bloom Community Spotlight: Pashca Shepard

This week's community spotlight is on Pashca Shepard! Pascha is a mom, planner icon, and wellness and mental health activist. Pascha is the ultimate #plannerbabe and we're so grateful to have her influence in our bloom community. Pascha was the motivation behind our new "juneteenth" sticker that will be in the new updated version of our Holiday Sticker Packs! 

We are also highly obsessed with Pascha's Instagram and design style so make sure to check out her page, @poshplans! 

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Activist. Mom. Virgo. I am passionate about mental health and suicide prevention. Those two things are sprinkled throughout my planners. In my planner I track my moods, symptoms, medications, vitamins, and hours of sleep. I am obsessed with black and white stripes; the most beautiful combination to me. Queens, NY raised me and I currently reside in the quiet suburbs of northern Georgia. My family is Jamaican and I am a proud Jamerican. My job keeps me very busy but I love the work that I do as a Legal Specialist. Planning not only keeps me organized but it’s a relaxing space for me to be creative. Before the pandemic I went to and held many local planner meet-ups and Go Wild! It is always fun to spend time with those that share the same passion for stationery, planners, and all that comes with it. They get it.

How did your planning journey start?

I was always a planner; writing everything done I needed to do or remember. I can remember planning in my Lisa Frank notebook in the 1980's. I have always been more on the minimal side—I think because I don’t want the whole rainbow in my planner. Over time I have become less decorative and more intentional with my planning. The past two years I have become a lister and tracker to get things done and I have been more productive as a result. I keep the stickers for my memory planner—and even still it is at a minimum.

What is your biggest inspiration?

Peace. All things and anything that brings some form of peace inspires me. Yoga, meditation, manifest scripting, and journaling. I have had some chaotic moments in my past that have driven me to a point where peace is required for my mental health. I was never chaotic, but as a result of growing wiser—I don’t allow ruckus and foolishness. Being peaceful is important to me because I am my personal best where there is no noise; I can hear from God and rest.

"Peace comes from being able to contribute the best that we have, and all that we are, toward creating a world that supports everyone. But it is also securing the space for others to contribute the best that they have and all that they are."

- Hafsat Abiola

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced, personally or professionally? How have you overcome it?

One of them has been going back into the work force after being a stay-at-home mom for 15 years. That paycheck helped me overcome it. LOL. If you are rejoining the work force my advice would be to be clear on what is expected of you, realistic about what you can give of yourself and allow yourself some grace to get into a rhythm. I absolutely wouldn’t trade the time I had at home caring for my family. I love love love that I was THAT mom always at the school, room mom, and on all the field trips. Being a mom is THE best part of "adulting". I am grateful that when I did have to go back to work that my youngest was in middle school. I also controlled how I went back; I worked for myself and contracted my services as a paralegal. That way, I set my own schedule and I worked around my children’s schedule (many times working after they went to bed). Today, I am full-time for a company where our office is all female; and we are all moms. The company is understanding of that work/life balance and it is just refreshing to know that if I have a “mom emergency,” it is okay.

If you could talk to yourself 5 years ago, what advice would you give yourself?

I’d say, “Self. Divorce that fool quick fast. Fear is fake. You will be happier than ever-even on the tough days.”

What are some key books/learning experiences that helped shape you?

Reading anything related to wellness and past journal entries. All of my negative experiences have shaped me into who I am today. I hated the pain but the other side of it is WOW good. My journal style is free and open. It could be three written pages, lists, a mind map, one word. I have no rules for myself when journaling.

What are your favorite bloom products, and why?

I love the Pocket Planner! I am drawn to the neat and compact structure. I also like that it doesn’t have a lot of color. I also use the Marble Daily Planner for faith based planning! 

 

Do you know someone doing something amazing in your community? Nominate them for a bloom community spotlight!