Damali McDowell shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Damali, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Are you walking a path—or wandering?
Definitely walking a path at this point in my life. I’ve always said people have two choices at the fork in the road…the path of DESTINY or the path of DESPERATION. If you choose destiny, you will find your purpose. If you choose desperation, you are wandering in survival mode which can be a distraction from your destiny.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Everyone who knows me would probably describe me as “the ULTIMATE SOCIAL BUTTERFLY”. I have a gift, a superpower…and it’s all in how I relate to people. Since I was a small child…I’ve always loved being social. In fact, I can remember being mesmerized by learning about people’s stories and how they always motivated me, intrigued me at a deep level. Recently, I decided to tap into that gift, and let it lead me into my destiny. “FLUTTER NATION”…The Ultimate Social Butterfly Lifestyle Podcast.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
My Dad would always take us to the movies. That was our quality time together. We saw everything from Star Wars to E.T., and we loved going to the drive-in theater where we could lay comfortably in the back of the station wagon and watch the big screen from our car. I can still remember the smell of the popcorn he would purchase from the snack bar. But this movie changed my life, Ghandi. I remember at the tender age of seven, sitting through that film about a heroic man who fought for equality and being drawn into the screen as if I was there…fighting with him. I never took my eyes off of the screen for the entire 3 1/2 hours, and I knew then, I LOVED people’s stories. That instantly changed my life.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
In 2014, I had a near death experience that completely changed my entire life. I survived kidney failure, sepsis and pneumonia all at the same time. After 30 days in the hospital, 2 minor surgeries and one major surgery, it was an absolute medical miracle that I survived. During that time, I was ready to give up. I lost everything and had to start all over again. One person called me and said this very thing to me…”if you could see what I see that’s on the other side of this for you!”…immediately I thought, wow…I’m gonna make it to the other side of this. That’s when I knew I was gonna be healed.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
I believe you can have a high IQ, and a low EQ. I personally think that the emotional quotient is was more important than your intellect. Having the ability to relate to people at a high level, can open doors that having some book knowledge might not. In Law School at UCLA, I’ve been around some of the most brilliant minds in the world, and my favorite thing about the people I met, is their kindness.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
When I am near the ocean. It’s my sanctuary. The type of peace that I feel around water is like no other place in the world.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @socialbutterflydamali
Image Credits
I have permission for every photo.
