Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Taylor
Hi Andrea, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My mom and her side of the family are Atlanta native so my sister and I grew up here. At some point we moved to Philadelphia. Leading up to the point of my moms passing my life was no longer making sense in Philly. I hated being there, it was becoming unbearable. After my mom died everything began to fall apart including my health. So I packed up my car, son and my cat with nothing more than gas money and we left. I thought I would move to NC but Georgia just called to me. We lived in the car, motel’s, hotel’s, and back to motel’s before getting our own place. The kindness of strangers really helped me to get grounded. I got my RBT certification while I continue in school for Applied Behavioral Analysis. I began to realize how worn out I was and at work I was thinking about home and at home all I thought about was work, so I started creating this self-care routine for myself and That is how The Priceless Box was born.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. In Philadelphia my career was billing , student and Medical billing. I also ran my own business ATAS administration where I did various admin tasks for companies and individuals. That business didn’t transition over to Ga very well and here I needed a degree and/or certifications in billing to find good paying employment. So I had no job and no money for a little while. I went in to nursing and Home Healthcare but by the time that came a long I was loosing our first apartment and they were unwilling to give me a chance to get caught up now that I had a job and could pay. They basically said “you just got here and we don’t know you like that.” The sheriff was to put us out in two days. I prayed prayed asking God to please make away of escape from homelessness for us. I went to work the next day, I cared for a lovely couple nearing 100 years old. they lived through the Great Depression and was loaded with so much wisdom. I Loved that family and they cared for me as well. On that day I swallowed my pride and scratched the grain of my professional ethics and mentioned what I was going though and if they knew of any place or anybody that would rent to me at least until I got on my feet. The daughter and son in law of the couple I cared for said “I don’t know honey, do we know anyone.” The husband said “yeah honey I think we do”. They’d had a house in Atlanta, near Virginia Highlands. They gave me their house for 3 months while it was in the market for sale as long as I could be ok with showings. This was blessing at the time. Unfortunately, the house sold at the same time Covid starting transitioning into its worse and lockdowns started happening. I had to move for two months to NC with a friend. When I came back to GA it was hotel and motel living again. I was living in a Motel 6 and my Birthday was coming I cried and Prayed I didn’t want to be in the motel for my birthday. I met a girl while driving for Lyft that needed a roommate. I stayed with her for two weeks before she wanted me to move out so one of her homegirls could move in. Back to a Hotel. Then the holidays was upon us and my nursing company said I could pick up my check the Christmas Eve morning from the front desk when I arrived the building was closed, locked, and no one was there. I only had about 20 bucks in my pocket and had to go back to the hotel with no food, little gas, no money and a inability pay my rate for the week. the hotel showed me kindness and gave me more time but my back was against the wall and I was hungry with only cabbage in my fridge. I prayed and cried. Tears and faith was all I had.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I feel like my life is the constant struggle from being born 3 months early and doctors saying I wouldn’t live until today. I’m still in school for Applied Behavioral Analysis and work as a registered Behavior Therapist. I specialize in two things 1. working with Children with autism and 2. Self-Care. The hard work of therapy and healthcare prompted me to create the Priceless Box. It was in those times that I just slowed down and got quite that I gained clarity in how to move forward. I want that for everyone. If just by nature and circumstance you have a challenging life, self-care is imperative to get through it. My Neice gave birth to a daughter that is autistic. This prompted me to learn more and change my major in school. I wanted to be the someone in the family that could be a support or sounding board should my Neice or great Neice ever need help. I am most proud of helping non-verbal children speak and use their words to communicate. I am most proud of the launch of The Priceless Box. It is a vision I whole-heartily believe in and its power to help people.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
When I was facing hunger and homelessness for Christmas that year I prayed asking God what he wanted me do because I knew he didn’t lead me to Ga for this disastrous result. I got quite and my spirit led me to go on Craigslists. I thought I was going crazy. I did’t equate Craigslist with anything good that could help me. But being obedient to my spirt I went on Craigslist. I saw houses for rent, jobs, cars all sort of things was listed. I couldn’t afford 1st, last, and security deposit so I thought this pointless. Then it dropped into my spirit to post my need, what I was looking for., asking the scammers and pervs to please disregard my message. I did and it led me to this sweet lady. Pat was her name. she met with, me gave me money to pay my hotel fees, and rented me her cottage with no upfront money and no rent due for 30 days. This lady changed my life. She passed on and I know live in her home. I honor her life by careing for her home and I hope to pay if forward one day, being to another person what she was to me.
Pricing:
- 54.95
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ThePricelessBox.org
- Instagram: ThePricelessBox
- Facebook: ThePricelessBox
- Other: https://ThePricelessBox.etsy.com
