Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandi Johnson.
So, before we jump into specific questions about what you do, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was just 18 months old when I suffered from third-degree burns. We lived in a small home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. That day, my mother, Kim, was standing in her kitchen preparing to perform a task to defrost the freezer. But, the next 30 seconds would change my life forever. When my mother moved a pot of boiling hot water from off of the stove, my tiny body was behind her. She was caught off guard because she had not seen me, and the pot of water tipped over on to my tiny body. Scolding hot water hit my tiny body! I was rushed to mercy hospital and admitted to their burn unit with third-degree burns on 30% of my body. It was so bad my terry cloth pajamas couldn’t be removed for several days after because my skin was sticking to the material. Doctors, performed multiple skin graft surgeries and I even spent months in a burn suit that covered the top half of my body.
Despite their efforts, my scars still remain. Today some areas are smooth, and while other areas are like deep snake skin or a bit rougher. It’s interesting how that also describes my internal healing. Once I became aware of why I was different, I became very self-conscious of my scars and preferred to always hide my scars. I even defined myself as a victim. Until I was 28 years old, I suffered from all four phycological effects of scars. Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Sleeping disorder. Back then, I didn’t have the language to express or the understanding to identify my then state of mind. I wasn’t given the tools to handle any of these effects, so I ended up angry, confused, and emotionally unstable. As you can imagine, this impacted family and intimate relationships. I battle with low self-esteem and allowed both men and women to disrespect, degrade and even demean my character at times because I didn’t know my value or understand my purpose. One of the first questions I asked myself was, “If I could use one word to describe my future, what would that word be? And what does that look like to me and why?” My answer was freedom! The kind of freedom to be myself. The kind of freedom that you feel after you have completed a, “to do” list or climbed a mountain and made it to the top.
I wanted to walk without shame, embarrassment, or even the fear of being noticed. So, I started my work. I shifted out of a victim state of mind and began to reshape my thinking and began to believe and live as a survivor. That shifting landed me on my self-awareness journey. I began to do self-development exercises daily. I evaluated relationships with peoples, places and possessions. I now have an understanding of how I allowed my trauma to keep me bound. I was consumed with fear, overwhelmed with uncertainty, and silenced by lies. In order to move forward I learned, I must change the story I continued to tell myself over and over again. The story that stripped away my power! I learned, I was in control over the narrative that has kept me bound, which has formed many characteristics in myself that will not allow progression in my life. I Changed my language and then changed my story!
As a burn survivor, I live to inspire others through sharing my experience and expertise, through my t-shirt line. Also through motivational speaking, one-on-one coaching, support groups, and workshops. I don’t want to just create fashionable pieces to allow people to hide. I want to create, inspire, and encourage people to know that they have a voice, that their scars have a voice, and that their story has a message! My goal is to serve and to provide options when others feel as if what they’re experiencing is all there is to life. I created Bea’ U Culture, with the survivor in mind. Bea’ U Culture means: The act of learning who you are, so your actions and decisions are a reflection of you accepting, embracing, and proclaiming: I AM! Psalms 139:13-14
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been a smooth road. Battling with depression I have learned that I cannot be silent. I cannot hold things in and internalize my actions or the actions of others. I am a communicator and my personality requires effective communication no matter how awkward the situation may be. I have struggled with acceptance because I couldn’t accept myself. I hated myself and my scars. I hated the fact that I wasn’t like my peers. The hatred that I had for myself reflected my poor behavior and my inability to speak up for myself. My lack of confidence at the time and the lie I believed about my intelligence wouldn’t allow me to speak so I suffered in silence. Self-worth is what I had to learn. That act changed my life. I live today because I stopped believing that life wasn’t worth living. God saved my life!
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I am the founder and CEO of Bea’ U Culture, LLC. It means: the act of learning who you are, so your actions and decisions are a reflection of you accepting, embracing, and proclaiming: I AM! Psalms 139:13-14 When I first created the brand my mission was to create t-shirt designs to inspire survivors. To use my t-shirt line as a vehicle to reach survivors and to remind them of how powerful they are. To provide techniques that will enable them to know that their scars have a voice that the world needs to hear. It then evolved into a safe place for survivors to tell their stories, share their experience and how they have overcome. I now invite not just burn survivors but anyone who has survived any level of trauma.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I want to reach the nation. I want to speak to people across this world to serve hope. I am a servant leader! I believe that we live in a dark world. I also believe that because my life was saved that I am purposed to shine a light because I am a witness that all things are possible and that regardless of what we have went through, our future is brighter than our present time. I have just published my first book called, “The P.O.W.E.R That Sets Burn Victims Free.” Its release date is Dec. 1st, 2019. I am hoping to book more interviews, podcast features, workshops, and even keynote speaking sharing my story. I am also working on an ongoing T-shirt line, along with my website, and design team and move away from just designing for campaigns or events.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bdrjohnson.com/
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
