149: Learning to Listen to Myself: What Tampa Taught Me This Year

In this episode, Mari reflects on living in Tampa, Florida for a full year and the life changes that occurred during that time. Having been born and raised in Illinois, Mari remembers how leaving the state felt like an impossible option for most of her life simply because she was so focused on fitting into the same lifestyle as those around her, yet struggling to feel fulfilled in the spaces she was occupying. Mari remembers how difficult it was for her to "dive into self-awareness" and make the 1,100-mile journey to find a new home. Now Mari recognizes how deeply transformative it was, and continues to be, to allow oneself the mental space to make the choices that will truly benefit the individual, rather than making the choices that will benefit the group that the individual cannot imagine themselves apart from. By taking time to practice and implement self-awareness, Mari saw and continues to see transformations in her life at work, with loved ones, with the world, and with herself.