Welcome to this {Finding Spaces} series - INSPIRED INTERVIEWS. This is where I seek out inspiring individuals to share their stories with us. In these interviews we touch on inspiration, passion, community, wanderlust, home + more. First up is Key Doby, The Career Architect. She is a Life Coach. Check out her website for more about how she works her magic, and helps people connect to work they love to do. She is really stepping into her passions in life and I think you will be inspired by her story. She is also a good friend of mine. Enjoy...
Meet Key Doby
key
What is your motto or mantra?
KD: My motto is same as tag line, Live by Design, Not by Default.
I think that it is really important for people to understand that they have choice in life and they can create whatever it is that they want. You don't have to settle, you can design the career and the life you want. The joy comes when you make choices that are in alignment with your passions and values.
What is your passion? KD: My passions are dancing, traveling, and inspiring people to follow their dreams.
Why do you travel? KD: I travel because I love experiencing new places. I love learning about new cultures, having adventures, and I love connecting with people around the world. I just love to go!
key at the taj mahal
Where did you go on one of your last trips?
KD: My last trip was to Puerto Rico for a family wedding and I traveled with my grandma. Before that India, by myself. I traveled to Mumbai, Jaipur, and Agra.
keyandbride
keyandgran
key in puerto rico enjoying time with the bride and live music festival with grandma
What memories stand out from your trip to India?
KD: One of my favourite memories was taking a dance class in Mumbai. Everyone was a local and then there was me. Dancing is what I love, so sharing that with people in their homeland was amazing!
key dancing in mumbai at bollywood dance class
The second experience that stood out was riding an elephant. I have a memory of riding an elephant when I was 3 or 4. Then recently I had a shamanic reading done and found out my power animal is an elephant. So, riding an elephant in India was nostalgic and empowering! When I returned from this trip, I asked dad and he said I did ride a baby elephant at the zoo when I was younger.
How cool, so it all comes full circle!
keyele
Did you bring anything home as a reminder?
KD: I brought home photos and a shoulder bag that thought was really pretty. I am not a big souvenir person. I tend to bring home functional items. I have one bag from China that people always compliment me on. Oh, and also scarves for myself and as gifts for others.
Why bags?
KD: I am not a big shopper or fashionista. But bags are the one thing I have the patience to shop for. You don't have to try them on. When in doubt: bags and scarves.
Where to next? Brazil. Brazil, oh my god have been dreaming of going since 2012. I dance samba, a Brazilian based dance, and I was supposed to go with school, but the trip fell through. So I have been obsessed with it since. I want to go to Bahia, which has lots of African culture. I want to take a dance a class, and go to Rio. It is the first time I am prematurely excited, usually the excitement comes once I land in the new country.
You are very purposeful in your travel. You really go with a purpose and vision, that is awesome!
SO, now lets talk about home. What does home mean to you?
Home to me means peace, tranquility, solitude. That is what homes mean to me. (giggle) not sure that is how most people describe home.
How do you make your house a home?
By being selective of who I let into my space, and what energy I allow in here. True story. Very true story.
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What is your favourite spot in your current home? KD: My favourite spot is a floor pillow I have near my couch, by the coffee table. I place it so I can lean against couch when I sit on it.
It that where you sit in videos? That is cool because it says to me hey I am your friend and lets just chill and talk about life.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6yrGywcVKE]
Great, so now on to community. What does community mean to you? KD:Community means connecting with like-minded people, that share joys, share interests, and are a support for each other. You can count on them to bring life to your life.
People I look forward to being around and soaking up their energy, what they bring to culture, what they bring to our area [Oakland] and the physical space we are having our interaction in.
What type of events or spaces do you think get people to interact the most?
KD: In my experience it is directly related to things I am interested in: dance spaces, things that are active; dance, exercise, classes or gyms. Where I get to interact with people I didn't know previously. Not a club! (giggle). I mean things like cultural events. There is always dance involved. It is a reflection of my own personal love and passion. Then there is dinning, when you gather with people you intentionally want to dine with. There is more talking and you really start to get to know each other more.
What would you tell your 18-year old self if you had the chance?
KD: 1. Travel internationally now! Push for it and make it happen now. I knew I wanted to travel, but I waited until after college and went when I was 21.
2. Be bold and not afraid of the spotlight! That's a big one. For example, so one thing that I really enjoy is live music, I never pushed myself or had the courage to play a solo with a band (I play the alto saxophone). This choice limited my skills and ability. Another example is from college. I was going to be a television anchor woman and I was working on a cable show and I did not want people to know me, again, I did not want to be in the spotlight. I changed my major. So I would tell my 18-year old self to push and purse interests. And more recently, I have never tried out to be a Sambista (one of the main samba women). But I have been shedding some of that, and now I have an idea to maybe do it next year.
3. Don't limit yourself in anything. Allow yourself to experience anything that you choose to without hesitation, inhibition, rules, whatever makes you say "no" to new experiences.
Wow, you would still make a great tv anchor. And you have done so much in life! How do you stay inspired?
KD: I have a self-care plan that makes me stay inspired.The components I have merged together in this plan remind me everyday of what I am looking to design for myself and that inspires me each day.
Here are 3 components:
1. Visualize how the day will go, what I am going to do, how my interactions with others are going to feel. I also visualize my ideal life and really feel that.
2. Stay inspired by acknowledging self; I list 5 things that are evident for me that I am on the right track, and give myself a pat on that back. I look at what I have accomplished, to inspire me to keep going. I acknowledge myself however small the achievement is.
3. I Dance everyday! I have one song I dance to for 4 minutes, really really hard and cant help but laugh and smile because it is funny, especially in the mirror.
These are habits we all should cultivate. It is inspiring that you are actually doing it.
KD: Yes, I do it first thing in the morning, sometimes if running late I do it later in the day. But it really works best when I do it first thing and make it a daily ritual or habit.
Anything else you want to share? What do you want to be known for?
KD: I want to be known for my motto: Live by Design, Not by Default. My other motto is Live with Intention. Play with Abandon.
...And I got THE ticket to BraZil, Boom!
key dressed up for samba
Thank you Key, you are an inspiration! Look forward to hearing more about what you get up to, and you will have to come back and tell us all about Brazil too! Much Love.
Be Wonderful.
LaToya
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