Meet Mili Tekiva Clayton
Where were you born?
New Zealand.
Where do you feel most comfortable?
Outdoors.
What quality do you think defines you most?
I’m brooding, and introspective but prefer my more extroverted, happy side. I’m generally creative and frustrated by my inability to establish boundaries & structures more readily.
What do you look for in a companion?
Loyalty, fidelity, transparency, and authenticity.
What is your biggest weakness?
Wine: I have to fast from it as I enjoy it perhaps a bit too much. Yet I was a teetotaler in my early adulthood. Like with great coffee, less is best.
What is your biggest strength?
My greatest strength is my faith in El Roi, Jehovah Rapha, El Shaddai, Christ, and prayer life, which sustains me.
What has surprised you most in life?
The biggest surprise in my life is watching my daughters emerge as adults and my grandchildren. There are 6; 3 girls and 3 boys ranging from 3 to 18 years of age. My sons-in-law are of Caribbean descent so I consider my grandies as pan-cultural.
What does your perfect day look like?
For me, a perfect day is balanced and productive, spent enjoying the camaraderie, and friendship of others. I also feel centered, grounded & more tranquil being outdoors despite the weather.
What is your favorite color?
Turquoise, ranging from emerald green tones to those like oceans reflecting sky and sunlight. It is different depending on which hemisphere one is in and the time of day.
Who are your favorite fictional characters?
I don't have favorite fictional characters but have many favorite authors, including Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Janet Frame, Witi Ihimaera, Hone Tuwhare, Alaister Te Ariki Campbell, then Dickens, and Thomas Hardy.
Who or what is your biggest inspiration?
My upline/coach SVP Barbara Stewart-Anderson, whom I aspire to be like, even if to a lesser degree. Before, my inspirations were dance teachers/artists/choreographers in New York: Murray Louis, Hanya Holm & Alwin Nikolais.
What is your favorite food?
Fruit salad, combining papaya, watermelon, kiwi fruit, star fruit, apricot, and nectarine.
What quality do you dislike most in someone?
Envy.
What is your earliest memory?
I was at my paternal grandfather Louis' funeral with the Charlett clan gathered, including my parents assembled for a photo in Marsden Valley Cemetery, Stoke, Nelson, New Zealand. I sat cross-legged with my older cousins kneeling in the front row. I wore a bonnet & held a doll with a cracked head, in my lap. The adults stood behind. I was 2. Seeing a photo of that occasion later in my life was gratifying.
What is your biggest luxury?
Travel.
How do you show someone you love them?
I show love to those significant to me by giving of myself, financially, and relationally, and showing as much commitment & support as I can muster. I endeavor to be as authentic as I can be. Self-care and self-love facilitate this. Counseling, mindfulness, and prayer help tremendously in integrating a healthier self.
What is your biggest achievement?
Teaching children as an educator in the UK/NZ and raising my two daughters as a solo parent.
