A Story of Resilience, Purpose, and Glow

Hey there, I’m Charlene Hayes—coach, motivator, and glow-getter extraordinaire. I didn’t get here because life handed me a golden ticket. Nope. I’ve been through the storm, and I’m here to tell you that even in the darkest moments, there’s a light within you just waiting to shine.

Let me take you back to one of the hardest chapters of my life. Picture this: a young mother, arms wrapped around her newborn baby, walking back into a shelter with nothing but a heart full of fear and questions that had no answers. That young mom was me. I was homeless, hopeless, and unsure if I’d ever see the life I dreamed of for myself and my children.

Growing up on the east side of Detroit, I was raised by my grandparents. From an early age, I felt like I didn’t belong—like there was this invisible wall between me and the rest of the world. My mom wasn’t in the picture, and that absence left a void I didn’t know how to fill. Depression followed me like a shadow, and I longed for the love and validation I thought I was missing.

At 17, I had my first daughter and thought independence would bring me freedom. At 18, I moved out of my cousin’s house, full of hope but unprepared for what was ahead. Within a year, I was pregnant with my second daughter and found myself homeless. It felt like life had knocked me down, dragged me through the dirt, and left me wondering if I’d ever get back up.

But here’s the thing about rock bottom—it’s a solid foundation to rebuild on.

I didn’t see it then, but that chapter wasn’t the end; it was the beginning. Through tears, prayers, and sleepless nights, I realized something profound: even when life dims your light, it never fully extinguishes it. That tiny flicker within me grew stronger with every step I took forward.

Eventually, I got back on my feet, but the struggle didn’t end there. Surviving on Section 8, food stamps, and Medicaid as a single mom wasn’t the life I dreamed of. I knew I was capable of more. I just didn’t know how to get there. That’s why I created Grow Into Your Glow

—for women like me. Women who feel the pull to do more, be more, and live more but don’t have the map to get there. I’ve been in the trenches, questioning my worth and my future. I’ve also stood on the other side, stronger, wiser, and glowing with purpose.

Grow Into Your Glow isn’t just a coaching community—it’s a movement. It’s a safe space where we turn pain into power and doubt into determination. It’s where we take those burning desires inside and transform them into action plans that change lives.

If my story shows you anything, I hope it’s this: no matter where you start, you can create a life filled with meaning, joy, and fulfillment. You already have the light within you. I’m just here to help you let it shine.

So, are you ready to glow?

Because I can’t wait to see you light up the world.

let’s get connected!