Tell us about yourself - who are you and what do you love doing?
Hi! I’m Kumbi! I’m a fun loving adventurous black woman, born and raised in Zimbabwe and now a Brummie! I came to the UK to study nursing 20 years ago. My parents asked where I would like to study and at 18 years of age I said: “as far as possible from home!” I’m now a Transformation and Improvement Manager, currently on loan to NHS 111 during COVID-19.
I love doing all things outdoors, from climbing and white-water rafting to hiking, swimming and camping. However, I am a very fair-weather person, as I like to come back with a photo or two for my efforts, haha! I love being outdoors so I am pretty happy trying out something new or trying to get better at something I love doing! When I am not active and out-and-about, you can find me sleeping (I’m a Taurus) or reading a book in the garden.
Give us three words that you identify with most?
Spontaneous, fun, curious, mischievous and VERY optimistic (I can never stick to rules as you can see...)
What brings you the most joy outdoors?
Seeing people being happy and having a good time! Being able to complete or achieve something I thought was beyond my capabilities. Being free; it makes me feel young and carefree and reduces my stress levels! Being outdoors brings out the fun side of me which tends to lead to an adventure of some kind.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
Growing old(er), though definitely not wiser! Ha! My body takes longer to recover and it takes me longer to do stuff. I’m learning to appreciate going at my own pace and enjoying the moment. AND the unpredictable British weather - I am still to be convinced that you can have fun in the rain!
If you could share a core value or abiding principle with others, what would it be?
You can be who you want to be and you can do what you set your mind to do. It does NOT have to be done how it’s always been done before. I believe that it’s about the journey and not the finish line. It is definitely okay to try something and fail (a hundred times over), you never know what interesting lesson you’ll pick up along the way or what lifelong friends you might gain! Most importantly, it is your journey, so do it for you. Like no one is watching! Be unique and embrace and enjoy being different - it adds to the variety. As Maya Angelou once said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."
Tell us one small change we can make as individuals to help our community?
Be open minded enough to learn something new every day, be open-minded enough to change! It's okay to be uncomfortable when asking and learning about new things. That’s how we all learn. If you are teaching someone about something new, be kind, as you do not know the journey that they have been on. People learn when they feel safe to do so. You never know who you will influence or exactly what impact you might have on others. We only get to live this life once, so let’s make it the best experience possible!
