About - Rebekah Charles

My Story

Nice to meet you,

I’m Rebekah, and I am an introvert, mostly laid back and a homebody. Home is my happy place! I have mixed feelings about summer (that NYC humidity is no joke!). Give me cold weather! I love to travel, explore, and try new foods. I live in New York and work throughout all the boroughs. I love to binge-watch a good TV show or Netflix series, and I eat way too much popcorn. I am always reading articles/blogs on healthy eating and exercising. I try to exercise 5 times out of the week, which I have been sticking too. Yay to me. I love music, classical, and jazz is my favorite genre.

Most people that know me will say I often keep to myself (which I do) but may pop up every once in a while to show my face lol. I don’t mind being social; I just prefer being in the comfort of my own space. I am kind, patient, loving, fun, easy-going, and clumsy (God I am clumsy!). I love to laugh if you ask any of my friends, they will attest to it.

WORK AND SCHOOL LIFE

I’ve spent most of my years being in school and studying all the time. I have an Associate in Liberal Arts, Bachelors in Psychology, and a Masters in Psychology with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Development. I am also a Certified Master Life Coach. I love psychology and love studying and learning new theories, skills, and studies associated with it. I’ve worked with children with developmental delays and mental illnesses for many years and currently work with adults with mental illnesses and intellectual disabilities. Working in this field comes with its challenges, but the rewards and just reaching people on that psychological/emotional level far outweighs the challenges. For many years, I have been in this field, and it has given me a different perspective on life than what I had before earning my Master’s degree and working in this field. I am passionate about empowering and encouraging those around me, and I find joy in offering guidance to those who need it so they can reach their true potential in life while making it meaningful.

GROWING UP

I am from the Caribbean. I was born on the small island of St.Vincent and the Grenadines (if you look closely on the World Map, you may see it). However, when people ask me where I am from, I usually say the Caribbean because I’ve lived in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados as well. After being born, I went to Trinidad when I was three years old and stayed there until I was nine years. I then went back to St. Vincent until I was 11 years old but moved to Barbados and stayed there until I was 15 years old. As a family, we moved a lot. Moving was always bittersweet because on the one hand I was excited to explore a new country, learn the culture and make friends, but on the other hand, I would no longer be seeing my friends/family and would have to be the “new girl” in school and church yet again. At the age of 15, I came to Brooklyn, NY, USA. I was super excited to come to the United States because of what I saw on T.V., but when I got here, that life with the white house and picket fence seemed like just a tale. Apartment buildings galore, attached homes, traffic lights on LITERALLY every block, and don’t get me started on trying to find park after 5:00 pm. Of course, that depends on what area in Brooklyn you are. Overtime, Brooklyn became my home, and I have grown to appreciate the culture, convenience, and what it has to offer. Since living in the United States and being a girl that loves to travel, California is my favorite state.

Family is important to me, and I am the baby out of 8 (4 brothers and three sisters, excluding me). Whew!!! I love my Siblings. They mean everything to me, and I can depend on them for anything. I am a daddy’s girl all day, and 2020 was tremendously hard for me because my dad suffered a terrible Hemorrhagic Stroke on January 9th, four days after his 74th birthday. To understand how painful this has been, you would have to know my father (not personally), but know how much he did and how active he was. My father is very athletic (runs and swims every day). He is super healthy that his doctor said his body functioned like a 30-year-old. My father is a musician (he plays the piano and guitar) and an Artist (he paints banners, portraits, murals, and make costumes). He is also a carpenter. This is outside of his work as a Social Worker and Behavior Therapist. Daddy was always on the go. So, when he suffered the stroke, it took everything from him. He’s lost his speech, currently immobile, and on a ventilator. Unfortunately he was too tired to carry on due to many complications and maltreatment from hospitals and nursing/rehab facilities, and he passed on April 13th of this year. I miss so much, but God saw that he was in too much pain and needed to rest.

Apart from being priding myself as a daughter, sister, aunt, and Godmother, I am also a wife. I have been with my love for ten years, and we have been married for four years. Just a tidbit about him – He is from Guyana and loves to cook (I love Guyanese people – their food is AMAZING and their togetherness is so beautiful to see). When we first met, we did not like each other at all! In my head, I kept saying, “this dude is insensitive,” and he said I was “annoying.” Can you believe him? …. Now we are married. He is my rock, motivator, and confidant, but ALSO, my personal chef!! He THROWS down in the kitchen.

I am also a Christian and pride myself on being one. My journey with God keeps me going each day, for, without Him, nothing will be possible.

WHAT TO EXPECT!!

I am passionate about helping and encouraging those around me, and I want to not only make your reading informational and fun, but I want to also educate you on factors that play a role in having optimal mental health. I want to empower you to take care of yourself and/or your child(ren) physically and mentally and emotionally. Health is Wealth, but Mental Health is equally important as our physical health.

I want this space to educate, inspire, uplift, encourage, and empower you to be the best person you can be to yourself FIRST, and then others. Love and happiness start from within, and even though life may throw many challenges at you, remember that you are so strong and in control!

You can look forward to topics on mental health, child & adolescent development + child/adolescent mental health, relationships, and lifestyle.

Let’s enjoy this journey together!

“Happiness is more than a feeling. It is a choice. We control the emotions that we feel. Actively choose to be happy.”

Stay Beautiful!

Love,

Rebekah Charles