Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Rains
Hi Olivia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born deaf with a very rare condition and birth defects to my palate and ears. Spending most of grade school in speech therapy and a mainstream school setting without accommodations led me to not only learn to adapt alarmingly fast but equally feel more and more isolated from the world. Later in high school I had a reconstructive surgery in one ear but still needed accessibility and support. It wasn’t until after my other surgery on the opposite ear that I felt comfortable enough to really start to sing. And now here I am.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Learning how to self advocate was one of the hardest struggles. When no one teaches you, there’s only yourself to figure it out. In one aspect that made me stronger but it took longer. It also led me to trust myself more. At the end of the day only you are the one who will ever truly have your own back, motivate yourself and love yourself until the end. This was also a lesson I experienced in an abusive relationship dynamic along the way and learned just how much stronger I really was as well as find my inner softness to land on. So, it may not appear smooth to someone else observing but I’d say it doesn’t matter, all of the experiences were necessary for me to be exactly where and who I am today. They’re not bad or good, they’re all just the experiences needed to move forward with the best intentions.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
In day work I’ve chosen a path of outreach. I think it’s important to give back to people and communities. Outside of that I’ve always been an artist since I was a child.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I think the only real advice is to not listen to anyone when it comes to creating. To me, it’s when you’re not taking advice and you’re learning to be authenticity yourself that something shifts, You can tap into a place that reaches into a deeper part of you. I don’t think about anything I wish I had known starting out because I would never have discovered unfolding paths along the way or made mistakes… which really mistakes is just a word for finding ways towards growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thedeadcanyonfamilyreunion.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedeadcanyonfamilyreunion?igsh=ZGoybGFxYmluZHZs
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1B6Nw3C9wX/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thedeadcanyonfamilyreunion?si=jm55wBeqEo9EUoqr
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/album/6zIt0q9vEsk1tN9WPNVffL?si=wbtFHxAFQKCRf38-3Wjlkg
Image Credits
Ben Long
Jessica Martin Curtis
