You mentioned that your passion isn’t set in one thing, it’s in following your curiosity and inspiration. What brings you inspiration?
It’s true, if I don’t feel like I am growing and learning, I start to fade away. I find inspiration in a lot of things, but mostly it’s in people and deep conversations with them. I also find inspiration in art, books, nature, quietness, things like that. I’m curious about the ways in which people and things interact, and how they find meaning and purpose.
What is a book you read that changed you?
There are so many, it’s hard to just pick one! I’ll pick one that has currently changed me. It is, “Dear Ijeawele, Or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I’ve been studying feminist literature for years and my undergrad was in Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice, and so I consider myself pretty well versed in the topic; however, Adichie’s book made me realize how I’ve gotten lazy with my feminism, due to privilege, and this is unacceptable to me. Her book is a beautiful and easy read, and everyone absolutely must read it. It’s not preachy, it’s reality and it’s so important for people to understand how complex life is, and how gender stereotypes are embedded in things we don’t even realize. It was a very refreshing and inspiring read.
5 books you think everyone should read?
Read everything by Adichie! And also, “Letter to My Daughter” by Maya Angelou. “My Life on the Road” by Gloria Steinem. “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking” by Susan Cain. And for something more fun, “The Chronicles of Narnia” series for some childlike imagination.
What’s a quote you carry with you?
I don’t know how the original quote goes, or even if someone told it to me or if I read it, so I will not say this as eloquently, but the message is basically this: “There will always be waves in life and you have three options on how you deal with them: you can run away but the waves will catch up with you, you can stand still but eventually one of the waves will knock you down, or you can dive straight into the wave and come up on the other side.” This phrase has become a motto for my life in learning to accept what comes, let go and to simply dive in. I think it’s important to dive into the deep, hard issues. You learn and grow from them and become stronger.
How would you like to be remembered?
I would like to be remembered for being unwavering in my faith. My faith is very important to me, and I admire my mother and her unwavering faith. Her unwavering faith has encouraged me to follow a lot of my dreams. But I also want to be remembered for doing the right thing, even when the right thing is hard. This doesn’t mean not making mistakes, it means being kind, speaking up for injustice, helping others and being honest.
We are inspired by Kim’s sharing on her constant source of strength and inspirations and are proud to have her as Fieldtesters, a group of inspiring individuals that test MATTER products in their everyday journeys of passion, to help us improve durability and design. Kim is using the Mobi Indigo Pouch.