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

Hi Abby, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
Instantly I thought to myself, “Jesus”. Having faith in a higher power being the guide to my life gives me peace even during the dark times because I know there is always a light in all tunnels. Even if I do not see it, it is there for me to have in my mind and heart. Allowing this concept to be a part of my psyche gives me a tenacious joy that is quite evident when you meet me. The ability to use my personality and many talents to improve the lives of others has been one of my biggest blessings and I am grateful God has given me the chance to do so.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

My work is to serve the people and that is what my life is dedicated to. I spend a great deal of time daily thinking about the well being of other people and future generations. I constantly think about how my actions/words are affecting other people in regards to what kind of standards I am setting for the public. Societal averages and norms are not set by television in my opinion. It is created by the day to day contact we have with others. This mindset is something that I think if adopted by our citizens can make a world of difference. Professionally today, I came to be where I am through faith and an out-of-this-world amount of confidence, a cheerful heart and peace with being alone. In any field, setting higher standards for yourself requires faith in your ideas, confidence to act on them, cheerfulness during all parts of the process and welcoming solitude as you refine yourself/anticipate responses.

Part of this process involves seeing the areas where you may fall short and then comprehending why you need to improve on them and how. It can be a challenge at times especially when you are working with a full schedule yet it is so worth it! Something I am currently overcoming is scheduling time to truly and deeply relax. As in a few days of nothing planned. It triggers fear of missing out (FOMO), yet it is a space for reflection so you can do more.

Overall I have learned creating a lifestyle that is focused on helping others has taught me so much. My attitude of gratitude grows each and every day because I am truly blessed. Yet if I had to sum it up to a few lessons for the audience I would say; “protect & cultivate a strong reputation for being ethical and kind at all costs”, “the way you do little things, is the way you do all things” and “you are a business – conduct yourself as such”. The ability to make a difference is in everyone. I encourage each of you to put an emphasis on serving others to the best of your ability in all that you do and prepare for your life to go to the next level.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my dear bestie came to town for a ladies weekend, I would be slightly overwhelmed with all of the many options to take her. Since both of us have degrees in nutritional sciences, I would plan our meals first. On the list we would need to visit establishments like Steak 44, and local spots for sure like Cafe Monarch and Tarbell’s. We would stay at the Arizona Biltmore because of the structural beauty and history that the resort has in the community. For activities I would plan a trip to Grayhawk for a poorly played yet fun round of golf or a visit to Scottsdale Arts to see their intriguing exhibits. Since we both love animals we would complete a shift volunteering at AAWL walking some of the dogs available for adoption. We would for sure have an appointment booked for a full day at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess’s Well & Being Spa. With my constantly networking personality, I would see what new ventures she has on the horizon and plan coffee dates with great people to connect with for the project’s sake. Depending on the season, our evenings would probably be filled attending a charity gala to support a cause near and dear to our hearts (Like ChildHelp, American Heart Association or Gateway/Celeb Fight Night) or we would see a show, possibly something from the ballet or a classical concert. If it is the weekend, we would attend service at Scottsdale Bible Church. Ironically enough, as much as I love her, my best friend knows my personality, I keep too busy to take a whole week off. (Just the idea of the question gave me anxiety.) After about three days max I would drop my best friend off at the airport with a locally sourced Arizona themed care package (giving gifts is part of my love language) and tell her “See you next time gorgeous!” and then probably go straight to a meeting/special event.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to first and foremost thank God for allowing me to come on this Earth and experience all the people, memories and ideas that make me who I am today. As cliche as it may be I would like to thank my parents. Having parents from different countries and being an American born out of the USA myself, in my opinion gives me an extra bit of energy as I go through each day because I have a unique perspective as to what life could be. Specifically I would like to thank my dad for his never-ending wisdom and my mom for her constant encouragement. I would like to thank all of the people who have come in and out of my life, even if it was just for a tiny moment and no matter what our experience together was, you are part of my life story and I am grateful for the learning lesson it has been. In conclusion to this question, I would just like to thank God again because life is awesome and it just keeps getting better everyday!

Website: https://www.theabbycharles.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theabbycharles/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theabbycharles/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Abby-Charles-103615964968201

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkg34u3PzvAL5M4N6MqwysA

Image Credits
Photographer for Professional Headshots, Julian Ybarra Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.