We had the good fortune of connecting with Aisha Dillard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aisha, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
Manifestation, alone time, discipline, spending time with people that accept and make me feel good about myself. Dancing, smiling and fellowship, and sometimes giving in to the bad days. Feel all of it, so you can have gratitude for the good ones.

I feel like I am a magician of sorts. When I practice the above fruitful, wonderful, inspiring and needed opportunities come by way.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My website the Aisha Life grew from a time period of realizing that my energy was a currency. I was giving way too much of it out for free without reinvestment. I’m pretty liberal in rate of return, but a zero balance didn’t add up. I ended up on insufficient funds and living check to check . A reset was in order. I am proud that I was able to change my own narrative. I grew up raised by Southern Parents who moved me to the mid-west. There is a guide book that does not always give way to detours. I definitely felt like I had free reign to make my own choices, but there was guilt in not following the rule book. College, Marriage, Kids, Good Job. No debt. I was the model student. Until I decided that you can choose to restart whenever you want, you can have it all, but it cant be at the expense of your what truly makes you happy. I want the world to know that my happiness is rooted in family, cooking and being with my boys, investing in the work of being a wife. Teaching, sharing and being creative. I try not to box myself into what that looks like, but I do take note of what it does not include. Anything that results in overdraft fees of my spirit.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would get a good walk or stroll in and spend the day at my kitchen island, or  in our hot tub.  Ordering in, playing games,  drinking great wine or sipping on the latest creation from Crown and Hops beer by the firepit.

I would also want them to pick a place to eat. There is a group formed called regardinherfood.com .  One of the founders is Lein Ta, of All Day Baby,  is a wealth of knowledge on all things ladies and food.  They have highlighted all the female owned restaurants in Los Angeles. Haven’t had a bad recommendation from their site yet
Before the hike we would stock up on snacks and treats for the climb. Hank’s Mini Market in South LA ran by Kelli, Sip and Sonder for a good cup of coffee or tea, Simply Wholesome, Whole Foods, Trader Joes and of course a treat from Adam’s Wine and Coffee Shop, Hi-Lo Market or Flask and Field as our payoff for a day on the trail.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Family –

Somewhere along the way the love of my immediate, distant, new ,old and momentary family have effected my growth. I look for it everywhere and am blessed to see it in every day people connected by blood or smiles. I have a successful life because I refuse to accept anything less. I thrive from it, and the love from all the people in that life encourage me to be the best. I’m shouting out every one. I’m grateful.

Website: theaishalife.com

Instagram: theaishalife

Youtube: avenandashtoncancook

Image Credits
Stephanie Owens of Photo Cocco photococco.com

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.