on improving yourself and being the better version of who you are. Hone in those skills and gifts and talents that God gave you before you were even formed. Much of what we have to offer is not anything that we had to be taught. It was something that was given to us innately by the creator, and so if we focused on just that alone and become a better version, a more improved version of that, then we would be busy, promise you. We wouldn't have time for anything else.
Speaker 2:Oh man, I haven't been able to look to breathe, blah, blah, focused on what God want me to do next. You know, of course, you use the sermon and everything that you do right, and you fast and you pray on it, but you still have to work towards everything intentionally yes, intentionally putting in the work to become a better version of you. He will bless it, oh my goodness, he will bless it, and I'm just so, so, very grateful for him, for you, for all my guests who, you know, trust me to help bring awareness to their books, businesses or platforms or whatever it may be, and that's why I do my best to try to help people the best way that I can. And you know, I was that student that always had good grades, but it was always in the comments. I'm very talkative. So I was like, hmm, I mean, what can I do with that?
Speaker 2:I create a podcast because I love to talk Perfect, and I ask a lot of questions and I always have some good ones. So we're gonna move along to the next one. Now this is a good one too. So the title of one of your books ask for me in my house suggest the focus on the importance of faith and family, just like you mentioned earlier, faith, family, finances, um. How has your belief in god and your spirituality played a role in your personal and professional life?
Speaker 3:Well, I don't differentiate one from the other. This is my life period. My life includes my being a wife. My life includes my being a daughter, a sister, you know, an auntie. My life includes my being an entrepreneur. My life includes my being an author.
Speaker 3:So I don't segment who I am based on a title. This is Anissa, and I feel like I'm using my gifts to the best of my ability to represent who I represent. So, when I look at it from that perspective, everything that I know and believe and trust in, which comes from the word of God, I can apply to every aspect or every hat that I wear. So my prayer is Lord, help me to be the best version and to do a great job. With all the many hats that I wear, I'm still Anissa at the end of the day. I am Anissa Short. I am Anissa Short, wife. I'm Anissa Short, auntie. I'm Anissa Short, daughter. I'm Anissa Short.
Speaker 3:Author, entrepreneur. So I don't differentiate. I get what you're saying. I just wanted to emphasize that because sometimes people have segmented themselves and because of that, you see them in one way in a career, professional standpoint, and then you see them another way when they're out with their family at the grocery store. I'm the same person, no matter where you find me. I exude the same light. I exude the same personality. But everything that I choose to be, in every decision I choose to make, no matter what role in which I'm serving, I'm choosing to do so in a way that's consistent with my faith. So when it says we should love others and treat others the way we want to be treated, I'm going to treat my husband the way I want to be treated. I'm going to treat my nephews the way I want to be treated. You follow what I'm saying. I'm going to treat my clients and my colleagues the way I want to be treated. That same principle flows through every aspect of who I am and the hats that I wear.
Speaker 2:I hope that answers your question. Oh, it definitely did. I love that and you know what? I've never looked at it that way and I think it's because by me, you know, trying to differentiate. You know the way that I treat adults, opposed to the way that I treat my children, have to come at it from kind of like a different standpoint because I don't want my kids to get a misrepresentation that it's okay that they have that same type of way where they can speak to me in a certain way that I would speak to them. So maybe that's the difference in that, you know, I have two younger kids in the house, you know, and I guess, because I come at it from that standpoint, but I agree with everything that you're saying as far as like having that same personality.
Speaker 3:Hello.
Speaker 2:Hello, are you there? I am, I'm, I am here. I couldn't hear you for a minute, though, oh yeah, um, I was basically saying, like, when my kids are around, I try, try to kind of go from whatever it is that the adults watch to PG-13 or PG. Oh yes.
Speaker 3:You know what I'm saying. You know what.
Speaker 2:Because I'm a firecracker.
Speaker 3:No, no, that's a part of it, but you know what. But here's the thing, though, that's a part of your mother's parental know what. But here's the thing, though that's a part of your mother parental responsibility. You follow what I'm saying. So. So you know, in in the workplace, when I was working a traditional job, you know I had to be assertive, I had to be authoritative because of the roles in which I serve, I had to be take charge and that role in which I serve. But even in serving in that role, I still wanted to treat people the way I wanted to be treated, even my into my assertiveness.
Speaker 3:Then my roles changed when I came home. I don't have to take charge and be the head because I'm. I mean, I don't have to be assertive. I can be, but I don't have to because my husband takes it. So now my role, how I function, may change, but at the same time I'm wanting to still treat him the way I want to be treated. You follow what I'm saying, so I get what you're saying. You're not going to treat your children the identical way in which you would treat an adult, but at the same time, you're going to let the biblical principles be your guide on even how you operate, you know, so I get that.
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely. So. That's why I said I can 100% agree with what you're saying and why the way that you, you know, your spirituality plays a role in your professional and personal life is one and the same. So I can agree with that and I can respect that. So, so, very much. And, yeah, that's definitely a gem I'm definitely going to put in my bag. So, look, I can learn. There's no shame in my game. 34 years old, I'm still learning, so I can definitely, definitely attest to that. That's a great gem for me to stick right on in my back pocket. You have spoken on various stages as you stayed before, like the Forest Business Council stage and the University of South Africa test stage. Can you share an impactful moment or experience from one of those speaking engagements that left the last impression on you and your audience?
Speaker 3:The biggest. The very first opportunity I had to go to South Africa was to support my mentor, as a result of her being a part of a TEDx experience hosted by the University of South Africa in Johannesburg. That opportunity came out of the blue, but I believe it was divinely orchestrated. Because of my relationship with her, she became my publishing mentor several years prior. Never in a million years would I have imagined that being connected to her would have resulted in my opportunity to go to South Africa. And also little did I know that, although I went there in September of 2022 with her, that I would be going back in March of 2023 and I, too, would be on the stage with the University of South Africa. Just that alone spoke volumes to me. One it spoke to the importance of South Africa. Just that alone speaks spoke volumes to me. One is spoke to the importance of mentorship. It spoke to the importance of mentorship in that, when you are pursuing whatever it is that you are choosing to pursue, it is so important that you not only have a mentor, but the right mentor, because that mentor will not only guide you in the proper way in which to operate or the proper way in which to function or how to hone in on the skills necessary to soar and excel in your chosen profession or chosen project, but it will also lead to doors being open, and that door for me opened up an opportunity to go to the continent of Africa, you know which is something that I've always said I wanted to do but did not know when it would happen of Africa, which is something that I've always said I wanted to do but did not know when it would happen, and that opened up not only the opportunity to be on that stage, but to be in the motherland.
Speaker 3:I cannot adequately convey what that was like. I still say surreal is the best way for me to describe it. To be in Africa, to be amongst the people of Africa, to be in the culture. Be in Africa, to be amongst the people of Africa, to be in the culture, to be a part of the culture, to experience the culture, to be able to build relationships with people who I now converse with via social media, you know pretty regularly, or still communicate with with regards to future projects that I did not know five years ago, had no clue.
Speaker 3:I would know who they are, and so that has been a joy. It has added color to my life. I live a colorful life anyway. Let's be clear. I was not just black and white and gray, but that has added another aspect of my life to my life and another sense of vibrancy that I did not know, never imagined happening. I mean, it's been a great ride. So, yes, being able to serve on the stage in South Africa and then that led to me actually emceeing a TEDx experience here in the United States. So you know, I will say it was more to it than just the stage. It wasn't really about me being visible on the stage as much as it was about me being able to glean from the experience and the environment of those opportunities.
Speaker 2:Yes, oh man, I could just imagine, like you say, it's not so much about the stage or the presence of being on the stage and being, you know, in front of those people, but it's more so about you spreading that message and getting that word out and it touching lives and touching people in such a way that they can like, like, just like today, you gave me a word and I was like, oh, that's my back pocket, and now just imagine what I'm going to take with that and do with that, you know, and that might work something so great. And then you'll go back and and or somebody will say, well, jackie, where did you get that? Oh, you know what? I had Dr Nissa Short, and she just taught me that, she gave me that gem. And it's like you take that and you're like, wow, like she took just that little piece of what I said and she created something so great out of it. And just to know that you touched just one life with that, that, and so imagine thousands of millions like that's, that's amazing.
Speaker 2:And then to be able to Africa, that's something that me and my husband and my kids, you know, always say that we're gonna do so. Kudos for that Like and to be able to go back again, like that is amazing. I'm just in awe of all of that and I'm just, I'm so happy. You look, my heart is like pounding, like I love that, like that is I know you did. Every time I see Africa on TV or I see anything dealing with Africa and just how beautiful it is, it warms my spirit where you just know, wow, that's home, that's amazing. So so very grateful that you even you know a lot of people don't want to or are intimidated by that. So just because you took that opportunity and you went for unapologetically, I love that so much for you. You have a keynote, a Confident Woman, and in that keynote you discuss identifying and building confidence in oneself and others. How do you believe spirituality and a connection with God contributes to building confidence, particularly for women?
Speaker 3:I absolutely love that question. Here's what I truly believe is that a woman or a man can truly be confident in and of themselves. They really have to know who they are, and the who of what we are can only be found in the creator. Think about it, you know, if you have a I mean in a practical, everyday sense if you have a Whirlpool refrigerator and then something is not functioning properly with that Whirlpool refrigerator, you don't use a Samsung model or operations guide to try to figure out why your Whirlpool is not operating properly, right? So if we're not confident in who we are or in the makeup of who we are, or for whatever reason, we really need to consult the creator. It just makes sense To me. It's kind of like we're not operating fully at the capacity we believe we should and for that reason we don't feel like the best version of ourselves. We need to go back to who created us and choose to believe what they say about us and not what we may be saying about ourselves or what someone else may have told us. So when I talk about being a confident woman, I use a story in the word of God to convey the message, and being a confident woman has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that she wears Prada or carries a Chanel or sprays on some Dolce Gabbana. That has nothing to do with what clothes she wears. Those are just external factors, you know. But a lot of people can dress up really well, but internally they don't have any confidence in themselves and so they choose to grasp, hold to those name, brand things, trinkets and external representations to convey something that truly does not exist. When a woman is truly confident in who she is and how she represents, it's because she truly understands who she is. So some of the nuggets I share is that the word of God tells us as women especially those of us who are wise, that we're more valuable than rubies. Diamonds come every day. Everybody can get a diamond, but a ruby is very rare. In my life as a wife should be not the status quo, but I should stand above or stand out from the crowd, not because I'm better than anyone else, because I'm not, but because I understand who I am. Because of what he has said in his word. I use stories to convey in those scriptures, to truly provide the definition I talk about what a woman, a confident woman, how we respond to crisis, and I use an example in the word of God that tells us that, not because any one person some of us can be stronger than others, because we've lived through more in certain areas, but we all have areas where we fall short.
Speaker 3:So where do you feel insecure, where do you feel like you're less than?
Speaker 3:And go to the word of God and work on that area until you feel better about yourself, not because you are better than anyone else, but because he's given you the blueprint by which to operate by and the blueprint by which to believe, and it simply is that you shift your thinking, in your paradigm, you shift your perspective and you choose to accept what your creator, what your father, says about you as truth and you operate from that place.
Speaker 3:That's what being a confident woman is to me, and becoming a confident woman, and it's not an overnight process. So give yourself permission to take some time, but don't allow extraneous variables and people who didn't build it. If you didn't build an earth, I heard one pastor say until you build you a solar system and build you an earth and build you an ecosystem, until you create heavens and earth, then I'm just going to choose to believe what the word of God says I'm not going to choose, I'm not going to place value on what man says over what my creator says. Being a confident woman, I'm just reminding women of who God said we are and challenging them to accept that and move from that vantage point to make a better impression in the earth or to represent from a better place.
Speaker 2:I love that. I definitely got to sit in on one of your conferences. I just I am over here like taking it all and I truly, truly love that because I'm a firm believer of that as well. Like, you change your mind, you change your life. You change your mindset, you change your life.
Speaker 2:A lot of my peers that are in their early 30s, or people I graduated high school with or with college with, they're all still partying, getting drunk, having fun, doing this, doing that, having their own type of fun, but they don't see life the way I see it. And a lot of times I was talking to another person I had on yesterday, robin Ayers, and we were speaking about it and it was the same for me. When you are operating on a different level, spiritually, you'll see things a lot different than the way the world sees it. And I don't think that I see things the way the world sees it because I'm so honed in on just the word and the book, the real Facebook, the book that you should have your face in, which is the word of God, which is, you know, the Bible, and you know, when you are operating on that level of the 4D level and you are seeing things from a different perspective. Yeah, me and you. We might be looking, you know, north, right, but you're grass and I'm a tree. You know, you're a puppy, I'm a giraffe. So if we're looking north and someone says, hey, so what do you guys see? And you know, the puppy says I see a taxi coming. And the giraffe may say, hey, I see birds flying this way.
Speaker 2:Now, are either of them wrong? No, but they're seeing it from a different perspective. You can see it from a worldly perspective, but I see it from a higher realm because I'm operating on a different realm, spiritually, and when you're operating, it's like an out-of-body experience that I have. It's like an out-of-body experience that I have and it's no matter how much I try to explain it to people my age, it's like they will never get it until they sit down and really read the word and then take those classes, the same classes I took, and just really hone in on it and get that level of perspective that I got from it. But they still might not see.
Speaker 2:Like, you may read the word, I may read the word, you may have your interpretation of it, I may have mine. Does that mean that either of us are wrong. No, we just two different human beings seeing it from two different ways. I see the word read. You see the word read. You're seeing it from a present, I'm seeing it from a past. Tense Doesn't mean we're wrong, it just means what way are you? You know from what perspective are you reading it from? You know, are you reading it the way that it's supposed to be read, or are you reading it from a different way?
Speaker 3:And and there's nothing wrong with that, but it's something wrong with that? No, it does, because it has everything to do with the lens from which you're filtering. So, if you so, you know, like I remember years ago, um, when the cosby show was out. Now everybody know they can say what they want to about bill cosby and I'm not gonna get into all of that, but I love the Cosby show was my listen, the Cosby show was the show.
Speaker 2:I don't care what anybody says, it was, but now let me tell you something.
Speaker 3:But let me tell you this it wasn't until years later I'm in college, or maybe out of college, I can't remember and I remember being in a group conversation with people, um, that were that it looked, you know, different. We're on the same age bracket. I can't remember now where I was I think it may have been on the job and a young lady that was in that group said to, said to us, and that she didn't like the show at all. And I said well, why? Because I couldn't imagine why anybody would not like the cosby show. And she said because it's fake. Well, first of all, sis this tv, can we just, can we just all agree it's TV. So she says it was fake and I said well, what do you mean by fake? And she says people don't live that way, black people don't live that way.
Speaker 3:Now, this was an African-American woman, and then I said you don't think black people live that way? And she says no, I don da da. And she just went in. Well, basically, what it amounted to was that in the community from which she was reared, in the environment in which she grew up, in the family life structure that she had, she never saw that. She never saw that in her family, people getting along that way, having a doctor as one parent and an attorney as another parent, and they getting along. She was just very honest. Well, I told her. I said well, I hate that for you, because I did see that growing up I didn't have an uncle, or my mom wasn't a doctor and my dad it was, you know, an attorney, but I do have family members that we get together. You know what I'm saying. We, we get along, we're going, they're encouraging us to go to college.
Speaker 3:So I can relate to some things in the Cosby show because, while it may not have been the perfect, it may not have been truly identical to where I was raised. There was so much I could relate to. At the same time, she's watching the same show and she's saying this is so fake, it's not real. Because we're looking at it through different lenses and that's why I believe we can all read the same thing and we interpret it totally different, because we're reading from different lenses and the only common denominator is going to be that the word of God doesn't change and over time, for those whose hearts are truly wanting to have better, eventually it will transform to. I think that's what the Bible means by the veil that's been lifted. That's the lens, the cloudiness in our sight and our understanding. But if we stick to it and don't give up, we all eventually start seeing things the same way.
Speaker 2:That's where clarity will come in. That's such a great interpretation of it. And you know what, Looking at the Cosby show, just a home back in, it's so crazy because she didn't grow up in that environment just the same way I did. Right, my family didn't get along. I didn't come from a two-parent household. I didn't grow up that way. But at the same time, when I watched the Cosby show, it gave me hope. So I saw it as wow, look at them. I didn't look at it as if it was fake. I knew that I had never seen it coming from, you know, a block radius where we didn't, we didn't, we didn't step outside of our environment.
Speaker 2:But I've always said, if they're going to do it too, then that's what exactly. That's what I'm going to have for my kids, and I'm going to make that my reality. And look at them, they're something great. So I'm going to be something great, exactly. And so I never had a negative thought in my mind when I watched the Cosby show different strokes.
Speaker 2:And so they'll go to college and, you know, go to Hillman and and just and just be great. I always said that's going to be me, you know that be me. And and until it became my reality, did it take a long time to get here? Absolutely, uh, it did, but it didn't, you know, because it's a lot of women that are my age now that't accomplished what I have, but have been through those same things and just didn't have that courage or that faith in God to really get out of it yet. And I think that's why God is using me now as a vessel to say hey, look over here. I've been through that. I went through homelessness, I went through domestic violence, I went through drug-induced parents. I've been through all of that. And guess what? I went through rape, I went through incest. I went through all of that and guess what? I'm right here, still young, still vibrant, still 34 years old, but still was able to get out, and I so love the Lord so much. You know that nothing, nobody, can tell me or do to me that can take that away from me, right, right, you know. So I can appreciate that.
Speaker 2:Now. I don't mean to cut everybody off, but I want to speak now for the last few minutes about the new book that you have coming out, you and a few ladies. The book is called the Gift of Freedom Stories of Love and the Beauty of Forgiveness. Now you have a chapter in here called Remember Jamaica. Okay, ok, then this chapter. You have a character, anastasia, and she goes through like a transformative journey of letting go of toxic relationships and peace yes, right, and finding her peace. Could you share more about the inspiration behind that story and what motivated you to explore the themes of love, forgiveness and personal growth in this particular set?
Speaker 3:This book is actually the byproduct of a writer's retreat that I attended two years ago in Jamaica actually in Jamaica and we had a fantastic instructor. This is my first attempt to writing nonfiction, because most of what I've written before has been mostly inspirational and educational, so to say. But this is a novel and this book was a challenge. It was the very first, as I said before, of a novel that I've written in collaboration with three other women. So the book itself is about characters who would go to Jamaica to attend a forgiveness retreat characters who would go to Jamaica to attend a forgiveness retreat. All four stories focus on a character and all four stories are different.
Speaker 3:My story is about a young lady named Anastasia who was invited to be a part of the retreat. As the event planner, she's assisting the host of the retreat and prior to being extended the invitation, some years prior, a year or so prior she ended a very toxic relationship. The relationship was one with a young man who she thought she'd married, but he was very toxic, very abusive mentally, psychologically and then eventually physically. So at the time in which the invitation is extended to her to be a part of this retreat, she only accepts it because it's in Jamaica. Let's be clear we don't want to go, we don't accept every assignment, but who would say no to Jamaica? And while there, she's able to see that there are some things that she had been holding on to, although she felt like she was in a good place that she needed to let go of. She needed to forgive some people, including herself. And in the process of being there and realizing these things, she does have another open door to a happily ever after. She does have another open door to a happily ever after.
Speaker 3:And so my story, honestly, is one that was cultivated as a result of being a part of the retreat, because we were all given points and snippets and nuggets to include in our storylines. So I did incorporate that, but I also incorporated a little bit of my own life lines. So I did incorporate that, but I also incorporated a little bit of my own life. So it's fiction, but some of what is shared are snippets or glimpses into some things I experienced personally as well. So it does have everything to do with forgiveness, but it also has everything to do with the importance of love, which are two very vital principles. Love and forgiveness are principles that we should adopt as a part of our life regardless.
Speaker 2:You know what? I kind of figured that was going to be my next question, but you answered it already. You said it was a part of your real life. So that was going to be my next question, but I'm going to move to the next one after that. Now you said that, uh, well, as as I was, you know, reading just like this and trying to come up with, uh, you know some some quick questions for you, because I definitely want people to go out and get this book. Uh, anastasia's role as an administrative assistant for her boss's annual forgiveness retreat in Jamaica seemed to be a pivotal moment for her. How does the journey to Jamaica and her involvement in the retreat impact Anastasia's own journey of self-discovery and healing?
Speaker 3:and healing. Well, in the course of everybody attending. When you get the book, there are two of the co-authors in this book actually host forgiveness retreats, so we were able to incorporate some of the exercises not fully, but provide glimpses of some of the exercises that they actually participate in during these forgiveness retreats that they host in real life. Okay, so with Anastasia, even though she's there as a facilitator, she's the assistant to the host. She actually sits in on some of the segments because, you know, as the person is here there to assist logistically, you are a part of the event as well. And it's during her sitting in on some of the segments that she, her eyes began to open to things within herself that she needs to deal with. And so she begins to although not an attendee of the retreat, begins to participate in the activities in her own way to get past some things that she has come to understand that could very well be hindrances or areas of her life that she has not truly forgiven, and so that's revealed in the storyline, but it's very detailed as to what exercise helped her to see herself and what she did to overcome and to become stronger.
Speaker 3:And, truth be told, the facilitator of the retreat says to her in the storyline there's a weight that you need to get rid of, and I'm not sure what it is, but I hope you find peace. She's alluding to the fact that she believes Anastasia has had some unforgiveness, but she doesn't say it outright. And then it does become. You know, it's revealed to herself. It is revealed. Anastasia understands that that is what it is. Without her mentor saying it. She realizes that there are some areas that she needs to forgive is without her mentor saying it. She realizes that there are some areas that she needs to forgive, and once she accepts it, it's like a weight is lifted, and that stems from the name of the book too the Gift of Freedom when you truly choose to forgive you give yourself the gift of freedom With freedom.
Speaker 2:forgiveness precipitates freedom. You truly aren't free until you truly know how to forgive. Yes, that was definitely. I'm so glad you said that, because that leads right into my next question, Because forgiveness is a central theme in your chapter, in all the chapters in the book. So how did you approach portraying the process of forgiveness in Anastasia's story, and what message do you hope readers will take away just from her experience alone? Well, you know the story of Anastasia is one of four stories.
Speaker 3:I've already re-emphasized that, and one of the beautiful things about this book is that everybody's story comes from a real life place. Everybody's dealing with the need to forgive, but their life scenarios are different. You follow me. So we did that intention where actually it happened. None of us knew what the other person was writing, let's be clear. But we bring about a variety.
Speaker 3:So in Anastasia's situation, anastasia ends a relationship. At the beginning of the story you get a glimpse into her previous relationship. You get a glimpse into the fact that she's living her life like as a golden, as a single woman, totally content. But at the same time she still has some residue of some things that she didn't realize from the previous relationship and it was blocking her from being able to go to the next level. So that's revealed in the storyline. That's revealed in the storyline so much so, like some of the others, there's another story where the woman has hurt from a father and she's trying to get married and go on with her life, but she still has daddy issues.
Speaker 3:So that's another segment, and the beautiful thing about this book is that I believe everybody will be able to relate to the stories because they're not just a sermon on forgiveness, like you might hear on Sunday. They're taking practical, everyday situations that many of us face or know someone that is facing, and showing how forgiveness is a very important factor of overcoming those, those evils or that, or getting rid of that residue so that you can move on with your next phase of life can you tell everybody where they can get this book, because I'm already ready to go ahead and so we don't listen.
Speaker 2:We have gotten so much positive feedback. Yes, they can go to amazon and find the book.
Speaker 3:The gift of freedom. Um, and so it. So it's available now. It's available now, yeah, at the time in which the book has been available for a minute. Now it's only $14.99, and they can order it on Amazon or, if they want to contact me directly, they can do that as well, but it would just be easier to go to Amazon and secure it, Because when they purchase it, I would really love for them to offer some feedback. We have gotten nothing but great feedback. We've got a lot of people who they've not posted the information, but you know they've not posted their review, but they have. You know, one of my yes, one lady that I know got the book just before Thanksgiving and she told me, Anissa, I read that book. She says I found myself talking to the characters going oh my God, no, you didn't. I said when you start talking to people that are not really there, that means that book is really good. You really, that means you really got into the storyline.
Speaker 2:Yeah, my husband. He can't stand taking me to the movie. He said ever since we were kids and I would take you to the movie. He said you, just you, the one that screams at the screen, we in the house I'm screaming at the screen when Usher was performing on my pants like a Usher, so reading the books, I'd be like, oh no, you didn't. And if you don't believe me, ask Dr Bill, I'm still talking about the analog child. I cannot get it. Yeah, I was like, oh, she did this. So I definitely, definitely, definitely get it.
Speaker 3:We've got five reviews that have been five reviews that have been posted to Amazon so far, and all five of them gave us five stars oh yes, I'm definitely gonna get this book and leave my review and, I hope, all my listeners um, on all platforms.
Speaker 2:Um, if you're listening to it now, you're listening to this later on the replay. If you're listening on any platform, um, in any country, get this book. Can you once again tell them the name of the book? Uh, go to amazon, grab the book, read the book, leave a review, um, and how they can.
Speaker 3:Yes, the book is called. The name of the book is the gift of freedom stories of love and the beauty of forgiveness. If they were to type in the gift of freedom along with my name, anissa short, which is a-n-i-s-s-a-s-h-o-r It'll come up. It's a woman on the front. Looks like she's dancing across the beach, so you'll know. Um, the book is available on Amazon now, so they can secure it there, and if they want to reach out to me, they can find me. My website is anissa shortcom, and this is short again. It's a N I S S a S H O R T. And they can find me on Facebook as well, and I'm on Facebook. They can send me a friend request and on Facebook I am Dr Anissa Short.
Speaker 2:And we have one person that that wants to come in and ask a question, and I see we have Dr Velma. Thank you so much, dr Velma, for tuning in. Teresa Dorsey, with Reese Writes Books, is here. Gentry Journey is in, so thank you guys, so much for tuning in. Who else do we have here? We have. I just want to make sure Olivia is here. Hi, olivia. Hi Hip Hop City. Hi, robin Ayers is here. Thank you so much, everybody, for tuning in. I appreciate all the people that I see here that don't have a name, that are listening on their computers. Thank you guys so much. I'm going to invite Carolyn Coleman up. She has a question for you, so I want to make sure that we get her on. Okay, thank you.
Speaker 4:Hello everyone, how are you?
Speaker 3:Doing well.
Speaker 4:Really, my question and or comment goes back to the various lenses, and that equals different perspectives, exactly what you see, and the Cosby show was a great example. But you know you can be talking to someone and they walk away with a total different opinion than what you say. Totally Exactly. And so you know, we have to be clear, or as clear as we can be, because some people intentionally do not or will not receive what is being said. But I did love that analogy. Different lenses, thank you, and that's very, very true. And the faith, family and finances if it's not aligned with that, then maybe that's just very, very true. And the faith, family and finances if it's not aligned with that, then maybe that's not what you need to be doing. So, thank you so much. Um, you're very welcome. I really enjoyed the interview. Uh, you all have a great day you do the same.
Speaker 3:Thank you for your input thank you, my sister.
Speaker 2:you know I love you, honey. Thank you so much. Okay, so before we get ready and close, do you mind leading us out with prayer, dr Anessa?
Speaker 3:No, I don't mind. I don't mind. Thank you for asking. Father God, we thank you once again for another day of grace and mercy, for your divine favor. We thank you for being an excellent source. You are our provider, you are our protector, and for that we say thank you. Thank you for this platform. Thank you for Miss Linda Listen, listen, listen, Linda podcast. Thank you for Jacqueline Cox and all that she brings to the table and providing her platform as a way to make a difference in the lives of others. Lord God, for every person who has listened, who will listen, may their lives be greater because of the content that we've provided on today. We're thankful, lord God, for opening doors that no man can shut. We thank you for your promise to bless the work of our hands. We thank you, lord God, for being with us, for standing by us and giving us the wisdom, clarity and the direction we need to continue to serve others and to serve you.
Speaker 2:It's in your son's Christ Jesus name I pray today. Amen, amen. And that concludes this episode of Listen, linda. It should be posted today on all platforms by 7 o'clock pm, central Standard Time. Again, I want to thank you so much, dr Anissa Shore, for just bringing us your presence. I truly appreciate you. I know you got a burn.
Speaker 3:Yes, ma'am, sunday is my official national holiday, mm-hmm.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's so everyday of the month. Yes, I've been celebrating all month I am yes, happy early birthday. You beautiful where is, and we love appreciate you, you can. You are welcome back here anytime and I'm gonna leave you guys with um mary j blige reflections.