Podcast
View 112
Hosted by Jeanita Morris · EN
Jeanita Morris is a business professional and freelance writer. Here she shares her ideas and opinions on life, balancing a career and building a writing business.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Heart of a Lion
Dec 5, 2022Tap to summarizea lioness about to make her kill I’m on a 15 hour flight back from Nairobi, Kenya. It was an incredible trip there and to Zanzibar, Tanzania as well with a group of friends. For a few days in Kenya, we also flew to Masai Mara National Reserve to safari.The itinerary said:Nov 28 (Mon)11:10am arrive Mara Olkiombo Airstrip 12.30pm lunch @ camp 3pm afternoon visit to Masai Village (hosted)4pm game drive (optional)7-9pm dinner @ campWhat I know now is that time you get in a jeep in Masai Mara, it is a game drive. The moment you leave the Olkiombo Airstrip, you are off roading and on a game drive. To add extra adventure, our Jeep wouldn’t start at first. Our guide had to pop the hood and reconnect some wires before we got going. (Keep this in mind).Our group landed in Masai Mara at 11:30 and at noon, I was taking pictures of topi and zebras. At 12:34 (lunchtime at the camp based on the itinerary) I have a video of a lioness’s failed attempt to kill a topi for her lunch. Less than 10 mins later, the most terrifying part of the trip happened. For context, our guide is a Maasai man name Jamlick and he is alllllll about you getting the best pictures and videos. He will literally throw caution to the wind for you to get that shot. Another lioness was spotted with her eye on a warthog family. We watched her go in for the kill and the warthog family took off, but 2 of the babies ran in a different direction than its parents and that lioness got her lunch. Jamlick is determined to get us up close to the lioness with her kill. So in this open top/open sides jeep that I am in, he takes off at top speed, to follow the lioness into this huge bush, that also happens to go into a steep ditch. Jamlick rams the jeep into this bush to get closer to the lioness. The bush is as tall as the jeep so he’s ramming through full on 8-10 foot tall twigs and branches. Branches that are snapping and falling into the sides of our jeep. And you know what happens next right?The jeep gets stuck in the bush’s ditch. And you know what happens next right?The jeep shuts down again. Just like at the airstrip, after a couple of cranks, the engine won’t turn over. A JEEP I AM IN, WILL NOT START IN A BUSH DITCH DOUBLE MY HEIGHT WITH A LIONESS THAT JUST KILLED A BABY WARTHOG.This is happening at 12:45pm when the itinerary says I’m supposed to be at the camp eating lunch. Jeanita: can we close the side windows of the jeep so the lion can’t get in. Jamlick says no. ( I actually asked him at the airport could we put the windows up if we felt uncomfortable and he told me that is a “Big No”. Jeanita: can we walkie someone and tell them we are stuck in a ditch with a lion. Jamlick is outside trying to fix the jeep says hold on. We text our group of friends like come back we are stuck. Jeanita: praying like she’s never prayed before not to die in a bush ditch with a lioness like one of the people you hear about on TV. Jamlick gets out of the jeep, to pop the hood and restart the jeep. It takes him several attempts to get the engine to turn over. Then it takes him several more attempts to ram, in reverse, out of the bush ditch.At 1:10 we arrive at the camp and they offer us welcome juices to which most ask for a shot of alcohol to be added. They oblige us. We learn later many drivers will not go off road and getting out of the jeep for any reason is a huge no. One of the other drivers said if a jeep is stuck they will use another jeep to ramp the front of it to get it out but no one would get out of the jeep. I am afraid of just about every animal possible. Going into this trip I believed I would opt out of most of the optional game drives and stay at the camp. After going to the Maasai village and meeting some of the people and talking more with Jamlick, I have a better understanding. The Maasai have a relationship and respect with the wild life of Masai Mara. They are alert and prepared to handle the animals, but they also know “Don’t start none won’t be none”. Their ability to articulate and demonstrate how they live amongst animals everyday and have a respect for their life oddly put me at ease. Okay, not “ease” but made me feel better and not really in harm’s way. Of course I am linked with the Maasai driver that has the actual heart and bravery of a lion. By request, he was our driver for the remainder of the trip. As it turned out, I opted into the other “optional” game drives and they were amazing. Thanks to Jamlick, we saw all 5 of the Big 5 animals in Masa Mara. Often, it takes several times out over days, weeks, or trips even to see all 5. We saw:Day one:African Elephants (at sunset no less)Cape buffalo (drove through a large herd of them)Leopard (up in a tree at sunset with a kill)Lions (sleeping, making kills, and well the bush ditch)Day two:Rhinoceros!There are a total of 35 in all of Masa Mara and we found three: One alone hiding in a large field of bushes. ( of course Jamlick drove into the bushes to get as close as we could without scaring it off). The other 2 were together and were also shy about coming out of the bush, but after patiently waiting they both came out and we got the photos and videos.Sleeping in a tent, hearing Hippos make all kinds of noise all through the night, meeting a Maasai tribe in their village, hot air ballooning at sunrise, countless laughs and memories with friends are experiences in Masai Mara that I will never forget.
Transcribe →Tiny Luxuries
Sep 30, 2022Tap to summarizea sip of coffee at daybreak a well written piece of prosean aromatic fragrancea powerful piece of arta sip of wine at sunsetthe perfect playlist to meet a momentcozy, lavender scented beddingEveryone deserves tiny luxuries. Pausing to focus on the little things that bring me joy is now a daily practice. Starting at home, I find something lovely everyday. In July 2020, I moved from VA Beach to Washington, DC. Being isolated for a couple of months in 2020 gave me the utmost focus on creating a space around me to indulge in the loveliness of each day. I’ve learned when you look at the same space every single day, best to enjoy it. Primarily, I love to surround myself with words. As a result, I made my books a focal point as I decorated my new apartment in DC. I love having them staged tallest to shortest and by color. Not to be confused with the rainbow method, I just love the colors to match the environment. Keeping with the theme of words, I am inspired by so many writers, and worked to create a portrait wall of Black writers of influence. This wall even made it to Oprah’s Book Club Instagram page!Not sure how I became such a plant person. All I know is I went from one plant in September 2020 to 12 plants today. Seeing my plants grow, change shape, and thrive is a little luxury I didn’t know I’d enjoy. They bring a certain calm and flow to my home. When I water them, I love playing a little jazz with a cup of coffee or glass of wine depending on the time of day. Another powerful mood shifter is fragrance. Fragrance has been a long time love of mine. The variations of fragrance I’m obsessed with include, essential oils to diffuse, candles, perfume, and body care products. The seasonal combination of a great book, an alluring scent, an interesting sip, all surrounded by a vibe I created in my own home sparks gratitude, relaxation and creativity. How do you curate spaces and experiences to see luxury in the everyday?
Transcribe →Patience, Peace, and Power Amidst a Pandemic
Sep 30, 2022Tap to summarizeMay 24, 2020:As I write today, I am wrapping up week 10 of lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. I spent the first 6 weeks of the shutdown away from home (in corporate housing) as I was on a work assignment. What I thought would be initially 2 weeks turned into where we are today. While its one experience in itself to be in isolation, its a whole other experience to be In isolation, away from your home. A month ago, I made the decision to come home to reset. When making this decision, I thought I would only be home a week or two before going back to my work assignment and with the way things are in the state of Maryland, the timeline is uncertain for specific areas hard hit by the virus. The uncertainty of this time sure has helped me with something i’ve been working on for awhile: patience. There is much out of my control. As a natural problem solver, I like to see around corners and plan for outcomes. Obviously I’ve been able to do this to my maximum potential. I don’t often respond well when forced into situations, especially situations causing me to come to a full halt. About 3 weeks into the shutdown, I came down with a fever and a cough, overall being sick for 2-3 weeks with what felt like a very bad head cold and cough that just wouldn’t go away. Unnerving would not begin to describe my experience of being sick during a pandemic, alone, and away from home. Talk about a shift in priorities! Up until that point, I was still trying to manage so many things work, diet and exercise (ya girl was getting it), trying to keep life as normal as possible. Getting sick caused me to come to a full stop. I was sofa bound for over a week. I had to let everything else go. I couldn’t work, exercise, write, read, etc. All I could do was tend to the present moment at hand which was tending to my symptoms and keeping my family updated on my progress. While I did not ever feel full on panic, I certainly was worried and more intensely prayerful. In further efforts to be normal, I tried a 30 min Peloton ride the moment I felt better. I got another lesson in patience for the timetable my body was on to recover, not the April Peloton challenge timeline. After what felt like the longest cold I’ve ever had is when I made the decision to come home and reset. It had been 6 months since I’d last slept in my own bed. Driving home, I thought I was coming to enjoy a relaxing experience, but I learned how much work goes into sprucing up a place that hasn’t been touched in 6 months. I had dead plants and dust inside and pollen all over the patio and balcony outside, not to mention remnants of winter. My place was freezing! I’m lucky I didn’t have a pipe freeze. At any rate, it was a project not only to spruce up the joint, but also make it a place I could thrive in my office, bedroom and kitchen in particular. So it actually turned out to be more of a reset in my life than I thought. Transforming your home is no small feat. God’s divine timing never fails to blow me away. This time last year, I kicked off what would be an epic summer of beach hopping and vacations with family and friends. For the first time in years, my family was together for Christmas in Maryland. Those times and experiences have filled me up and carried me through this time in so many ways. I’ve been able to build on connection virtually during this time and have never felt alone during isolation. What a blessing. With this newfound patience, I am not mourning the past or thinking about how to resume previous activities when “outside opens back up”. I have peace with today. I have accepted things will never be the same and that’s fine with me. With that level of peace, I have a renewed and different sense of power.
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Bespoke: Creating Tiny Luxuries By Deaven Taylor
Jan 30, 202200:28:00Tap to summarizeHey friends! I know its been a while! Last year, my sister and I launched our lifestyle company, By Deaven Taylor. In a few short days, we are launching our podcast where we talk all things entrepreneurship, lifestyle, health, and wealth. Here is an exclusive listen to Episode 1 of Bespoke: Creating Tiny Luxuries
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Connections During Quarantine: Creativity, Connection, and Podcasting with Kurtis Cameron
Apr 20, 202000:28:00Tap to summarizeConnections During Quarantine is a series I created to bring me a little closer to family and friends while exploring my creative outlet. My guest today is not only a colleague, but fellow podcaster, Kurtis Cameron. Kurtis is a married father of two adorable little boys. As a result, Kurtis is passionate about all things fatherhood. His podcast The Fatherhood Perspective, highlights the joy and learns of fatherhood featuring a wide range of guests with varying experience as dads.As I catch up with Kurtis we talk about the experience of creating a podcast, what he’s learned from his podcast, and how he’s experiencing podcasting and fatherhood differently during this time of sheltering in place. Check out our chat, here on the View 112 Podcast.
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Connections During Quarantine: Robin Haymon
Apr 3, 202000:36:00Tap to summarizeI am continuing my series, Connections During Quarantine. This series has given me a wonderful gift of time to connect with family and friends while introducing you to some of the brilliant and talented people I have in various faucets of my life. Today I am chatting with a colleague, Robin Haymon. Similar to me, Robin recently made a professional decision to move to another city for a promotion. When I went through the experience of moving for work, I learned it took me quite a bit of time to get used to a new city and establish a new routine. I look forward to learning how Robin feels about his move and how he’s adjusting. Robin is also an artist and has a beautiful blog, mrhaymon.com. I want to connect with him on how he is leveraging his creative outlet during these unprecedented times. Check out our conversation here on the View 112 Podcast.
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Connections During Quarantine: The World's Greatest Nephews
Mar 28, 202000:34:00Tap to summarizeWell, its been about 70 days since I last recorded a podcast and…WOW. Things escalated quickly didn't they?! We are truly living through a time I couldn’t have imagined possible, certainly not 10 weeks ago. I’ve been working from home in isolation for 11 days now. As an extrovert and a person who works around thousands of people on a weekly basis, its been quite the adjustment to be in a 600 sqft corporate housing apartment 24 hours a day. It took me about 10 days into this to get a schedule/routine in which I wasn’t working round the clock, catch up on some rest, check on family and friends virtually, and take extensive breaks from the news. Today’s the first day I’ve felt calm, and ready to connect in new ways.So I wanted to kick off a new type of series within my podcast: Connections During Quarantine. During this series, I will spend time connecting virtually with different people on various topics. My first guests, my nephews AJ and Justin. Both of them are one week into online learning and so I’m putting my inquisitive auntie skills to good to use to see how productive its been. Also I’m curious to understand how they are feeling during this time and what’s being discussed amongst their friends. While I’m recording this episode, we use an app for the first time and they share an app I’ve never heard of. Finally we talk about my favorite topic, reading. We share a love of reading and have bonded over Harry Potter in particular. Check out our chat:
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Rituals to Results
Jan 20, 202000:15:00Tap to summarizeI love tackling my year one quarter at a time. I purchased the Savor Life Planner titled The Next 90 days. Already, its been a great tool in my progress toward success. Here I review how.
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Architecting Habits
Jan 14, 202000:37:00Tap to summarizeArchitecting Habits“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”-Aristotle or nah?I’m sure you’ve heard this quote before. For many years this quote has been attributed to Aristotle, but new research proves that Aristotle didn’t write it at all. I just finished reading a book titled Atomic Habits by James Clear. I want to share how I am working to build powerful, effective habits for my success in 2020 here on the 40th episode of the View 112 Podcast..Happy New Year! As I record this 40th episode of the View 112 Podcast celebrating my 42nd birthday, I have been thinking about what I will do consistently this year. Over the past decade, I’ve tried and failed at quite a few things. I would love to look back in 2021or 2030 and be proud of the effort I consistently made starting right now.Over the last 3 years, his podcast has inspired to do a few things that I can build on for success into 2020 and beyond.1. I finally got a therapist*Article she sent me:https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-savvy-psychologist/201912/5-tips-calm-restless-mind-going-sleep2. Create more stuff3.Continue to read4. Skill build5. Schedule and calendar
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Comfortable Not Complacent
Sep 16, 201900:14:30Tap to summarizeWhat’s the point of working hard if you never take the opportunity to enjoy life? Is there a fine line between comfort and complacent? I believe, like most things, its up to you. You can have intention to be comfortable and you can also take action to avoid complacency. I’m going to share my game plan for tips to flourish this fall here on the View 112 Podcast.
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