Meet Brie Elise Turner, MPH: Wife, Mom, Author, YouVersion Devotional Content Writer & Public Health Expert

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brie Elise Turner, MPH and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brie Elise, what’s your definition for success?
Many people define success as a certain amount of money or obtaining certain titles in their personal and professional life. I used to believe those things as well. I believed all of this until I had all the titles, I deserved. I’m a mother, a wife, an author, a business owner and I have a nice title in my professional career. The truth is, all of that could be taken away at any moment. I’ll always be a mother, but one day my children will grow up and have families of their own. If my husband wanted to, he could wake up and decide not to choose me. My books and business could magically fail and I could stop selling and my job could fire me at any moment. I’ve realized, I can’t depend on things, people or titles to make me happy or make me feel success. All of those things are nice and they can add to my feeling of success, but feelings are fleeting. Feelings change. I am driven by my love of God. I am not defined by what people think of me, because if I was, I would honestly be overwhelmed with anxiety. My definition of success is fulfilling my purpose, believing, trusting and obeying God.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Being an author is not always easy. There is a certain level of vulnerability that you leave on the pages you write. You share certain things and you honestly don’t know how people will digest or pick apart your work. It’s therapeutic for me, though. I’m most proud and excited about every aspect of anything I’ve been able to put out. From my Glam, Grace and Mercy Devotional to Sex and The Christian Woman on the YouVersion App. It’s not easy. Many people only share the highlights of their lives. I share everything. Nobody is perfect and you would honestly be surprised at how many people can related to you own truth. It all has a purpose. Some people will love what I share and others won’t, but honestly, that’s okay!

Along the way I’ve learned that the common theme for most people is wanting to feel a sense of community. People are afraid to be honest, the share certain things, to be open because they fear judgement and they fear that other people don’t understand. I’ve learned that everybody has their own unique and beautiful story.

I want the world to know that I am my brand. Brie Elise is the brand and she’s a woman with a story just like you. If God can flip my crazy choices and past upside down into something beautiful, then he can do the same for you. “The difference between a garden and a graveyard is only what you choose to put in the ground.” -Rudy Francisco

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Memphis actually has a rich history of black culture and great food!

I would definitely take my best friend to The Beauty Shop Restaurant in the Historical Cooper Young District. Afterwards, we could go see a few historical places like, Slavehaven, which is a tour of the actual tunnels used by runaway slaves who stopped at this plantation, one of the stations of the Underground Railroad. Then we would head over to the Lorraine Motel and National Civil Rights Museum, where we would learn about the rich history of African Americans museum from slavery to modern day Jim Crow Laws and civil rights. The museum is also home to the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated. It by this time, it would probably be time for lunch, so I would suggest the following casual places for them to choose from:

Gus’s Fried Chicken
Soulfish Cafe
TACOnganas
Cozy Corner BBQ
Charlie Vergo’s Rendezvous
Kooky Canuck
Alcenia’s
Slutty Salsa

Afterwards, we would visit Gibsons Donuts and the Stax Museum, which highlights American Soul Music.

Then we could take a walk at Shelby Farms, where we could horseback ride, rant a canoe or even zipline at GoApe!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to Shoutout my amazing mom! She is literally my best friend. She adopted my at 3 weeks old has stuck by my side through every phase of life and she’s honestly just everything to me. I also want to shoutout my kids. I was a young mom and we basically have grown up together. My children saved me from a life of terrible choices and I’ll always be grateful for that. Finally, my husband. He truly has my heart and I couldn’t have prayed for a better life partner. Plus, he rarely tells me no, so that’s a plus 🙂

Website: www.EnameledInGrace.com

Instagram: http://www.instagram,com/AdmireMyGlamour1

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brieanaturner

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbl0hpGxMCbLltTL6UKlJqw

Image Credits
Sedrick Askew Igor Mazar