I’m Kanisha.
(Kuh. Ni. Sha)
A brave motherfucker who fought through generational trauma (still fighting), toxic environments, and self-abuse to reclaim my power.
But I wasn’t always this brave…
My Story
Life never taught me how to be brave, how to believe in my dream, and how to go after them with full trust in myself. It was in fact always the opposite; listening to other people’s opinions, creating boxes for myself, and shrinking to keep myself as small as possible.
THIS is how you end up losing all sense of who you *truly* are and what you *actually* want to do in life… and this realization was what led me to start my own inner work journey.
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Living with OCD, an invisible & chronic lifelong disability, self abuse & suicide ideation, having a 14-year relationship with a sex & love addict (10 of which I was unaware of the addiction), being the daughter of a drug addict, forced workaholism in my field of architecture to keep up with the lifestyle, the generational effects of racism - all led me to a live a life that was not of my design.
I felt “asleep” in my life and was terrified to get up to become my own person in a world that hadn’t been shaped for me. Shame to speak about my disability, knowing that love wasn’t made for me, and that if I ever shined the world would quickly put my light out. Alive but in a tomb.
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When I realized I had become comfortable being abused & a victim in my life - I knew that the only way for me to ever feel fulfilled was to break out of the box and take action toward my desires… So I took my last breath in that tomb and pushed myself out.
ZERO confidence, a fragile identity & very confused…frightened by my own reflection, my true self …no one seemed to want me - including me. No longer.In the midst of this pain was when I was forced to find confidence I didn’t have to save myself. Having the courage to no longer be a ghost… invisible in own my life. I’m thankful for the pain, it pushed me to make a decision…live as a zombie or take the chance that I could be luminous, living fully..
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I created a team, to help me get on the path of my life’s work, doing the inner work on how to love myself, find my confidence, and figure out moment by moment what it means for me to be in alignment to receive abundance.
A long (and sometimes painful) journey of taking off my mask and transforming my fear into empowerment.
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After starting this inner work journey, I fell deeply in love with myself and became the bravest motherfucker I know. This is what led me to truly believe and work on my dream of owning a compassionate, holistic business that cared for others, lifting them up so they can see themselves. To have no one and nothing confuse you again in knowing who the fuck you are. This, is the birth of Ruby’s Rest (RR).
My inspiration
behind Ruby’s Rest?
My dear Grandma, Ruby.
My own healing reaches to my ancestors, how those women and men didn’t have the chance to heal their wounds, let alone have the ability to recognize what they were. Black women and men in America, dealing with trauma, severe wounding inside and out, and the lack of access and opportunity to thrive in every way. My trauma history is deeply connected to them on a cellular level.
I think of Ruby and the chance at life she could have had if there was the opportunity to design her life… where she would be, what she would have done, and how much healthier and happier she would have been.
She deserved that, as did all of my ancestors.
Ruby’s Rest (RR) is here to serve as a lighthouse, a gathering place for all things healing to come together and help the courageous that are willing to look inward, find rest.
GETTING YOU UNSTUCK, FOUND, AND VERY FUCKIN’ BRAVE.
That’s my mission.
To take creatives from lost, confused, and burnt-out to redefining their identity, building unwavering confidence, and taking action towards their life’s purpose.
Why Work with me?
Hold space for yourself in a way that you never have before…
From uncovering subconscious limiting beliefs to creating your future goal-based action plan, together we’ll connect the dots and navigate the yesterday, the now, and the tomorrow.
In every offering, I bring in the tools to help us understand where you are in your process, where you want to be going, and how to implement the advice to move through the stuck.
🪩Holistic Life Coach focusing on spiritual inner work | Certified, Health Coach Institute
🪩Somatic, Trauma Informed Practitioner | Certified, The Embody Lab
🪩Breathwork Facilitator | Certified, “BREATHE” Jon Paul Crimi
🪩Multidisciplinary Designer, Racial Justice Placemaker & classically trained Architect of 25 years | Master’s & Bachelor’s at UIC, SIU
🪩10 year USAF veteran
🪩10 year sponsor in 12 step support groups | Sanon
🪩🪩🪩Vested in my own healing journey since the age of 19
Fun Facts:
NO-01
I’m a Gemini, INFJ, and Manifestor in Human Design
NO-02
When I was a kid, I’d rather redecorate my friends bedroom as my gift to them instead of be in the party, even at the age of 9 I already knew the conversation wouldn’t be deep enough for me.
Every tree in my garden and plant in my home has a name. Some of them Orange Julius, Miss Celie, Howard, Theo Jupiter, and Sesame to name a few.
NO-03
NO-04
I stood in my doorway kissing my boyfriend at 16 when I shouldn't have. My mom wasn’t home yet, all was ok- so I thought. When we were done with this make out session, I realized my mom had came home, parked her car, and was inside the house…to this day I don’t know when she arrived and what she saw.
NO-05
On my second marathon, I wore compression tights. They were so tight, that when I got into the porta potty to go, I couldn’t pull them down in time. I pee’d myself standing in place…pants still on.
The Team
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Kanisha Williams
FOUNDER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR & ILLUSTRATIVE ART ↗
Kanisha is the Founder and Director of all things Ruby’s Rest. She has conceptualized and (with the help of her team) built the RR brand. She has also illustrated all the art/collages that exist on the website and socials.
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Georgia Petrou
ONGOING SOCIAL MEDIA SUPPORT & WEB COPY ↗
Georgia is Kanisha’s right-hand woman and @rubysrest social media manager - strategizing, planning, and creating all of the content on our page.
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Maxime Hue
WEB DESIGN & BRAND BUILDER ↗
Max has skilfully crafted the strategy, design, and development of the Ruby’s Rest website, - bringing our dream concept to life, with ongoing brand direction support.
