Today we’d like to introduce you to Meochia Thompson.
Hi Meochia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I always knew I wanted to be a publisher; I just didn’t know the proper name for it. When I was little, I used to be so sad about how much negativity was on the news. I vowed that when I got older, I would create a newspaper just for kids where they could read about fun stuff and share stories about themselves, written by them. At age 20, while attending Columbia College in Chicago, I launched Kid & Teen Print Newspaper which later became The Future Leader: Where learning should be fun and full of color. It was an educational newspaper for children ages 3-16. I developed a technique called the “triangle method of learning” so any child at any learning level could enjoy this newspaper filled with fun activities and information on every subject, written by them and adults. I began teaching journalism workshops, and some years later, I started publishing books. I had this huge appetite for reading, learning, sharing information, and connecting people since I was a child. I knew I wanted to be a journalist and I wanted to inspire others. Some years later, I published my first book, then I published someone else’s, and that’s when I truly started discovering my voice. I wanted a special kind of publishing company; one that inspires the author and their readers. A company that gives authors back some control and opportunities to keep their authentic voice for the audience they serve. So, I launched BPI, Blessed Pen Ink Publishing, where we specialize in words that inspire! Realizing that I wouldn’t and couldn’t publish everything thrown my way was huge for me. It meant turning down some lucrative opportunities, but it is worth it for what I want to do. What we do now impacts us later. Soon after, I launched Life Chats events, radio, and podcasts because I wanted to help others find freedom through Christ. It was my way of helping people taste good food, learn to cook, and talk about hard stuff over a good meal, some nice music, or some lighthearted conversations. This is my lane, I discovered. I am an Inspirationalist and this is who and what I want to be for the rest of my life. I want to utilize my gifts in communication to help others to heal, love, live, and forgive!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I have struggled from the beginning, but I have also survived and thrived. I was supposed to be an abortion. My mom said, “I saw the blood; I don’t know how you still got here.” When I was born, 6 months into her pregnancy, I was 1 pound,15 ounces, and later, I dropped to 1.11 ounces. My mom said she didn’t even come see me my first two weeks of life because she thought for sure I would die. She had 4 children already, but one daughter had died at 2 weeks old, who weighed the same as me. I made it! By two, I had already been to foster care, molested, and abused. By five, my mom got all her children back, kicked a heroin habit, and was getting her life back on track before marrying another abusive and alcoholic husband. There was more molestation and abuse there and he died by the time I was 14. By age 15, my mom met someone else, who she married, and they were together until they both died a couple of years ago. We reconciled later, and that husband became my biggest advocate. There was a lot of verbal abuse and alcoholism in our household, but I decided very young I would not let these negative things stop me from smiling. I was going to choose to make others happy instead. I was determined. Writing and speaking was my outlet. Poetry was my first love. My mom would always say that I had a light in me and not to let anyone dim it. I didn’t truly understand the meaning of that until later. It seemed the nicer I was the more people hated me. I’ve been raped, mistreated, and cheated but God keeps giving me grace and favor. I didn’t grow up with much, but I came from a huge family that took up a large part of our neighborhood, so I never noticed what we didn’t have. We were dysfunctional and very loving at the same time. It was and still is confusing, but that is my family. We fight and forgive. I am from Harvey, IL. It’s a small, tough town with a lot of heart and a lot of poverty. I just didn’t notice it because we were shielded in a sense. I was determined to go to college. It was my way out. At age 17, I went to Mississippi Valley State College, an HBCU. I remember calling my mom, after my first year, to tell her my financial assistance didn’t go through and her telling me I may as well come home because she isn’t messing up her credit for me. I convinced the school to defer my loans because I was determined not to go back to where I came from. However, second semester Sophomore year, at age 18, I was pregnant by my high school sweetheart from Chicago. I was finally an honors student, starring in plays and making a difference, and all that changed because of some unhealthy decisions we made. Still determined to keep going, I transferred to Columbia College Chicago. I didn’t have a babysitter most times, so I would just bring my daughter to class with me. I went to school full time and worked full-time and maintained a great GPA. I was not going to be my past; I was going to be my future. My mom and others were expecting me to quit. After all, at that time, I was one of a very few who went to college in my family. My mom and most of her siblings were pregnant or having babies by age 15. But to finish high school and go to college, especially without marriage or no support? No, you weren’t expected to finish college with a baby, but I did. Not only did I finish, I was a double major by 22, with a company. I didn’t have much money, but I had a dream and that was enough for me. Now, my oldest daughter, who I used to drag to class with me, is a married college grad and works in management, as well. My youngest is very creative and active. She loves to write like me. Today, most of my younger cousins are college grads, some even doctors and business owners, now. I’d like to think I had some influence in that. We came from grandparents who were together since they were young teens, they had 12 children, six boys, and six girls. My grandfather worked for the railroad and the garbage company. My grandmother was a stay-at-home mom. They didn’t have much. I have 109 first cousins and a rich family history. We didn’t have much but we understood love and forgiveness and standing by your word.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an Author and Speaker. I specialize in helping others who have been through life’s struggles learn how to heal, love, live and forgive. I am most proud of the new book I have written called The NO Journal: 90-Days of Saying No to Mess and Stress and Yes to Your Success! I created this book for the givers of the world. Those who just have a heart for people but don’t know how to say no without feeling terrible or guilty. My goal is to help them learn out to reclaim positive yeses by exercising their no power. It’s not wrong to be wired as a giving person but it is wrong to be taken advantage of or made to feel like a doormat. We struggle in four particular areas when it comes to saying no and I’ve developed a formula to deal with that in four steps. This book isn’t like other journals that are just filled with lines and colorful pages and language, it has purpose. Each day has a bit of wisdom. You are challenged to say no to at least one thing. Then, asked why you said no and how it made you feel. It’s followed by a few more questions, a daily prayer and scripture. When you pour out, it is important that you are poured into. There is also a NO Journey Club for readers to join online to keep them encouraged, followed by optional video calls and a Support Group discussion and celebration. I love to engage my audience and I want people to know this is a serious thing. I am not encouraging people to be mean, that is counterproductive. I want to help them to stand up for themselves, understand why they do what they do and help make better decisions on who they treat with those deliciously precious yeses.
I’ve also written “A Book of Poetry a Sister Can Eat To: Nourishment for the Mind, Body and Soul”. This book is filled with poetry, scripture and prayer and 25 stories and scrumptious recipes that take you on a journey through my life and experiences to help you learn how to love, live and forgive. The purpose is to lift the bandages off of life’s struggles, so healing can take place. You have to speak to secrets and past hurts that keep you burdened down so you can find your freedom. This book helps with that. It is truthful, sometimes funny, and all the time loving to its readers.
This year my company, Blessed Pen Ink Publishing, launched BPI Book Therapy. It’s a way of healing through writing with a professional writing and life coach. We all have a story to tell but most of us are too ashamed, unaware, or afraid to tell it. Book therapy allows the author to tell their story through their eyes, change the ending, or be the hero with a finished book to keep for themselves, share with family or publish for the world to see. Words are an awesome form of healing and art, and we want to help our writers to utilize it for their benefit.
I also mentor, I am director of a program called RUTH or Reaching Up Toward Heaven, where older women, mentor younger women, who mentor young ladies. I’ve been blessed to see many of my girl’s graduate college and some even continue their education even further. I love my work.
The last thing that I love is putting my poetry to paint. It’s never just a picture. I think painting is another great form of expression and I love using it to lift others up and also help them to express themselves when the words don’t come out.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is people. I love people. It’s important how people treat each other. My mom always taught me to treat others how I want to be treated. However, it is also said that hurting people hurt people. So, how do we treat people well when all we know is pain? We do it by extending mercy and grace. We do it by protecting ourselves and protecting our neighbor. We do it by loving well. I mentor, that’s important to me. I know what it was like to grow up without that, but I do cherish each person that poured into me. I didn’t really understand mentorship until I was older. I had a lot of distrust because of how I was mishandled so I try to love people better, no matter their age. I even ran for office in 2021, Commissioner in the City of Kentwood. I was determined to show others what it meant to have neighborly love. This is a huge part of who I am. I created a HUG (Help Uplift Goodness) Campaign in 2016. Then, a HUG Stage, in 2018 for ArtPrize. I came in the top 100 Finalist. I built the stage in the shape of a hug with a poem on the back that was also written in braille on the front and was called, “A Safe Space to Embrace”. My friend Dan, who I met while he was in a wheelchair, said he would help build my design. We met and became friends from me offering one simple hug. After being wheelchair bound for 4 years, this awesome man helped build my stage, as promised. HUG’s help. I felt, if I could go through all the struggles I did and still open my arms, exposing my most vulnerable parts, my heart, and other vital organs, to a stranger; me, a person who had every right to be mad or closed off, then surely, they could also open up to receive a warm and heartfelt hug, too. Mostly, my HUG reason was welcomed with tears, laughter, love and relief from the recipient! I just love to love. It feels good! It’s heart therapy and hurt remedy!
Pricing:
- The NO Journal is $19.99
- A Book of Poetry a Sister Can Eat To: Nourishment for the Mind, Body, and Soul is $19.99
- Book Therapy $150 per session or $700 for 5-sessions
Contact Info:
- Website: blessedpenink.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/
meochiaforconnection - Facebook: facebook.com/meochia
- Other: meochia.com or www.mylifechats.com
Image Credits
Rhiannon McCalmont
