Name: Galena Davis
Hometown: Wheatfields, AZ
Favorite Arizona place: Home! The Navajo Reservations! Near the Chuska Mountains. Most of my family resides there and I can’t imagine living any place else. The air is cool and the mountains are calming.
Favorite drink: Navajo tea, hot and cold.
Favorite local project: I’m not sure if this is even a project, but I love all the Senior Centers that serve the elders living across the reservation. I understand that most chapters have been working on improving their Senior Centers. The one in my community offers a lunch program, access to washers and dryers, and even shower rooms for the elders to bathe. It’s such a neat program. Most of our elders do not have running water or electricity, so these Senior Centers are a blessing.
THIS or THAT:
Morning person or Night owl:
I could be both. Most days start at 6am for me. Then again, I often burn the midnight oil.
What was your first real job?
Does earning money by braiding hair and babysitting by age 11 count? Haha! If not, my first REAL job was actually working in the food service industry. I was a server at a Denny’s Restaurant located here on the Reservation. I was 19 years old and saving up so I could move to the city to further my college education. I was there for about 4 months. It was a great experience. It gave me a chance to almost-perfect my customer service skills. I loved it, I made new friends and I even got to meet some notable Native actors/performers.
How do you describe the work you do?
I am: An aunt, a motivator, a respiratory therapist, and a business owner.
I love being an aunt. I love my kids! I take my role very serious. Haha!! Besides enjoying being an aunt, I am a board certified Respiratory Therapist. I work at a hospital here on the Navajo Reservation where I was recently named May 2016 Employee of the Month. In the clinical setting, I specialize in the heart and lungs. FUN!
I also started a business called Mountain View Home Care, LLC about 2 years ago. We’re dedicated to offering attendant care and homemaker services to the elders and individuals all across Arizona who may need assistance.
I’ve always been one to encourage people to go out and do what they love. Some times all a person really needs is some inspiration in their life to help them get to the next chapter. Knowing this, I started an Instagram page hoping to motivate my people and myself. What started out as posting little notes to myself, ended up being an account many people come to to seek motivation. Now my Instagram posts have been seen and reposted by many indigenous people around the world. Instagram: gm.davis (formerly: runawaygtrain)
What activity do you consistently make time to do, or at least try to?
I try to spend whatever free time I have with my nieces and nephews. I’m often away at work for 7+ days a time, and it’s hard. I do miss them. I’m just thankful they’re very understanding and forgiving kids. Besides that, I try to practice my photography. I’m self taught, but I love it!
Looking for uplifting content in your Instagram feed? Follow Galena at @gm.davis (formerly @runawaygtrain).
When do you feel most in your element, zone, etc.?
When I’m silently praying in the ER code room standing next to and helping a critical patient. At that moment in time, I am focused on them, only them. Time stops and I feel nothing, the only thing I’m doing is trying to keep them alive and praying for a positive outcome.
What advice do you have for your younger self?
Stop and smell the sage. There’s no rush.
What direction would you like your life to take from here?
I’ve always had this Dr. Annie Dodge Wauneka mentality. She once said, “I’ll go and do more.” So if God permits, by all means, I will go and do more. I’d like to do more for the youth, our elders, and for those wanting to further their college education. I want to give away scholarships. I want to start businesses to aid and better my community. I don’t want to just settle… because the next generation is watching.
schmooze 