5 LIFE LESSONS I LEARNED FROM MY HAIR

Life Lessons

My hair is living its own life – I’m just sort of along for the ride

And it’s always ready to school me in it’s latest life lessons.

Most of you know I started my professional life as a hairdresser, but really, my hair obsession started far earlier than that.

It started in 1973. I had always had bangs, thanks to my mother’s method of using TAPE (!) to create a “straight” line to cut my bangs. Except that I had some pretty wicked cowlicks in the front and the bangs were never straight.

I decided to let my bangs grow out, to which my mom replied with relief “yes, that is probably best.”

There I was, 7 years old and my hair was calling the shots

Flash forward a few years. 1979. I had my own money – hello babysitting – and paid for my own haircuts. I had a place that I actually liked but my mom had a coupon for a new place and talked me into going there instead.

Immediately the stylist said I should get the “Dorothy Hamill” haircut aka a wedge. I was not into it, I told her I was not into it, I even told her my father did not want me to have short hair (which was the truth).

She said okay.

Then turned me away from the mirror and proceeded to cut – you guessed it – a perfect wedge.

My school picture that year has me looking like I want to kill someone. And I did. That hairdresser.

Jump ahead another few years.

I’m in Beauty School to become a hairdresser.

That’s right – I’m now a hairdresser. In the 80’s.

Perms. Mousse. White Rain hairspray. The whole nine baby.

I had a solid decade of perm.

Then I wanted to color it too.

It was too much for my poor strands so I had to choose.

Color won out. It was the 90’s now. Perms were kind of passe. Warm reddish brown was the new me.

Life Lessons - 80's perm

Enter the phase of trying to just figure it out

After all, two young kids, an active lifestyle, and limited time and funds were the order of the day.

My life has continued to evolve and so has my hair.

I still love style products. I wear it relatively short in spite of what my dad thinks. And believe it or not, I actually like my hair (most of the time).

It all works because I realized my hair is WISE! It was doing more than just sitting on my head, causing me grief. My hair was teaching me some life lessons and I just needed to sit up and take notice.

Lesson 1: Don’t fight it!

Back in the 70’s when the whole bangs situation was rearing up (literally!) my hair was clearly saying “Hey, this is who I am. You can try to do something that doesn’t work but I will assert myself!”

There are parts of you that you quite possibly ignore, thinking they are a little too wild, a little too out there. The more you try to force yourself into a straight line, the more those parts will have to assert themselves.

If you just let it go and let it be what it is going to be, it will likely settle in after a bit and be just fine. You just have to get over the awkward grow-out phase.

We are all growing and changing. Sometimes trying out something new seems weird or out of your wheelhouse initially until you figure out the nuances that suit you.

Lesson 2: Trust your gut

That Dorothy Hamill haircut was the worst! So. Not. Me.

And I had paid for it!

I had someone that was right for me, that knew and understood my hair. But with just a little pressure – and a desire to please my mom – I ignored my gut, went to someone I didn’t want to go to even though it was my own money and paid not just with my money but my dignity as well.

I have had this lesson taught to me repeatedly. I think I was about 38 before it sunk in.

Do what works for you, not for someone else. They don’t have to live with the consequences and you do.

When I first started on my yoga journey I hated it! Eventually, though I figured out what yoga meant to me, focused on that, and then fell in love with it!

Lesson 3: Be who you really are

I loved my crazy 80’s perm. For awhile. My hair, however, eventually objected. “One more perm and I will frizz you!!”

While I liked the kinky curl that defined the era, that wasn’t my hair’s true nature. My real hair was a bit wavy in places, straight here and there, soft and even glossy.

I didn’t need all that frenetic energy. It was not me. Not for my hair and not for my personality. I am not one of those party and stay out late kind of people. I am asleep by 10p (okay really 9:30p…).

Trying to be something I am not just left me frizzy around the edges! While I loved aspects of it for other people, I needed to focus on what worked best for me.

Lesson 4: But also be whom you aspire to be

After giving up the perm I did give in to some color.

Nothing way off base. Just a little more warmth to liven things up a bit.

Still me, just a little bit fancied up.

We all aspire to be a certain way – a little nicer/kinder, more open and friendly, or whatever.

“Acting as if” isn’t about being a fake, it’s more about taking what you’ve got and just pushing to the next level, to be the person you want to be.

Lesson 5: A little control is good; too much just makes you brittle

Hairspray is kinda my first and longest love. Back in the day, it was all about shellacking the hell out of your hair.

It could not move.

It also flaked, made your hair dry and dull and definitely uninviting.

These days I still like some control – hello Kenra 25

But it’s soft, doesn’t build up, and lets my hair still feel like hair.

Life is the same way. Too much control and things may appear to be “perfect” but really your life is stiff and brittle, not organic and flexible.

You want freedom within your framework. Structure yes, but not rigidity. The ability to go with the flow is a lot healthier for you in the end.

Ahhh…now my attraction to yoga makes sense! The very heart of yoga allows you to find structure, learning to accept yourself as you are now and as you wish to be. Life lessons GALORE!

Life lessons are all around you

Yes, even in something as seemingly inconsequential as your hair (shh – don’t let my hair know I said that!)

You just have to look at things from a little bit of a different perspective. Find that space for yourself, that grace for yourself, and carve out the time to act on it.

laylo yoga and wellness

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52 MICRO ADVENTURES FOR THE NEW YEAR

adventure

Adventure is the name of the 2024 game – at least for me.

I believe in setting intentions and choosing a word or two for the year rather than resolutions. It’s about bringing a mindset into everything I do. Resolutions tend to go by the wayside come February. When I want to make changes in how I live my life, I start with attitude!

Enter “Adventure”!

I’m not going to lie – I am a planner. A reserved planner at that. And yet…I still love a good adventure. After all, think about the stories you retell most. Don’t they often have a measure of unpredictability to them? Things went crazy or you let yourself go with the flow? Some of my biggest life changes started with some significant risks involved and still turned out to be the best thing I could have done.

I am committed to bringing that sense of adventure to my life in big and small ways this year. The biggest difference between adventure and adversity is attitude! Not that I want to run headlong into bad situations and try to call it adventure.

I want to shift my “oh no, what now?” reactions to “oh, this is interesting!”. I feel like the best way to practice that is to put myself in the way of adventure.

And of course, bring you along!

Micro Adventure Lab

I’ve put together a curated list of Micro Adventures – plus a few bigger things – to ease into the mindset shift. Many of these adventures are free or low cost with a few splurges included. Some can be completed in one weekend and others are designed to carry forward through a few weeks or even become a habit.

The idea is to go a bit outside your norms. For example, the first adventure on the list is to explore a local park. That means check out a park you have never been to before, not the same one you walk your dog at 3 times a week. In a nutshell, discover something new!

The 52 Micro Adventure list

1.      Explore a Local Park:
Take a leisurely stroll through a nearby park, focusing on appreciating the natural surroundings.

2.      Photography Challenge:
Capture a series of 10 photos that highlight the beauty of your everyday surroundings.
3.      Volunteer at a Community Garden:
Spend a day planting, weeding, and connecting with local community members.
4.      Try a New Recipe:
Experiment with a cuisine you’ve never attempted before, and share the results with friends or family.

5.      Book Club Adventure:
Join a local book club or start one with friends, and commit to reading one book a month.
6.      Yoga Retreat at Home:
Dedicate a weekend to practicing yoga and mindfulness, using online resources or attending local classes.
7.      Outdoor Movie Night:
Arrange a backyard movie night with friends, complete with blankets, popcorn, and a classic film.
8.      Art Class or Workshop:
Sign up for a local art class or workshop to discover and develop your artistic talents.
9.      Day of Pampering:
Treat yourself to a spa day at home, complete with DIY face masks, bath salts, and relaxation.
10.     Local History Exploration:
Visit a nearby museum or historical site to learn more about the heritage of your community.
11.     Learn a Musical Instrument:
Pick up a budget-friendly instrument and commit to learning a few songs over the next month.
12.     Creative Writing Challenge:
Write a short story or poem and share it with a writing group or online platform.

13.     Beach Day Getaway:
Spend a day at the beach, soaking up the sun and enjoying the calming sound of the waves.
14.     Hiking Adventure:
Explore a local trail or nature reserve, aiming to complete a new hike each month.
15.     DIY Home Decor Project:
Refresh your living space by taking on a small DIY home decor project.


16.     Plant a Garden:
Cultivate a small garden, whether it’s flowers, herbs, or vegetables, and enjoy watching it flourish.
17.     Mindfulness Meditation Challenge:
Practice mindfulness meditation for 10 minutes daily for a week, gradually extending the duration.
18.     Explore Local Farmers’ Markets:
Discover and support local farmers by visiting nearby farmers’ markets.
19.     Host a Potluck Dinner:
Organize a potluck gathering with friends, encouraging everyone to bring their favorite dish.
20.     Cultural Cuisine Night:
Cook or order food from a different culture and enjoy a themed dinner night at home.
21.     Learn a Dance Style:
Take dance lessons, either in person or online, and master the basics of a new dance style.
22.     Picnic in the Park:
Pack a picnic basket with your favorite treats and spend a relaxing afternoon in a local park.
23.     Nature Sketching:
Bring a sketchbook to a nature spot and spend time sketching the beauty around you.
24.     DIY Craft Workshop:
Attend a local craft workshop or organize a crafting day with friends.
25.     Fitness Challenge:
Set a fitness goal, like walking a certain number of steps each day, and track your progress.

26.     Museum Exploration:
Visit a museum you’ve never been to before and immerse yourself in its exhibits.
27.     Mindful Eating Experiment:
Practice mindful eating by savoring each bite and paying attention to the flavors and textures.
28.     Local Theater Night:
Attend a local theater production or watch a live performance, supporting the arts in your community.
29.     Scenic Drive Adventure:
Take a scenic drive to a nearby town or countryside and explore the sights along the way.

museum day


30.     DIY Spa Day:
Create a spa day at home, complete with DIY facial masks, bath salts, and soothing music.
31.     Learn a New Language:
Dedicate 10 minutes each day to learning a new language using language learning apps.
32.     Sunset Photography Challenge:
Capture the beauty of sunsets in different locations over the course of a month.
33.     Explore a New Coffee Shop:
Discover a new local coffee shop and treat yourself to a relaxing afternoon with a good book.
34.     Declutter and Donate:
Declutter your living space and donate items to a local charity or thrift store.
35.     Art Gallery Visit:
Spend a day exploring local art galleries and appreciating the creativity of local artists.
36.     Cooking Class:
Join a cooking class, either in person or online, to enhance your culinary skills.
37.     Creative Journaling:
Start a creative journal, incorporating art, writing, and reflections on your daily experiences.
38.     Birdwatching Adventure:
Explore a nearby nature reserve or park and observe the diverse bird species in the area.
39.     Mind-Body Connection Workshop:
Attend a workshop or class that focuses on the mind-body connection, such as yoga or tai chi.
40.     Stargazing Night:
Spend an evening stargazing, either in your backyard or at a local observatory.
41.     DIY Flower Arranging:
Purchase fresh flowers and learn the art of flower arranging to create beautiful bouquets.
42.     Visit a Farmers’ Market:
Explore a local farmers’ market, sampling fresh produce and supporting local farmers.
43.     Online Learning Adventure:
Enroll in an online course or workshop on a topic that interests you.
44.     Wine Tasting Evening:
Arrange a wine tasting evening with friends, each bringing a bottle to share and discuss.
45.     Learn a New Language:
Use an app or program to get started or sign up for a class at a local community college.

Vino & Vinyasa

46.     Local Yoga Retreat:
Book a yoga retreat in a nature-filled location, focusing on relaxation and mindfulness.
47.     Learn to Knit or Crochet:
Pick up knitting or crocheting and create a cozy scarf or blanket over the next month.
48.     Walking Meditation Challenge:
Practice walking meditation daily for a week, focusing on each step taken.
49.     Explore a New Hobby:
Find some time to dedicate to exploring a new hobby, whether it’s painting, pottery, or photography.

50.     DIY Movie Marathon:
Choose a theme and host a movie marathon night at home with friends or family.
51.     Visit a Botanical Garden:
Spend a day exploring the beauty of a local botanical garden and learning about different plant species.
52.     Hot Air Balloon Ride:
Splurge on a hot air balloon ride for a breathtaking, once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

What’s on YOUR adventure list?

I’ve included things that appeal to me, but what about you? What would you put on this list?

Even when times are tough, money is tight, and time is scarce, you can carve out some time to explore and expand your world. It’s part of what makes you well, you. Learning, experiencing and growing are all key elements to leading a fulfilling life.

laylo yoga and wellness

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NO HEADSTANDS, PLEASE!

I promise I am not opposed to headstands. BUT, hear me out on this. As a yoga teacher, I don’t practice headstands. Or legs behind the head pose. Or scorpion pose. Any posture that requires advanced flexibility is not for me and I don’t teach them in my classes or on my retreats.

And that’s okay.

No. Really.

I believe yoga is for everyone.

That means each person can take it where they want to go. You may wish to continuously increase your flexibility and mobility. You may want to practice in advanced movement. I am happy to refer any of my students who are interested in those things to the right teachers for them.

There are so many facets to yoga, and so many ways you can approach it.

There is a lot of controversy around this philosophy. Many yoga teachers are yoga purists who feel that the practice is part of an overall spiritual journey. They aren’t too happy about yoga being a physical practice for some people. Or a social and community bonding experience. Or basically anything other than a full spiritual experience.

If your approach focuses on the physicality of advanced movement – go for it! Conversely, if you are seeking a spiritual path and yoga is part of that; awesome! If you aren’t quite sure what your approach is, find out by taking this quick quiz.

I want to participate in and create a different experience.

For me, yoga is about enhancing your life. Yes, creating the flexibility and mobility needed to continue to do things you want to do in your everyday life. Headstands, not so much a part of daily life.

I love the physicality of yoga! The strength I feel when I practice, the challenge of movement. In addition, I am really drawn to the mind/body connection it creates.

Look, if you read the series My Journey to Yoga Retreat Specialist, you also know that my entire career has been in the fitness industry. So it is natural for me to find focus in the physical action of yoga.

Fitness, for me, also created a strong mind/body connection. A hard ride in a cycle class really let me blow off some steam! The intricate movements and high cardio output of a good old-fashioned step class helped me appreciate how my body moves through space. And boxing? Please – talk about building a feeling of mental and physical strength!

Yoga takes that mind/body connection to the next level.

Literally.

Fitness is the broad strokes: blowing off steam, building spatial awareness, and increasing mental strength.

Yoga gets down to the cellular level. Connecting your brain to your breath so you can self-regulate your nervous system. Speeding up the messages from your foot to your brain so you can maintain balance. Finding awareness of your thoughts and learning to allow them to pass on by.

This is the juicy stuff people!

Focus on making your life better.

Just to reiterate, I think advanced poses are pretty cool. Many would argue that those postures really do enhance your life – greater control, overcoming your body’s objections, and some pretty impressive flexibility/mobility. I don’t doubt it.

My personal mission, though, is to meet people where they are.

My tribe are people in the midst of juggling kids, careers, aging parents, and their own aging bodies. The crowd that resonates with my style wants to slow down, master, and enjoy each posture. They want to leave their practice feeling calmer, stronger, and accomplished.

Life is pretty crazy for a lot of us. Our schedules are packed, our laptops are always on, and we have instant knowledge, connectivity, and comparison in our purses, buzzing for attention all day long.

Personally, I don’t want to add legs behind my head to my to do list.

Calm, peace, and improved sleep and mental health mean more to me.

Studies show that participants who practiced yoga three times a week for eight weeks reported significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and neurotic symptoms, as well as mood improvements at the end of each class.

Yes, please!

Stepping into an advanced class might be a turn-off.

Part of meeting people where they are, for me, is making classes accessible. If you have never taken a yoga class before, you will be able to get through mine! I teach every class as if there is a brand-new participant in the room. I teach to them.

Those that have been practicing for a while, are able to hone their skills and dig in a little deeper with each practice.

If you have mastered advanced movement? You can still benefit from reviewing some of the more basic postures AND you will have the opportunity to level up to where you are at with a pose at any time.

I’m not everybody’s cup of tea, but I am somebody’s double martini!

Every yoga teacher has their own style, approach, and focus. That is what makes it so incredible!

It is important that you: A) understand what YOUR approach is so you know what kind of teacher will resonate with you B) aren’t afraid to hunt around for the right fit and C) realize that your approach may broaden and/or change over time.

It’s all good!

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MY JOURNEY TO YOGA RETREAT SPECIALIST PART 4: I’VE ARRIVED!

Here we are – Yoga Retreat Specialist!

It has been a long journey from Hairdresser to Retreat Specialist. Honestly, I wouldn’t trade any of it. Life is a journey, and a big part of it is discovering what YOUR why is and how you can best support that.

I discovered early on, as a hairdresser, that my why involved helping people feel good in their own skin. How they looked, how they felt about themselves, and how those things influenced their confidence. As a hairdresser, it was about having a great hair day every day. When I became a Fitness Instructor, it was/is about feeling strong and being able to do the things you wanted to do in life, without your fitness holding you back.

As my executive career wound down, it felt natural to turn to yoga as the next evolution of my life and career. It feels like a true merging of that external and internal world, with a healthy dose of mental and emotional connection thrown into the mix.

Retreats vs. Studio

After a lot of thought – and a number of business plans later – I decided to focus my efforts on providing yoga and wellness retreats.

Studio

While I love the idea of opening a studio, there were too many cons on my pros/cons list.

  • If the pandemic response taught me anything, it’s that your physical location could be shut down at any time. While some landlords worked with their tenants, others did not. I saw more than a few friends and colleagues lose their life’s work (and savings!) and have no real recompense for it.
  • A studio for me would need to be multi-purpose. I would want several different studios under one roof and that means $$$! A tremendous amount of funding and business partnerships would need to take place. At this point in life, I wanted to do things my way, and not answer to anyone else apart from my clients and members
  • Part of my vision for the future involves travel! I want to see as much of the world as I can before I leave it. That is more challenging when you are anchored in one spot by a physical space

Retreat Specialist

On the other hand, running retreats and being a yoga & wellness retreat specialist, did not have the same issues.

  • Retreats can go where the open zones are! No closures other than travel restrictions. Since you are not running a retreat every weekend, the business impact would be far less should something like the pandemic occur again
  • Retreats can each be focused on my areas of passion:
    • serving interested and newer yogis, to give them a great start in their practice
    • supporting people dealing with stress, anxiety, and/or trauma
    • finding space in our lives to disconnect from our ever-present devices and screens
    • creating community in our increasingly isolated world
  • Adventure through Yoga!! Retreats allow us to experience the joys of travel. We get to immerse ourselves in our surroundings in a deep, mindful way. Combining adventure and wellness – what could be better?

Let the adventures begin!

I hope you have enjoyed this peek into my life and career. It has not been a straight line and certainly has not been without some major obstacles and setbacks.

Every step of the way, I have learned some valuable lessons. I have been refined, sometimes by fire, in my understanding of what makes me tick.

Understanding myself has led me to know how important it is to me to serve others. I’ve learned so many important business lessons along the way.

And I know that this is the path I want to continue on. Retirement is not the end; it is the beginning!! I still have lessons to learn, things to discover, and, I am sure, more refinements to make. Retreat Specialist is just the start.

But I know I am on the right path for me.

Want to come along for the ride?

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MY JOURNEY TO YOGA RETREAT SPECIALIST PART 3: YOGA

Let the yoga begin!

Or not. My path to becoming a yoga teacher was not exactly paved with cushy yoga mats!

Fitness took me pretty far in life. If you read part 2 of my story, you know it got me through being a somewhat lost stay-at-home mom, through a rough divorce, and on to a real career in an industry I loved.

As my career progressed and led me to management roles in my company, it also brought me to becoming a yoga teacher. Sort of.

Yoga had begun to expand out of the studio environment and into mainstream big-box gyms, with increasing popularity. It was my job to decide what to put on all my gym schedules and I felt like it was important to really know what each class was about. The best way to explain something to someone else is to have done it yourself!

So I took classes.

Lots of them. I took classes with well-known very popular teachers. I took classes at my gym, at other gyms, at studios, and at industry conferences.

And I really hated it!

I felt like the classes went too fast. There was not much time to get into and out of each asana and then we were on to the next one.

I found it challenging because I didn’t know what the asanas were, especially since many of the teachers used the Sanskrit names for the poses and I had no idea what they were talking about.

There was also very little instruction on proper form and execution, allowing for some really atrocious postures. In my case, as a chronic migraine sufferer, this lack of information led to me coming away with a migraine almost every time I took a class!

I had given up on ever really enjoying yoga.

I’d basically written it off as one of those forms of movement that were just not for me.

Eventually, one of my colleagues and longtime friends in fitness invited me to come to her class. Doris Thews and I shared a lot of similarities in both our personal and professional lives. What I knew about Doris is that her background in teaching mirrored my own. If anyone could make yoga make sense to me, it would be her. What did I have to lose?

What I learned changed my mind about yoga forever.

The approach that Doris took in teaching the class was different than what I had experienced so far. She acknowledged that she wasn’t the most flexible person in the world, but that yoga didn’t care. She noted that some people may be more or less flexible than her and that was okay; each of us should work to our own ability.

As we dove into the class, Doris took time to explain how to move into, hold, and transition out of each asana. Suddenly I didn’t feel like my shoulders were up in my ears during every down dog! Her simple explanation of how to perform the movement (in English!) made all the difference in whether I got a migraine or not.

Having the right teacher makes all the difference.

After that experience, I began to get the yoga fever. Practicing yoga in a way that made sense to me made all the difference.

As a matter of fact, the whole reason I created the What Kind of Yogi Are YOU quiz was to help other people take a shortcut to finding that right fit. It’s not about what style of yoga might like. It’s all about finding a teacher with an approach to yoga that matches your vibe.

My next step was to learn more about it. I read up on it. I took more classes. Eventually, I decided to become a certified yoga teacher.

I even used it in coaching people to work through stress, anxiety, and trauma. One of the principles of yoga is service. If you want to know where you can best serve people, you look at your own wounds. Well, I had quite a background in divorce, parental alienation, and religious trauma. Yoga has helped me and helped me to support others in working through these issues.

Now we are up to speed!

Well, almost.

In the fourth and final part of this series, I will share how I went from a successful fitness executive to a yoga retreat specialist.

See you in part 4!

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MY JOURNEY TO YOGA RETREAT SPECIALIST

AKA HOW DID I GET HERE?

I never imagined my life journey would bring me here!

Of all the things I dreamed of being as a kid, being a yoga retreat specialist never entered my mind.

In fact, having a real “career” never entered my mind beyond a daydream fantasy. You see, I grew up in a very religious family, one that truly believed that the world would end at any moment.

Anyyyyy minute now.

So the idea of going to college, of investing in your future in any real way, was really not allowed. I wanted to go college. I had the grades to go. But going would mean my family and my community would turn their backs on me and I would have to seriously rethink what I was continuously told was the “truth”.

So I had to come up with another way that I could earn a living, preferably something that would always be useful, even post-Armageddon. And just to make the journey more eventful, I was the type of person that wanted to actually enjoy my job and feel like I was doing something useful.

The thing that kept coming back to me as a teenager, was how great I felt when I was having a good hair day. I felt more confident, more like me, and I just felt good being in my own skin. That’s actually quite a feat for a teenager!

And so I became…a hairdresser

I mean, the training was relatively quick, and even post-apocalyptic people would want nice hair, right? It seemed perfect. It was the 80’s to boot, a glorious hair decade!

And for a while it was great. The thing is, no matter how amazing a cut I gave, how tight the perm, or even how accomplished my clients were at styling their hair at home, it didn’t last. Hair grows out. That “feeling great in your own skin” feeling was temporary at best.

The impermanence of what I was trying to accomplish in my chosen profession really got to me. Well, that and the laws that allowed smoking indoors. I somehow always had the chain smoker client that wanted a perm, cut, nails, facial – the works – so I was sitting in that toxic haze of smoke, chemicals, and humid air all day. Every day.

Additionally, the best time for clients was nights and weekends. As a newly married 19-year old, (yup, you read that right -19) I would have preferred to spend that time at home with my husband (at least at first. More on that in part 2).

I eventually grew to feel that this was no longer the right job for me. I loved it – but I wanted more. I wanted to help people on a deeper level.

It was time to take my journey in a new direction

But to what? My (now ex) husband wanted me to apply to work at a grocery store or be retail clerk. He didn’t like the idea of me actually enjoying what I did or understand my desire to do something that felt like I was impacting people on a personal level. He just wanted me to make money. I felt pretty stuck.

Stay tuned for part 2 to hear about the next part of my journey.

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