Dear Dreamers, Builders, and Beautiful Outsiders: Welcome to Modality

Entrepreneurship is beautiful — but it isn’t always pretty.

Being a young, neurodivergent, faith-led woman running a business in a world that doesn’t always understand you is not for the faint of heart. Since launching Modality a year ago, I’ve experienced some of the highest highs and deepest lows. And every twist in the journey has only reminded me why this space exists: for the misunderstood, the misjudged, and the wildly gifted.

I’ve always worked in service of others. I’ve been a waitress, a personal assistant, a house cleaner, a babysitter, an event planner, a gardener. I’ve held 39 jobs across industries — legal, healthcare, education, retail, food & beverage, fitness, gardening. I’ve managed law offices and taught in classrooms. Today, I’m a substitute teacher and a graduate student on the honor roll, working toward becoming a psychologist.

And yes — I also own a jewelry brand, Shanti Peace, because creating beauty and offering meaning is part of my ministry too.

People hear all this and sometimes get confused. How can one person do so many things?

The answer is simple: I’m neurodivergent.

I don’t always talk about it, but I’m proud of how my brain works. I have many special interests, intense passions, and an ability to see patterns and people others often miss. But when I share those things, it sometimes makes others uncomfortable. They don’t understand that what the world calls a “disability” is actually a divine gift — a different frequency, not a lower one.

Being born in Belize, raised in three homes across the coast, the rainforest, and Belize City, I grew up with richness — in culture, in perspective, in love. I was raised by affluent parents, but when I came to the U.S. at 16 without my parents, I had to rebuild. I worked graveyard shifts at 17, which I’m pretty sure was illegal, but I did what I had to do. I went to college in Chicago. I learned how to carry myself in boardrooms and breakrooms.

I know service because I’ve lived it. I know people because I see them.

At Modality, I’ve also seen the dark side of being different. I’ve been questioned about my certifications and whether or not I’m really in graduate school wanting to see my resume also wanting to know if I’m a certified instructor — sometimes before even try a class. A questioned I have never been asked in my over decade experience in fitness and I am happy to answer anyone yes I am certified. In all my years of managing upper level (17 yrs) NEVER have I been asked these questions until I became a studio owner, then I suddenly became the villain to some. Like the one song says “This is the type of stuff that makes a hater”. I’ve seen people pretend to be friendly (for the long haul), only to gossip, ghost, or try to trap me in legalistic games. I’ve had people offer “gifts” of spiritual intent that felt more like tests than blessings. Some have even asked me to start a new religion. Others come in groups pretending not to know each other very deceptive in a small space, as if trying to catch me off guard.

It’s strange what people will do when they don’t understand you — or when they’re uncomfortable with your light/purpose.

But I’m not here to shrink. Darkness is a reminder of the Light.

I’m here to build. To serve. To rise. And to help you do the same. I don’t engage in the hate. My prayer is my weapon and it heals me.

Modality is a space born of my faith in Christ, my commitment to emotional wellness, and my calling to create a place where people who feel “too different” can finally feel seen, valued, and strong. We honor neurodiversity, faith, culture, and creativity — because healing isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s personal, spiritual, and holistic.

And yes — this mission comes with challenges. But I’d rather be real and misunderstood than fake and adored. My friendliness is not fake. My joy is not naive. My love is not weakness — it’s spiritual strength.

“They meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” — Genesis 50:20

If you’ve ever been misjudged, underestimated, or cast aside — this space is for you.

Modality isn’t just a studio. It’s a sanctuary. A soul space. A place for the builders, the believers, the broken, and the blooming.

I see you. I made this place for you.

You’re not too much. You’re not alone. You belong.

With love,

Charlene Perez Jewett

Founder, Modality Life Practice