Meet CHOKE | Creating Her Own Kinetic Energy

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

Hi CHOKE, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risky business. I’m likely the biggest risk taker I know…in fact, I’m pretty sure my entire life has been one giant risk, especially as a full time visual artist, entrepreneur and wanderlust. To attempt a thing and potentially fail, miserably, is one of the greatest joys I welcome into my life, to be quite honest. How else will I learn ? How else will I grow? What else is out there ? How far can I push the boundaries of the status quo? How far can I push my own boundaries? What if it works out? WHAT IF, IT WORKS OUT.

I’m currently on an island in SouthEast Asia living within a traditional family compound, learning a totally new language, eating new and interesting foods, exploring new terrain on a motorbike, all the while, teaching myself how to paint more realistically and …. although I may scream, curse and make silly noises while painting…. This is me, actively pushing myself as an artist. Am I nervous to try? Maybe, Do I push through? Yeah! Why not?! To feel is to know i’m alive, to feel is to know i’m a human being. Risks i’m willing to take.

I, admittedly, have a relationship with failure that may be a little more rare to find in others. I embrace failure as lessons. These lessons are methods to improve, to sharpen my skills and to seek mentorship or community within the very thing I am attempting.

When I was a teen, I was prescribed a certain pharmaceutical in order to combat cystic acne. Very long story short, I ended up tossing this prescription within a month because my weight fluctuated wildly within that month and my thoughts were being affected in ways I had never experienced. I instantly knew it wasn’t for me, and I quit immediately. I promised myself I would find another way to combat the acne. A very dear friend of mine suggested to me that I should consider no longer consuming dairy. That was the spark I didn’t know I needed. From that day forward I began extensively researching herbs, incorporating them into my every day. I began exploring how to eat for better health and would eliminate things and reintroduce them in order to find out what works and what didn’t for my body. it was those little failures or, shall I say, lessons, that would lead me to, then, 13 years later, taking risk, and opening an herbal apothecary in Fort Worth, Texas that had upwards of 300 types of herbs, teas and health & wellness products. I took even more risks during the pandemic and those paid off well as my business grew exponentially. More recently, I took another giant risk and sold my company and used that money to launch my new business, Arte Tea Co. This tea company merges all of my worlds, all of my skills and is consistently challenging me as a creative, business owner. and traveler. Very quickly, my decision to take this risk, would bring me to exactly where i’m typing this article. Asia. I’m here sourcing high quality loose leaf tea, learning how to brew a true cup of tea from tea masters, exploring the most remote parts of Asia via motorbike and meeting people I would have otherwise never met if I hadn’t embraced the risks.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Multi-hyphenate. A term I recently heard someone use, it was new to me and very applicable. So, I’m a multi-hyphenate creative entrepreneur. It means I have many skills, many talents, many experiences and expertise, many streams of income and many more ways to learn & grow. I am a forever student. I live to learn a new life skill. In all reality, I need to write a book because thats the only way i’ll be able to properly organize all of my lived lives and skills acquired into one story.

What sets me apart from others is that I have the audacity to risk it all for my art. Someone who has lost it all at an early age, has nothing to lose in life. I know whats it’s like to do without, so my specialty is working with what i’ve got and making something from nothing. Another one of my super powers is the art of re-invention. I have had no issues pivoting my life, my art or my businesses to make them work best for me. I’m able to scrap it all and begin again using the ever-sharpening skillsets I’ve acquired along the way.

To be a true artist is to live in a constant state of inquiry and play. I’m, naturally, a very curious person and I scratch that itch by exposing myself to the world by traveling in an extremely immersive way. When I travel, I tend to dive deep with locals into the indigenous traditions and arts of their culture. I allow myself the freedom to play, to make a mess and to try new things creatively.

Where I am today, professionally and artistically, is in a cocoon. In a jungle treehouse nest, getting rest. I’m currently embracing this rest, relaxation, meditation and relieving myself of productivity guilt that America has instilled in us from birth. Something I think, as Americans or those living in hyper-capitalist societies will never get to experience in their lifetime. This is radical self care. I am taking all the breaks I never got to take at the jobs I’ve worked in my life. Im taking all the naps my ancestors never got to have. Im most excited about smelling these exotic flowers, taking naps, discovering new teas for my company and hosting group activities that feel good to me to host…like an occasional waterfall trail walk , a figure drawing class or a movie night. This cocoon is a vital part of my evolution, this is where I allow myself to expand in new ways, to contemplate, to come up with new and exciting ideas, where I can change my world and potentially influence those around me. Artistically, same….I’m allowing whatever wants to flow, to flow or not. Im allowing myself to not make sense, to return to the abstract and to play. Professionally, I’m deep diving into the ancient traditions of tea growing, producing and brewing. I’m traveling to the source and sourcing directly from the wisdom keepers and their villages. This will all be invaluable to my self, my community and my business. All of this, in my opinion, is the definition and idea of success.
What I’d like for people to know is that I am actively engaging with my self as I am evolving into an elder of my global community. How does what I do impact the community, the children, the global diaspora? Am I showing up as my authentic self through and through? Yes, yes I am.
My question to you is : What type of elder do want to be?
I’ll be the one who took the risks and has a story to tell .

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Hmmmm a weeks itinerary in the DFW ?! Easy… This is literally what my own typical week looks like in the Metroplex in general. Enjoy ! Most, if not all of these listed places are Black owned, women owned, locally owned or ran by dear friends of mine, and I’m very lucky and proud to say that.

Monday – A nice walk at the Dallas Arboretum, lunch at Kalachandji’s , a gallery visit to Daisha Board Gallery, Dinner at Vegan Food House, Live Music at Free Mans down in Deep Ellum.

Tuesday – coffee at Black Coffee, Open mic and vegan pop-up at The Dock Book shop in Fort Worth, then a movie night on the rooftop movies in fort worth, Dinner at my favorite hidden gem,Thai Charm

Wednesday – Morning walk at the Trinity River Trail, Lunch at Boulevard of Greens, Ecstatic dance with Dallas Movement Collective in fort worth. Dinner at Wabi House.

Thursday – Fort Worth Modern Art Museum to see whats new, maybe a mid afternoon sensory deprivation float tank session at Fort Worth Float company, evening yoga at Urban Yoga followed by my favorite Vietnamese place, Pho at Bun Dong Ba.

Friday – Rest and chill day… I’m a big fan of participating in activities that feed the mind body and soul. REST being one of them.

Saturday – Saturday Farmers market in Dallas, lunch at Market Cafe at Bon Ton farms in Dallas, enjoy live music at Chocolate Secrets also in dallas.

Sunday – Volunteer at Opal Lees Garden and Food Bank, head down to Pan African Connection for their Sunday local makers market, drum circle and any talks or gatherings they may be having.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost I give thank to The All. Secondly I give thanks to the ancestors that came before me and whose blood, DNA and spirits run deeply within my being. My parents, who taught me a thing or two about a thing or two. Lastly, every person who has come into and out of my life, you inspired me, looked out for me, you challenged me, loved me, supported me, you may also have hurt me, you rejected me, said no to me, and in all of that, you taught me and made me stronger. and for that, I am most thankful. Shout out to ME, I Love, believe in, and am in awe of myself constantly! YOU GO GIRL !

Website: https://arteteaco.com/

Instagram: @CHO_KE or https://www.instagram.com/cho_ke/?hl=en

Other: my non-profit website is : https://www.mindbodyecologyinstitute.org/