We recently had the chance to connect with Carey Adela and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Carey, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: When was the last time you felt true joy?
The last time I felt pure joy was this morning. I woke up just in time to see the sunrise and the sky being lit up in a beautiful pinkish orange hue. Joy is something I make sure to look for and experience each day. With everything going on in life, it’s so important to look for the moments that make us feel good and bring smiles to our faces.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a NYC native, born and raised in the Bronx and just recently made Baltimore my home. I am a community builder. who is deeply passionate about community organizing and connecting people in real life. Over a decade ago, I begin my career in the Social Services field providing Health Education and Case Management services to those in marginalized communities. The work I’ve done in my career led me to create The Healthy Vibe Bodega and now it’s little sister, the Bodega Walking Club My work, the spaces I curated and products I’ve created are all rooted and grounded in whole person wellness.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My friends, my community all saw me before I could see myself. They believed in me before I even knew there was something to believe in. But if you are asking for one person, that would have to be my favorite English teacher in High School, Jackie. Jackie constantly and consistently poured into me and. She saw the creative writer in me but most importantly she saw ME. Jackie encouraged me to lean into my gifts and shine my light without fear of being seen. When I graduated, she gifted me the most beautiful journal with a note reminding me to shine bright. I still have it and turn open it when I need a reminder.
Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
As an empty nester, I miss motherhood. I am and will always be a mother but something no one told me about is how my role as a mom would shift and evolve as my son became a young adult and how it will continue to change as we both age. While he is off doing great things in this world and creating a life for himself, I miss him.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely! I pride myself on being authentic and genuine. I have always been an open book and never afraid of sharing the real, raw pieces of me with the world. The way I speak, the way I treat and care for others, the way I move through the world is the same whether I’m on someone’s social media grid or connecting with people in real life. Now, what I will say may surprise people is that I am a little shy when first meeting everyone. I often get mistaken for a big extrovert but I definitely identify as an introvert lol.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
Peace is something I feel, I experience often. But I feel most at peace when I am near water. As a Cancer sun and moon, water is so calming and grounding for me. Water is so peaceful. I also feel the most peace when I am with my people, my community, the ones I love the most on this earth. They are home for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thehealthyvibebodega.com
- Instagram: @thehealthyvibebodega, @bodegawalkingclub
