Shannon Jackson is more than a beautiful face and an inspirational firebrand. She’s intelligent, loves the Lord and is a Registered Nurse, Public Health Nurse and a Certified Life Coach. However, it is not just her striking resume that sparks interest — it’s her love of serving the communities of Los Angeles that we also find intriguing.
The podcast host of Living Your Life Without Limits (LYLWL) is also recognized as the ‘The People’s Nurse’ and partnered with a Watts local Baskin-Robbins and will be joined by entertainer Larry ‘Lala’ Lanehart, to co-host the second “Street Love” event on August 29, 12:00pm to 2:00pm. Jackson travels to various cities and provides face masks, hand sanitizers and free meals to senior citizens and low-income families, along with health educational materials.
She was also part of a recent two-month ‘tour of duty’ on the frontlines helping New York’s Covid-19 hospital wards where she observed first-hand the pandemic’s effect on people, how the pandemic challenged people’s mental wellness.
CNJ connected with Jackson to find out more about the ‘The People’s Nurse,’ her conclusions about coronavirus (what is fact versus fiction), and the next “Street Love” event.
Tell us how you became ‘The People’s Nurse?’
This tag name, ‘The People’s Nurse’ was actually given to me by a former celebrity client. One day we were having breakfast and, as she had observed me in action, said to me, “Shannon when I think of you and all that you do for your patients, your community, church, family and friends… what comes to mind is you are clearly ‘The People’s Nurse.'” Her shared thoughts sparked a recollection that took me back to a previous job where there was a running joke at the office, which goes like this: ‘If you need a nurse, call 1-800-Shannon.’
All jokes aside, I truly embrace the title of being called ‘The People’s Nurse.’ It has become my now long adopted badge of honor. I have been a Registered Nurse since 1992 and one of my greatest joys is advocating and educating everyday people to live their best life ever. And it all starts with learning and understanding the importance of being proactive regarding their health.
What was the biggest takeaway from your time as a nurse in NY during COVID?
Witnessing firsthand the tremendous sacrifice that was made by nurses, like myself. Many of us traveled from across the country to answer the Governor’s Call for help. We left everything behind… Families. Jobs. And our comfort, to join the invisible fight of COVID-19 and to help save lives. That experience gave me renewed hope and further strengthened my faith in God’s love for all people.
What are the facts from fiction regarding COVID? Many of us don’t know what to believe.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S., the 24/7 news cycle has transformed into an even more rapidly changing landscape of information, and in some cases, providing misinformation.
Therefore, what is a fact?
According to the CDC guidelines, there is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person. Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.
To prevent the Spread of COVID- 19, everyone should wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, eating, blowing your nose, touching objects, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Use a face covering for your mouth and nose when around others. Practice social distancing; which is at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people. There is much more to learn about the transmissibility, severity, and other features associated with COVID-19 and investigations are ongoing.
Fiction:
Will warm weather stop the spread of COVID-19? It is not yet known whether weather and temperature affect the spread of COVID-19. Some other viruses, like those that cause the common cold and flu, spread more during cold weather months but that does not mean it is impossible to become sick with these viruses during other months. Do mosquitos or ticks spread the virus that causes COVID-19? At this time, the CDC has no data to suggest that this new coronavirus or other similar coronaviruses are spread by mosquitoes or ticks. The main way that COVID-19 spreads is from person to person.
What is the “Street Love” event? What are the reasons for establishing this program?
My next ‘Street Love Celebration’ is scheduled for August 29th in Los Angeles. This special event was established as part of my ‘Living Your Life Without Limits’ (LYLWL) Foundation; to essentially serve as a benefactor outreach program to the Community. Where we go to different cities and give free resources, such as my new Wellness Box, face masks, hand sanitizers, free meals to senior citizens and low-income families, along with health educational materials. All created with the sole goal of helping to motivate people and to impact a positive change in people’s lives. My LYLWL’ Street Love’ event provides these collective benefits… Education, Information, and Inspiration on a widespread level to inner-city communities. As my LYLWL Foundation is always seeking further support from outside partners, our future sponsors, to help us do more important outreach to the community, I would like to extend an open invitation to anyone who shares in our vision and would like to sponsor our continued growth. For serious parties interested in learning more about LYLWL sponsorships, they are invited to get in touch with my team.
Tell us about your inspiring podcast called “Living Your Life Without Limits.” How can we achieve this today?
The inspiration behind my young and mighty podcast, ‘Living Your Life Without Limits,’ which I launched since January, began when the title first came to me as an inspiration of how I wanted to start living my life. More proactively and without limits. From that ‘aha’ moment forward, set my course on fire to where I decided to share my voice and pushed my broadcast mission, turning my baby, cry-out-loud podcast into all it is today. And now my audience’s tears and musings are being shared and felt everywhere by everyone who is tuning in long enough to realize this show speaks to them personally. If they are listening, they can relate… and we have quite an audience to reflect all that listening. There is a lot satisfaction and pride I get from providing this powerful platform to my fans. What they receive from my show is a double-duty gift… first to them, then back to me. It is so nice to know that universal ‘we’ is being heard. And WE hear you and cheer your true place in life forward. No one is omitted from my podcast’s ongoing conversation. I plan on talking for as long as it takes to reach and positively affect as many people as possible. This is the core purpose of my conversational and inspirational platform. And the Universe must be also listening, first to my quest, then my podcast, as it seems to be ‘all in’ answering my call to do and serve more. And now I have a growing audience… just another sign of my faith being answered. I am happy to share that after only several months out, I have a booming fan base of 4,000 listeners, as this base continues to expand with each new month.
This has been truly quite a life-affirming experience to behold, as I feel further guided to keep doing even more ‘Living Your Life Without Limits’ podcasting. It is hard to miss an apparent public thirst for the topical nature of my show, where the focus is always on helping my listeners to live better lives. From the onset of my podcast, I was first and personally partaken by its core message as the title spoke to an untapped part of me. Let me explain… I was always so busy building up everybody else and pushing them forward toward reaching their goals, though at the same time I continued to suffer in silence, never really feeding (or paying attention to) what had become a long lost inner vacuum of my hungering voice. So while I was being a cheerleader for people, whether for companies or individuals, I would basically give all of me to the task but had nothing left over for myself. Then one day through prayer, the Lord spoke to me and gave me the words of what would become my title, ‘Living Your Life Without Limits.’ From that spark of hope and glory, my podcast was born. Fast forward to now… while fairly still in the infancy stage of my launch, this experience has turned into a blessing personified. Not only to me, but to the many faithful and loyal followers of my podcast.
So how do we achieve this daily mantra (intention) if you will of ‘Living Your Life Without Limits’? It really starts with a decided commitment to make YOU a priority. Yes, you are your priority. Imagine taking care of you, your voice, and filling that possible emptiness inside. So do take your new commitment, to you, in steps… You can start by creating a personal plan/vision which focuses on your wants for becoming made whole in mind, body and spirit.
Let’s then look at one’s all-important ‘Quality of Life’. Either it exists, or doesn’t, for some. If you are listening to my podcast, it will be easy to make that determination and act on it. Remember, I am here to help you cross your own bridge to a life that awaits ‘souly’ and entirely for the rest of you to show up on the other side… as a willing and able partner to a life reimagined and finally rejoiced. Are you ready to push your ‘self-serve’ button? Do pay attention. After all, this is all about you improving your quality of life. And if you are really paying attention and doing you right, ‘Living Your Life Without Limits,’ then it is really up to us to change things UP in our own favor. To truly own it… the life of our dreams.
As this is an individual process that needs to evolve in its own time and space, it will not happen overnight. But don’t let that dissuade you. Stay on course and ON YOUR PURPOSE. Simply start slow and easy, but do start… Set your intentions daily and make the necessary changes required to reach your full potential. But don’t go it alone. This is why my podcast, ‘Living Your Life Without Limits,’ is here… to help guide you through your ‘new you’ undertaking. So may we help by taking you under our LYLWL wings, so you may gain some needed confidence and soar on your own? To fulfill your purpose… aah, that’s the ticket! Your calling is calling. And I am here to help you answer ‘your call’.
Next to my podcast and my longtime work in healthcare, I am also a certified Life Coach. Should anyone care to take their self-help conversation further, beyond my podcast, I am also available for direct one-on-one consultations. In my closing, I typically end my episodes with this saying: ‘Remember to Love Yourself and Take Care of Yourself, because guess what? YOU ARE WORTH IT!’ I will also leave this final thought:
Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD. Thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Living Your Life Without Limits (LYLWL) airs a weekly Saturday Podcast at 9:00 AM PST, hosted by Shannon Jackson RN, PHN, BSN, MAOM, CLC. The Podcast is about you first and foremost. In every episode, she describes real-world situations and provides actionable advice to help her listeners live better lives.