Tiffinie Irving

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING YOUR AGE, DO YOU LIKE BEING 40+?
I’m unapologetically living life for me. I love being a mom and wife and having a career, but for most of my adult life, I’ve cared for, nurtured, and supported others to the detriment of putting myself last. At this age, I have no guilt in making choices and doing things just for me.

WHAT HARDSHIPS HAVE YOU ENDURED THAT YOU FEEL HAVE MADE YOU STRONGER?
Life experiences have made me stronger. I’ve been bruised, challenged, and hurt, but each roadblock was an opportunity to persevere. I would not have accomplished the peace, happiness, and success I have now without the life I’ve lived, and for that, I’m grateful.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
Earning my doctorate degree will always be one of my proudest accomplishments, but being a mother and witnessing my children grow into amazing, caring young adults outshines any of my individual achievements.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE?
I’m not extravagant and have not made any substantial financial purchases beyond my home, but I do enjoy traveling. I’m willing to splurge on trips for my family to explore the world or attend special events such as sports championships, musicals, and concerts.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION?
I don’t have a specific possession which I treasure, but do I value my relationships with God, my family, my friends, and those who trust me to make an impact at work and in my community. I cannot control how others respond to me, but I can be intentional about how I invest in those relationships. I treasure meaningful relationships, as they mean a lot to me.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING YOU HAVE CHECKED OFF YOUR BUCKET LIST?
I’m a sports enthusiast, so attending professional and collegiate championship games brings me a lot of excitement.  I’m thrilled to have attended NFL, NBA, US Open, and NCAA basketball championship games, and there are still more on my list.

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS?
I find joy in knowing that I have made a difference in the lives of others, whether it’s through the children I teach, the contributions I make in the community, or, most importantly, the daily things I do to prepare, support, and spend quality time with my family and show them how much I love them.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
You will face challenges, but do not give up. Hardship will make you stronger, wiser, and more resilient and will teach you valuable lessons to help you achieve your goals.

DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS OF WISDOM FOR YOUNGER WOMEN?
Don’t apologize for being your loudest advocate, ambitious, strong, and a badass! As you achieve greatness in your professional world, intentionally balance it with the people and things that bring you joy in your personal life.

WHAT IS A TRAIT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF?
I’m proud of my resilience and my toughness. I have achieved many goals. It hasn’t always been easy, and there have been hardships, but once I’ve set my mind to accomplish something, I am focused and determined to persevere even during difficult times.

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO OR FAVORITE QUOTE?
Rejoice in hope.  Be patient in tribulation. Be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

WHAT DO YOU MOST VALUE IN YOUR FRIENDS?
I have a very small circle of friends, and I love them like my sisters because I consider them as such. They have earned the title of my sista-girls because I trust them as my confidants. I love them because they are genuine, and I respect them because they tell me when I’m wrong and pour love on me when I need it.

HOW DID YOU CHANGE OVER THE YEARS?
I have gained more wisdom, patience, and confidence in my abilities.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I could think of a few minor things to change about my appearance, but those are small compared to what truly makes me happy. I’m grateful for the good life I’ve had. I’ve been blessed, and even during times when I questioned why things were happening, I now see the lessons I’ve learned from those experiences. So, while I might want to lose a few pounds, I am thankful for my life and feel blessed.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS?
Selflessly use your talents, gifts, and passions to positively impact those around you and contribute to a better world.

WHAT BRINGS YOU THE MOST JOY AT THIS AGE?
I find the most joy when I’m sitting at my kitchen table playing a competitive game of Uno with my family, laughing at my husband’s corny jokes, or participating in other activities with my family, or investing in my self-care. It’s not that I don’t have worries and challenges, but at this age, I don’t allow them to stress me like they may have done in the past. I recognize what brings me joy and make time for it.

WHAT IS YOUR SUPERPOWER?
My superpower is that I’m a visionary. I love having a bird’s-eye view, seeing the possibilities, and then mapping a plan to make it happen. I enjoy creating success maps both in my professional life and personally. As a visionary, I’m pretty good at creating goals, designing detailed plans, and surrounding myself with others who complement my strengths so we can achieve success.

WHEN IN YOUR LIFE, SO FAR, HAVE YOU FELT MOST CONFIDENT, AND WHY?
I felt the most confident when applying for a job where I felt less qualified, I couldn’t check all of the boxes in the job description, but I took a bet on myself and applied anyway. I was appointed to the position and worked hard to close my learning gap, I studied and attended professional development sessions to improve, and I set a goal to prove to myself and others that I was the best fit for the role. I bet on myself and won, and I have never felt more confident that I deserved a role.