Jen Caison On Balance, Spirituality and Working With Her Mother

Hi Jen! Thanks for allowing me to interview you. The first question is, how are your spirits with the global pandemic?

Hi Sarah. Of course! This will be fun. Thank God, I am blessed to say that I am doing well emotionally and spiritually. I count myself blessed because I know that this is a hard time for many. It’s awful to see people losing their jobs, their mental health and their loved ones.

I, too, have lost people close to me during the pandemic and at times, it was definitely hard to keep my spirits up, but I often talk to my friends about the difference between Happiness and joy. Happiness is circumstantial; it’s a mood based on what is going on in your life. Joy is a state of being that I believe is given to you by God. So, while it may have been hard to keep my happiness at many points through this pandemic, especially after losing my grandmother in late November. I’ve always had Joy because that is just the state in which my life exists.

SS:

How do you make sure that your happiness is a priority?

I generally look at life as a good thing now – (after being depressed for several years in my early/mid-twenties.) Now, I actively ensure that my mental health is intact. Anything that vexes me, I eliminate from my sphere. I’m sensitive to conversations, media or anything that I ingest. I’m proud of myself. I do my affirmations and work out, try my best to eat healthy, take vitamins, drink water, and do whatever makes me happy without anyone’s permission. I’ve also always been a person who gets happy about the tiniest little things in life (i.e., sitting down in front of a good show with a good plate of food with fuzzy socks on is probably my peak happy place. That beats a vacation in the South of France or even buying a new bag!)

How long did it take you to become confident in putting yourself first & knowing what triggers you?

Well, I’m a Leo, so thankfully, confidence is something we are sort of born with. My parents also instilled in me that I was worthy of the best in life and never to settle since I was a child. Before leaving the house, my Daddy would have my sister and repeat, “I am a Caison. I am the best. God says that my value is far above rubies and I represent Him in the world.” or something along those lines. Of course, I have insecurities that seep in often, just like anyone else, but I’m confident because I like being me.

Thankfully, also, as a Leo, although we know to put ourselves first (behind God, of course), we never neglect our loved ones. We do not play about our friends and family. Around 24, after listening to several podcasts like “The Read” and investing in therapy, I learned not to agree to do things at the expense of my mental health. I remember a light bulb clicking, and my boundaries have stayed strong since then. 

Would you say that when it comes to the most important decisions in your life, you always consult your family and God?

JC:

I consult God, then my Mom. In that order.

Speaking of your mother, you chose to go into business together. Was that something you always wanted to do?

She has always wanted to go into business together since I was 21, and I fought it most of my adult life! My Mom has always been a hustler. I’ve always admired it, and it’s in my blood, but I never saw us working together. We are the same but different in many ways, so I always thought I’d do my own thing. Still, when the opportunity presented itself for us to go into business together during the pandemic, I figured I would give it a shot. It’s been a life-changing experience in the best way. Through the course of opening a hair salon, I realized how much my parents have sacrificed building their business for us since we were kids (my siblings and I) to inherit and appreciate it a lot more now. God willing, we will work together forever.

SS:

The US went through a tough time during 2020 and continuing to do so in 2021. Did the pandemic, US election, or unmasking of racism have an effect on you going into business with your mother at all?

When the pandemic and protest began, I was actually still living in Miami. As a black woman who loves and lives for my people, my heart and chest physically ached for weeks and weeks. I cried at work, at home, and with my friends. I can never understand why black skin is so hated globally. It breaks my heart.

At the time, I was a Sales Executive for a hotel in Miami, and I had anxiety about going to work every day as the only black girl. Knowing I would be frustrated by the lack of support or understanding that inevitably comes with working in corporate America or non-black spaces. Thankfully, my General Manager was a smart and empathetic woman who did her best to acknowledge and navigate things. The way God worked it out, the week of George Floyd’s murder, I was furloughed, and honestly, it was the best thing for me. I needed a BREAK. Politically, my Mom and I see things very differently, which has been a stressor in the past, but we generally don’t broach the topic anymore.

Let’s just say I preferred the election outcome the way we have it now in 2021. But I’m not very optimistic about the total fixing of America’s treatment of black people, nor do I think America will implode its systematically oppressive behaviour. Starting the hair salon in September 2020 was actually good for us. We were able to start slower because of COVID. Adhering to COVID safety rules limited the number of appointments we took, and we got our footing. 

In your creative way, have you poured love back into the community? And what do you hope many African Americans can get out of life during President Biden’s next four years?

I like to think I have. Outside hyper-supporting and highlighting black-owned businesses, I use my social media as a representation of a black woman living ‘luxuriously’ unapologetically. Representation is everything. If a little black girl can see me and think I want to work for myself, travel, pamper myself, educate myself, have nice things, and feel she deserves that out of life, I am happy to be the example. I want to be an example of a black woman who travels, relaxes, pampers herself, enjoys nice things, is knowledgeable in fine things and feels that she deserves them unapologetically. My favourite part of having my page and what keeps me from deleting it often is receiving messages from other black women who say they tried something new in life because of me. I’m always like, “GO, sis GO! The world is yours!” 

I’m not expecting much of anything from this Presidency. Better than the last, though, I’ll say that. 

Black women often get shoved into a box that centres around caring for everyone before themselves. That isn’t your vibe with your page, and I must say that your lifestyle gives an intense amount of inspiration.

You are 100% right. I feel us starting to break out of that box, and I’m excited for us! I love everything about being a woman. Our intuition, our brain, our bodies, our hair, our versatility, our strength. I love how different we all are. I respect every different kind of woman there is.

How did you come into your feminine journey, and what would you say to those beginning their discovery as young or mature women?

 
I came into my journey of the kind of woman I wanted to be by watching my mom from when I was young. My mom is extremely smart, glamorous, cool, ambitious, smart with her money, a great mom and wife, and is always wearing heels, lol. I pretty much copy her on all things in my womanhood. Ignore what society, men, women or anyone else has to say about your values, habits, hobbies, and things you like. Cut out the noise and focus on that message.

SS:

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Is it difficult to balance feminine energy in corporate America?

At times, it was conflicting because there are so many oppressive things about corporate American culture for black women in general (I could go on for days). But I tried to use feminine energy to my advantage more often than not. Whether tuning into my intuition, outsmarting someone, turning up the charm or putting my foot down, it is probably my best weapon. 

SS:

What are you looking forward to the most about life post-coronavirus?

JC:

People-watching!

Do you have any at-home pamper routines you’ve amped up due to social distancing that you can share?

I’ve made a lot more bathtime playlists! My favourite bathtime artist is Lucky Daye, and I’ve made playlists around his type of sound. I think I’ve also nailed down my official skincare routine!

-25% TCA peel; Quarterly-Vitamin C serum; Daily-50 SPF sunscreen; Daily-Moringa oil; Weekly-Iron vitamins; AMBI cream for hyper-pigmentation; Collagen vitamins; Fraxel twice a year; don’t forget your neck; and start in your early 20’s!

SS:

Final question. Are there any people you have around you whom you take inspiration from?

Thank you for choosing me to interview. I’m honoured, and this has been extremely cathartic.

 
My Real Life Inspirations are my Mommy and my Grandmothers. They have been such examples of women accomplishing whatever they want in life. They’ve shown me that whether or not a woman aspires to be a housewife or a CEO, both are respectable and valuable. 

My fashion/lifestyle inspirations on social are Jordy C, Dorit Kemsley, my friend Aliyah Raey, McKenzie Caldwell-Pope, Kijafa, Lori Harvey and Saweetie.
They all have this classic, glam-girl fashion and lifestyle that I love and identify with!