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reniimodisette • July 22, 2022

Exploring my inner child has been healing. In fact, I’ll continue the work of ensuring the little girl within has a voice, and is protected. Along with cultivating a healthy and safe space as I continue my healing journey. As this series comes to an end, I want to write about the two teachers that impacted my life through their encouragement. These teachers gave me a voice when I felt as if I was speaking, but the words wouldn’t emerge. These teachers were Mrs. Anita Hill, my former music teacher, and Mrs. Booth, my former drama teacher. Their encouragement began my pathway to creativity.



Both teachers offered me encouragement through the performing arts. Mrs. Hill was my former music teacher at Ivanhoe Elementary School in Gary, IN. She was quick to correct bad behavior and praise her students. As the leader of the school choir, Mrs. Hill enabled us to perform not only at school events but also at churches and competitions around the city. However, to participate, one’s behavior had to be on point. There were no excuses.


Mrs. Hill introduced me to who I could become without fear of judgment. Through music, I felt safety through the lyrics whether playful or soulful. In addition, I auditioned for Emerson Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) as a result of her encouragement. Mrs. Hill believed in her kids but held us to high expectations. It is because of her that I can still sing my states, the capitals, and the presidents.

I was a drama major at Emerson, where I met Mrs. Booth. She was poised and intuitive but also held her students to high expectations. I was shy; however, she helped me work through my shyness by fostering and environment of creativity, and imagination through acting, building sets and contributing behind the scenes. I would venture to say that I entered her class one way but left another with a broader frame of mind due to her encouragement. A freedom that I’ve sought to recapture.

Through encouragement and considering the possibilities—a primary reason for my love of storytelling. I can capture the essence of a lesson or an experience through words. So amazing!


Even now, I seek those possibilities. I choose to tap into activities that enlighten me while also enabling my creativity. Many times, I’ve stated that adulting has a way of forgetting, but I am encouraged to remember the influence these teachers had on me then and now. To those seeking to discover their voice:


  • Keep exploring. The exploration will help find your passion.
  • Once found, hold on to your passion. Life will adjust your priorities, but try not to lose your passion. And if you do, reclaim it.
  • Don’t be afraid. Everyone isn’t going to support you. And that’s okay. Keep believing in yourself. The impossible is possible.
  • Heal. Adverse experiences will occur. Face the uncomfortable so healing can follow.
  • Be encouraged. Find your joy.


Exploring my inner child reminded me that I am ABLE. That I should ACKNOWLEDGE my originality every day. BELIEVE I reclaimed my voice. LOVE me because it’s not selfish instead it’s kind. ENCOURAGEMENT through joy, sadness, and forgiveness along the way. 


Through it all, the little girl within, the teenager coming into her own, and the grown woman reclaiming her power is on fire.

LEAN INTO:CouRagE EMBRACE: Honesty, Bravery, and Perseverance

By Renii Modisette • December 27, 2024
We begin to say goodbye to 2024 with cooler temperatures and yuletide attitudes as December ends. One thing is sure: self-regulation starts with the Self despite all else. In the last blog for 2024, I explore the sixth and final virtue, Courage, as well as three character strengths: Honesty, Bravery, and Perseverance, with the pendulum swinging both ways as a reminder we can make it through the first starting with Self. A great conclusion to the MTO Lean-in Series, which focuses on character strengths and virtues from the VIA Institute. I had initially planned to finish this series in October, but I found myself overwhelmed with school and work. I had convinced myself that I could push through despite feeling fatigued. However, I realized that the virtue of Courage also encompasses the character strength of Honesty. It was time for me to be honest with myself, which meant reevaluating the narrative I had created in my head. So, I took a break and reframed my internal dialogue to accept my revised story to remind myself that the pendulum swings both ways, so I must put myself first and focus on myself to overcome a self-imposed narrative that pushing through is the best way. I challenge you, amidst this season of giving and gratitude, to be honest with yourSELF—it's a personal journey. Is being honest with yourself a sign of bravery? Depending on who you ask, you might get different answers. In my opinion, yes, we are often harder on ourSELVES than anyone else is. Bravery is usually defined as resilience, facing fears, and not shrinking in the face of a threat or challenge. So, why can't SELF be a challenge? To help you navigate this solitary journey of self-awareness, consider the following statement:  "I AM in charge of how I react to others. I choose to respond in a positive way."

Where are you on the tightrope? MTO Lean-in Series, Part IV

By Renii Modisette • October 13, 2024
Hello October! Q4 is in full swing, with MTO KPIs still at the forefront. It feels like I was saying "Happy New Year" just yesterday. Towards the end of June, I began the MTO Lean-in Series, which focuses on character strengths and virtues from the VIA Institute. I learned about the character strengths and virtues while completing my Positive Psychology Practitioner studies and found them intriguing, especially in relation to enhancing my mindfulness practice. So far, I've covered Temperance, Transcendence, Humanity, and Justice. This month, I'll be discussing the fifth virtue, Wisdom, as well as three character strengths: Judgment, Curiosity, and Perspective. I'll then conclude the series with the sixth virtue in the November blog post. For more information on VIA's character strengths, please visit the VIA Institute website at https://www.viacharacter.org. WISDOM Let’s begin with I've coined the Wisdom Tightrope when discussing the virtue of Wisdom because it involves a balancing act depending on the situation. The first character strength, Judgment, is rooted in critical thinking to counteract faulty thinking and biased opinions. When overused, Judgment can lead to narrow-mindedness, and when underused, one isn't reflective enough. Ironically, it is often frowned upon to judge ourselves and others, yet our analytical mind somehow gets in the way, which allows us to debate whether something that is frowned upon should be up for discussion.

MTO Lean In Series: Part III

By Renii Modisette • September 2, 2024
This month's blog post features Part III of the MTO Lean in Series. In this edition, we discuss the virtue of Justice and two-character strengths. To learn more about VIA character strengths, please visit the VIA Institute.
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