Charmane S.
Hometown: Chester, Pennsylvania, but I now live in Austin, Texas
I am 52 years old. I am an honorable veteran (USAF) and I own a construction company. I mentor and volunteer, and I have allowed myself to become overweight. I'm on the journey of discipline to work it off and keep it off! Also, I LOVE to read and love my album collection of music.
What is your favorite OWN show?
Super Soul Sunday
What are your three favorite things?
(1) Reading a book that I've been excited about. (2) Traveling to beautiful places and/or spending time with family and friends. (3) Supporting and participating in efforts and initiatives that support women veterans transitioning from military life to civilian life, specifically in the area of encouraging them to start or grow a business, because I am a veteran of the United States Air Force. Also, supporting efforts by organizations that empower girls and young ladies to be change agents and innovators in S.T.E.M. careers or businesses.
What would your superpower be?
WRITING!!! To be able to write letters, shorts stories, blogs and/or books that encourage and empower girls, young ladies and women to listen to their hearts, their intuition regarding embracing the self-worth, self-esteem, beauty, brains and determine their purpose in life as it evolves, and do something each day that is a part of that purpose, then DREAM BIG—and DO IT!!!!
What is the first thing you do when you wake up?
Say, "Thank you God for waking me this morning!" Please help me see, hear and feel the blessings you have for me and what I can do to pay it forward to spread kindness to others."
What is the last thing you do before you go to bed?
Okay, I'll admit it, check my phones for emails, then Facebook, then Twitter, then I read a few pages of whatever I'm reading now, which happens to be "Jonathan Livingston Seagull—one of my all-time FAVORITE books since I was a child!
What is the one item you can't live without, and why?
Music, because it soothes my soul, makes me laugh, cry, dance, remember people, places and very fond memories about what was happening when a particular song was out or was playing. It's the universal elixir.
What do you like that most people dislike?
Reading. Nowadays people do not like to read. Also, I like going up to people I don't know at conferences and workshops to introduce myself and network. Most people stay with who they came with or gravitate only to those they believe they are comfortable with.
Who is your hero?
My mom!!! Although she passed from battling breast cancer in February 1994, as an only child, our bond was, and still is yet in a different way, very strong. She remains my hero—she's always been my "Oprah" in the sense that my mom, from the time I was 3 or 4 until she made her transition "back home" taught me about inspiration, motivation, dreaming outside of what someone else might try to box me into, teaching me to love myself and be the best "ME" and pay it forward. All that I do, I do in loving honor of her life and memory by continuing to make her proud of the woman I have become and am still growing each day. I named my company ALEON Properties, Inc. (API) in memory of her, as her name was Leona. I started a scholarship in her name, and my vision is for my company to be very successful so I can contribute to the scholarship and grow it into an endowment in the area of nursing—my mom was a remarkable and loving nurse. She will always be my SHE-RO!!!
What would you like to learn to do?
Speak Japanese and French fluently. I learned them at a very basic level at one time and never carried it forward or kept with it.
What are you particularly bad at that your friends tease you about?
Public speaking—I sweat like Moses Malone! LOL
