Meet Raishlyn Grant “Mama Raishlyn” | Educator, Agriculturalist, Artist, Entrepreneur/Product Developer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Raishlyn Grant “Mama Raishlyn” and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Raishlyn, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
I have come to recognize and appreciate that the strength and wisdom required to keep going comes with great benefits in life. The reasons to keep going usually outweighs the reasons to give up. Yet, I think to compare the two actions should be viewed in the perspective of what one is giving up versus why one should continue.

I am grateful to have lived through phases of my life that have evolved me, prepared me for better, and shaped me into a more functional and humbler person. These paths have been revealed to be part of the Creator’s plan and I am excited about the future. I have accepted that knowing what is best for me, my family and my work in the community comes with making intentional, and honest introspections into my soul and my intuition. As well as observing my environment to ensure that I am doing my part. This has become part of the process on how I have learned to keep going through different experiences.

There have been times when the feeling of giving up seems like an easy solution, yet my spirit will not allow it. I would advise anyone to look deeper into their core selves before giving up on a dream, a relationship, a goal, or a vision. If you can find the purpose and the reason to keep going that will greatly benefit you and others, then live it. But, if you feel that an experience is bringing you down, then surely make the proper adjustments for your life.

As I mature in life, I find it most beneficial for me to flow and obey my inner voice – listening to the vibrations of love and excellence- The Divine presence. This is how I make it! This is how I do it! I embrace my authentic expressions of Self, which enables me to move in my Purpose. I have grown to learn that life offers us a wealth of abundance in the spiritual and physical realms. And to obtain this “Bliss”, we must, “keep going”. My journey has been blessed with strong family, good friends, education, creativity and more! I have come to realize that life will unfold has it should, and that it is important for [us] to find our places here.

Once we obey the virtue of following our intuition and applying the instructions practicality, then we began to live as One. Then we understand our purpose is to serve the energy of life with much of our effort to do ‘good’ in the world. This is what I think keeps me going, knowing that I live for others, just as others live for me. I recognize that life is like a garden, where every part of it, must grow as the Creator’s intention. And to grow it properly, it requires the right conditions, and sometimes miracles happen that we cannot explain. With this is mind, I believe that we must always strive to seek knowledge of self and truth that relates to the productivity and evolution of life. So, even with the struggles and joys of life, that inner voice will lead us in the proper direction. Keep going and discover more of who you are in truth, excellence, and service towards others, as I do the same.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As an entrepreneur and product developer, I enjoy sharing with my customers a taste of wellness and inspiration that I have found for myself. I get excited when I meet my customers and have conversations with them about life and wellness. My path into becoming an entrepreneur started from me making products using the herbs in my garden. I could not keep it to myself, as I was often encouraged by my family and friends to share my discoveries. Mama Raishlyn’s Bliss Herbal Teas, and Mama Raishlyn’s Natural Wellness LLC was inspired by my love for working with nature and my responsibility to eat and live well.

Being one who loves nature and enjoys growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs, I have a passion for feeding and growing healthy foods and making products that heal the body and maintains wellness. I enjoy sharing information and knowledge with people to educate them on creating and maintaining wellness. I truly enjoy educating the youth on how to create healthier lifestyles; and I desire to open an institution for continuing this work that has already begun.

Currently, I grow organic vegetables and herbs on a small urban space, and I aspire to expand my ownership of a larger grower space to increase my production of healthy foods for the community. My journey as an urban grower, started primarily as a youth working with my mother and grandmother in their small home herbs, flower & vegetable gardens. They taught me the science on how to grow edible and non-edible plants. Then my passion of working the earth, rebirthed in my later 20’s, when I started working in various urban farming entities around Metro-Atlanta. The women in my family, including my mother, grandmothers, and aunts, were all plant or flower growers; and as a child growing up in Atlanta, and spending summers with grandparents in Alabama, I was always surrounded by nature. Spending time with nature has become a natural and significant part of my lifestyle.

My passion for growing food stemmed from both my paternal and maternal lineages. My mother’s father John was grower, and my father’s great-grandmother “Dump” was a grower too. It brings me joy to share food that I have grown with others or to lead them to other growers.  It is inspiring to be part of a great circle of growers here in Atlanta, who are all connected in some way or another. Some of us urban growers here in Atlanta have been at this for a while, and now get to witness a new generation of millennials following in our footsteps. It is amazing to see the intergenerational urban growing network expand in our city and abroad!

As an educator, I have been fortunate to teach Agriculture, Environmental Studies, English Language Arts, Science and Social Studies in grades Kindergarten through 8th. These moments with the youth professionally have grown my world abundantly, and has allowed me the opportunities, not only to teach academics, but to plant positive seeds into the “whole child”, expanding their perceptions on the world and themselves as a vital part of today and the future.  I have discovered that my journey as educator, entrepreneur, urban grower and even an artist, comes with great sacrifice, a growth mind-set, and a heart to share and serve. I am grateful to place this energy into action and live in my purpose.

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.
Being a native of Atlanta, I have seen it change in many ways. I think there is some truth in the saying, “As much as things change, some things still stay the same.” In Atlanta, I love and appreciate the parks, the natural preservation sites, the soul food restaurants, and vegan spots. I enjoy live jazz music, concerts, and the seasonal festivals. I enjoy the museums, dance venues, gaming facilities and the presence of the African Diaspora culture rich community events. So, any itinerary that I will plan, would probably include any of these types of activities.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shoutout my family, friends, and the good people along the way who teach me, support me, encourage me, create with me, and build with me. I am appreciative of all my students and peers from all the schools that I have been an educator and their input of this journey that has come with beautiful and wonderful surprises. I am grateful for all my supporters in the Atlanta community, and organizations that have graced me the opportunities to learn and serve among such diverse groups of people.

Email: raishlyng@gmail.com
Instagram: @mamaraishlynsbliss (other links can be found in the bio)

Image Credits:
Raishlyn Grant