Today we’d like to introduce you to Brianna Lewis.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Brianna. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Thank you for allowing me to be featured! Most know me as Bri Lew and I am a native of La Marque, Texas. I relocated to Houston, Texas in 2015 after receiving my Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at Iowa State University. Upon my return to Houston, I began the Masters of Healthcare Administration program at Texas Southern University where I went on to graduate in 2017. I am a student at the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, where I am pursuing my Doctor of Public Health degree. In addition to being a doctoral student, I am also employed as a full-time public health researcher.
My blog, Unprocessed Lifestyle, was born on February 10, 2019, and I respectfully have my dad to thank for that. Bishop Robert Lee Lewis, Sr. passed in October 2018 and his death taught me that he was a man who influenced the lives of many in a very positive way. After toying with the idea of starting a blog, a vlog, or a podcast for over a year, his death inspired me to take action to start SOMETHING – I just had to figure out which would fit my style best. I finally decided on a blog in late November and begin putting pieces of the puzzle together so that I could hit the ground running when I was ready to launch my blog. A blog was the best option for me because I have always enjoyed writing. I am most expressive through writing and I knew that writing my thoughts would be both meditative and exciting for me.
I have always been told that I naturally motivate and inspire those around me and for a good amount of time I’ve felt as if what I have to say, others need to hear. The idea that my voice, my words, and my actions inspire and encourage others to want more and to do better for themselves excites me. As a proud Virgo (yes, I am very into astrology), I am always pushing people to: maximize their human potential, to think and dream big, to believe that they have the possibility of becoming who they want to be, to liberate their future, to uncover their true potential, and to be authentic and true to themselves. With that said, all of this has led me to Unprocessed Lifestyle – a motivation and inspiration lifestyle blog that encourages people to be unapologetic about who they are and who they are becoming.
Has it been a smooth road?
If anyone ever says it has been a smooth road throughout their journey, please know that they are not being honest. Whether big or small, there are obstacles that we all face along the way. Perspective is important when describing these struggles; do you see those hurdles as lessons learned or time wasted? The road has been far from smooth and I am still learning and growing as a blogger, student, public health professional, and entrepreneur. I am so grateful for my struggles along the way because my struggles have taught me to keep going. During the first semester of my doctoral program, I lost my father. I felt forced to tap into another level of self in order to continue working, going to school, and simply being. That, in itself, has been a major obstacle along my journey of Becoming. As a doctoral student, I always ask myself “will this be worth it?” The time, effort, energy, sleepless nights, and etc., will it pay off in the end? Every semester I enter with a hint of self-doubt asking myself, “can I really do this?” Staying motivated is a real barrier that, at some point, many will have to overcome, but when you believe in your purpose then your motivation will be re-discovered. Another struggle, along this journey, was learning an area that I had no prior experience – such as blogging. The learning curve was major when it came to web design, choosing themes/fonts, SEO, etc. (which I am still learning). Also, as a doctoral student, full-time employee, entrepreneur, and blogger much of the struggle was finding a balance. When a juggler is learning how to add an additional item to their juggling rotation, they have to re-center and understand how each item intertwines with the other while focusing on finding the balance between all items. This is very similar to my struggles along the way; every time I added a responsibility I had have to find balance and understand how to give 100% to each commitment.
What else should our readers know?
The name of the blog, Unprocessed Lifestyle, derives from the idea that people should feel comfortable being authentic, unapologetic, and unaltered from who they truly are while still being able to become the best and better version of themselves. Unprocessed is defined as, “unaltered from an original or natural state; not processed.” In other words, NOT FAKE. We are in a time where the digital landscape is growing and people are influenced by who people “post” to be. With that said, I believe this platform is so important for encouraging individuals to be genuine about who they and being fearless about who they are continuously striving to become. Unprocessed Lifestyle provides a tribe of people with the resources, tools, and information to focus on goal-digging in many aspects of their lives – particularly from self-help, self-growth, and professional standpoint. There are small tidbits of my lifestyle included, but its primary focus is on bettering the tribe! I am most proud of the fact that the Unprocessed Lifestyle encourages realness. Whatever that looks like – we believe in the authentic version of people. That is where all of the beauty lies in others. We encourage you to hold on to your genuine spirit and true self while you are simultaneously growing and evolving. Unprocessed Lifestyle offers FREE GAME when it comes to developing and expanding your well-being, your lifestyle, and your future!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Houston is an ideal location for bloggers. Regardless of your niche, Houston is so diverse and offers so many unique experiences that would allow any blogger to flourish. However, there is a gap – as far as blogger networking circles. While there is an effort being made to create more events and activations around blogger networking or opportunities, I believe that there is an opportunity for more.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.unprocessedlifestyle.com
- Email: unprocessedlifestyle@gmail.com
- Instagram: @unprocessedlifestyle
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unprocessedlifestyle/
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
