What activities make you lose track of time?
Honestly, walking my dog. If we find a good space to walk. Just being out and exploring. That’s something I can get lost doing all day. Exploring the city, walking around, and being in my zone while being in the zone.
if there was one thing you’d want people to know about you, what would it be?
My name, Najaya, means “To help or save someone.” My last name is Royal, like royalty. I just want you to know that whatever is destined for me is going to be big. Its going to be royalty. But, its going to be something that’s going to help and save a lot of people. I’m going to change the world. I know that for sure. I know I have an energy and a vibe that’s meant to make this place a little brighter. So that’s why I’m here.
If you could go back in time and tell your younger self on thing, what would it be?
Don’t give all your love away. Don’t put so much love into one person. Especially if it’s not yourself. Don’t be afraid to move how you want to move when you’re protecting yourself. If it involves protecting yourself, don’t be afraid to do that. Don’t be afraid to be yourself. Don’t be afraid to be by yourself. I was always afraid of just doing things by myself and being by myself. I went to college in Connecticut, that’s when I started the process of me forcing to be by self, learn about myself, and learn to love myself in a different way. At that point, that’s when I lost mad friends. People that I loved left my life. At the end of the day I felt empty, but I should have had that love in myself. I should have been able to be ok. It’s like now I feel like if that happens, I do feel like I’ll be ok because I have so much love for myself. And I’m just upset that it took so long to get that way.
If you had a year with no responsibilities, how would you spend it?
I’m taking my mom to do whatever she wants. I’m taking her around the world. My mom is so important for me and she sacrificed so much for me. If I had the opportunity to be financially free and still have the freedom to go about? Were packing bags, were going shopping, and were gonna have fun. Because she deserves it.
If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would it be and why?
If I could have dinner with any person. Honestly? Like, honestly? It would be my grandma. She passed away, so that’s definitely something that I really won’t get again. But, if I could dinner with my grandma again in her apartment. Just because our meals: That’s when we would vent to each other the most. She lived in Brownsville, so it was nice little project apartment but she always had her table by the window. She would always look out the window. I was always sitting next to her, watching her look out the window but listen to me talk. She was an amazing amazing cook. She could put her foot in greens and it was so good. But I’d definitely have dinner with her. I don’t need a celebrity. I need my grandma. Feel me?
You’re designing your dream playground for adults. What’s one thing that has to be there?
A meditation station. I would like it lined with crystals where people can come and pick the crystal that stands out to them the most. I feel like it would have to be some type of healing place in that park. As adults, even though we like to play around and stuff, we do have o troubles that we like to hide. Sometimes we do need that place where we can escape. For me, my little escape is Brooklyn Bridge Park. By the water in a hidden spot. I love to spark my spliff there and chill. You know? So, something with that type of vibe would be cool. If it was lined with crystals by the water with sage. Sage that you can take home for yourself. As long as it’s a place where you leave feeling better. You feel more healed.
If you could travel anywhere in the world for twenty-four hours, where would you go and why?
I would go back to where it all started. My family is from Denmark, South Carolina. My grandma, that’s where she grew up. I know they lived in a plantation type of area. Denmark, South Carolina is very very very country. I’ve never been there personally, but I would love to go. I would love to feel what type of energies are around. I know my grandmother had a lot of siblings. But, I also know that her mother was Native American. So, I want to know who was around there at that time and what energies may still be there. I might learn something more about myself while I’m there. Yes, its been years since my family touched that land, but I’m just in tune with energies and people. If there’s something meant for me to know about myself there, I know I will find it.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you use it for?
So, it’s always stuck between two things. It’s static, because I love Static Shock. That was my guy. That’s my superhero right there. If not static powers, then I don’t know. Maybe I’m just a healing type of person. Maybe I’m just so into that. But I definitely feel like if I had the power to heal people, that’s it. Right there.
How would you define success?
Success is something I can’t fully define yet because I don’t feel like I’m fully there yet. I feel like I’m in the stages of becoming successful, but that’s something that you have to build to. But, being successful would overall mean being happy. Knowing your purpose and living in that purpose. Helping other people find their purpose and inspiring others. I feel like when you inspire others, that’s when you become successful.
If you could describe yourself as a pair of shoes, which would you choose and why?
I’d say it would have to be some type of sneakers. But I don’t want to say a name brand because I’m so original. Feel me?
If a brand could describe me best. Don’t laugh at me, but imma say Pastrys. Only because those are classics. They used to be my favorite sneaker when I was growing up. I definitely used to love how they came so differently than other sneakers. They came in the cakeboxes or something like that. It was always something bright and colorful, and they didn’t need lights to stand out. So, I’m Pastrys.
What do you think it means to live a good life?
I think living a good life definitely means making a change: doing something productive, inspiring someone. Definitely feel like we’re here for a reason and that reason is bigger than ourselves. So: to add to whatever is next. To be a foundation for a stronger type of society. Just making sure you have purpose.