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152 RESILIENCY MENTOR DARE TOKHARISMA MAGAZINE { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 }

{ P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } KHARISMA MAGAZINE 153 MEET MICHAEL H. BALLARD, HE SPECIALIZES IN HELPING PEOPLE BUILD THEMSELVES, and, in turn, discover their brand, while building resiliency along the way. He enjoys helping professionals of all ages learn how to deal with change and adversity in the fast pace of modern life, with its overwhelming situations and stresses, through Resiliency for Life™ (RFL). Michael has delivered breakthrough solutions for over 207 organizations across North America and around the world, from Bermuda to Singapore.BE ICONIC

154KHARISMA MAGAZINE { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } Kharisma: Michael, what is resiliency all about? other countries, that we use a negative assessment approach in mental health, so we look at what’s wrong. And to a point, Michael: Well, resiliency - the street version - is bouncing that’s very important because, if you have schizophrenia or back, and that’s a good start. But, there’s more to it. depression, these are not character flaws, these are health Having been a cancer patient, it’s also about quality of life issues like cancer. So, resiliency is a balanced assessment regardless of what you’re going through. And regardless of approach. What’s wrong, what’s getting in the way? What any chronic illness or going through a divorce, or a traffic hurts? What if we use the following skills? What if we sought injury recovery - all the things that can happen to humans - out an expert team to help us manage? Is it something that resiliency is a set of skills and tools to help us deal with these can be healed? Is it something that can be managed as well as, if we practice certain skills to be resilient? I told my mother, I’m having a good cry - two or three every day - but I’m fed up of crying. I’m frustrated, I don’t know what to do. I said: “Go home, and go on the internet and tell all your buddies, I want to be on their prayer team circle”. So, within a week, I was in mosques, temples, churches and revival halls. I was almost in 60 groups around the world, India, New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain and France, you name it. They were praying for ‘Harry’s boy’. And I got to tell you, whether you believe in a higher deity called God, or a higher deity, period, there’s something bigger than you and me, because I was lifted up. I had other cancer patients starting to come to me, saying, “I know you’re sad and you’re in pain, but you’re also having fun. It’s almost like it’s not normal.” I said, “well, my basic philosophy is that my body is under attack from the inside-out and I’m going to fight back”. So, just like in business, when a competitor comes out of nowhere and takes 12 percent of your business, which was maybe your profit margin - and the difference between paying the rent and having money left over - what do you do? Do you fight back? Or do you see that what they do really, isn’t the same as you do? I said, “I’m under attack. I’ve decided to party and be mournful the same day, every day, just not at the same time.” setbacks. Again, resiliency is not a cure for cancer. It just And so, part of being resilient for business, personal, for helps with the quality of the experience. In everyday life, relationships, or for volunteering, has a lot to do with your for sales teams, small businesses, or new business owners, belief system. it’s about ‘how do you deal with setbacks’. It’s all about the re-framing, and how you choose to see it. No, I’m not going to die of cancer, or be sad 100 percent. If I die, I’m going to die having a celebration. The 198 people I Kharisma: You’ve had a very interesting journey with your called, I asked them very specifically, to have no pity on me. bouts of chronic illness and now today, it propels you to Just say something positive for me every day! help others. How did it all start? Kharisma: That’s pretty amazing! Michael: The illness really opened my eyes to our mental health profession in North America. And I’m told in many

{ P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } KHARISMA MAGAZINE 155 BOLD

KHARISMA MAGAZINE { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } 156 INNERGETIC ENTREPRENEUR HOW TO UNLEASH SO THAT YOU CAN CREATE THE INTERVIEW WITH MARY THOMPSON DARE TO

{ P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } KHARISMA MAGAZINE 157 Meet Mary J. Thompson, The Innergetic Entrepreneur, Mind Body Spirit Coach for Service-Based Entrepreneurs. Kharisma: It’s such a great honour to have you here with me today, Mary, and to talk about your purposeful body of work in the world! Mary: Thank you, Kharisma. I’m so excited to be here. Kharisma: Awesome. Share a little bit about your journey. What has led to where you are today, and this amazing work that you’re putting out into the world? Mary: Yeah. I mean, I first want to say that I think sometimes, we can be really hard on ourselves about journeys, and think, ”Oh, I’m not going fast enough or far enough,” but really, everyone’s journey is their own, and for my journey, it has been really interesting. So, in college, I studied exercise science, and I was like, ”Yes,” you know? ”I love this. I love the body. It’s amazing. It’s really a miracle,” and I was super excited about it. And then somewhere along the way, I had this internship that was really, really disappointing, and I just got all kind of lost, because out in the field, I was seeing this lack of energy, and lack of fire, and focus on what was really important, and you know, all I could concentrate on was, ”Wow, if this is what it’s like in the real world, working in this field, what am I doing? This has nothing to do with what I love.” And so out of college, I basically just got the first job I could, which was working testing in a laboratory, right? Testing soaps, like dish soap and laundry soap. I hated it.BE ICONIC

KHARISMA MAGAZINE { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } 158 “MY BOSS...WAS LIKE, LOOK, YOU’RE TOO SMART, YOU’RE TOO SPECIAL, YOU’RE TOO MUCH OF A GO- GETTER TO BE DOING THIS KIND OF WORK”

{ P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } KHARISMA MAGAZINE 159Kharisma: I can imagine. So I figured maybe not the profession for me, and I also had a big problem with feeding people that much sugar, and IMary: It really had no purpose. And so I got this different realized that I kept going back to health articles, and readingjob. I thought, ”Oh, maybe because I’m on my feet all day, about what these artificial colours and flavours are doing inand that’s the reason I’m so unhappy,” so I found this office our bodies, and I started listening to health podcasts again,job, where I’m just shuffling paperwork around, and you and I really just thought, ”Okay, Mary, let’s get healthy. Firstknow, I advanced pretty quickly to be running the office, of all, what are you even doing with your life and your body?and then I was running the quality department, and this was Let’s get healthy.”a lab that was testing dietary supplements, and honestly, Ithink that was part of what got me back into health, but it So I started. I got a gym membership again, and startedwasn’t direct. Like, I had never thought about working for working out, and decided, ”I’m going to pursue thatmyself at all, and my boss one day called me in, and he was personal trainer thing again. I can change the business. I’mlike, ”Look, you’re too smart, you’re too special, you’re too going to revolutionize it,” and you know, I got certified as amuch of a go-getter to be doing this kind of work. Like, what personal trainer, started training people, and it was a lot ofare you doing, working as an administrative assistant?” fun. It was a blast. I’ve been called every name in the book by my clients, but you know, they loved it, because they feltAnd I was kind of like, ”I don’t know. I’m just trying to make like they had such an amazing workout, and they really feltmoney or whatever,” and I wasn’t very conscious of what I uplifted by the things that I was doing.really wanted, and he was asking me, ”What do you want inlife?” And I was like, ”I don’t know. It’d be cool to be rich.” And you know, with my clients, I realized that it was aboutAnd that was my aspiration at the time. more than the physical; that while they were working out with me, I was also becoming their therapist and theirAnd he was like, ”Well, you’re not going to do that making confidant, and we would also talk about meditation, and$15 an hour,” and I was like, ”Well, you’re right, but I don’t make sure you’re deep breathing, and really focusing onknow what else to do,” so I just kind of brushed it off, and it listening to our body, listening to our intuition, and, really, Istarted marinating with me, and I think it took about a year came to realize that this was the important part.before I really started exploring, and thinking like, ”What doI want to do?” It was more effective than just the physical exercises that we were doing, and I realized that people didn’t focus enoughAnd I thought, okay, I love flowers. I love arranging flowers. on this other side, and I didn’t really know what to call it,It has always just been a fun thing for me to do. I had done but I knew that was the key, and from there, I just got moremy own wedding flowers, so I was like, ”Oh, I’m going to and more into energy work, working with how to nourisharrange flowers.” That lasted I don’t know, maybe a week, your soul.and I was like, ”I don’t want to just do a flower side. I want toplan the events.” Started getting into that. ”No. No, no, no. Kharisma: Wow.That’s not for me.” Mary: So yeah, it’s been a really interesting journey, but I”Oh my gosh, I love to bake. I’m going to start doing cakes,” love seeing it all come together, and I’ve loved feeling like Iand so I did a couple of weddings, and while it was really am ending up... Not I have landed, because I keep... How do Ifun...and really I love being creative, like making something say this? I keep journeying, right? I keep growing.out of nothing. On one side, it was fulfilling. On the otherside, it was 100% draining, and after I got done with the Kharisma: And you keep evolving.wedding, I was just like, ”I don’t want to see another bridein my life.” Mary: ... all the time. Yeah.

160KHARISMA MAGAZINE { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } Kharisma: That’s awesome. So your approach is more like integrated? And being from a wholistic perspective, what mind, body, soul, which is pretty awesome, because it’s would you say to that individual? true: When you just focus on the physical, and you forget about the other two major components of who we are as Mary: The first thing that you have to realize is that you can individuals and human beings, it affects us, because we’re do it. I have seen so many people who at first maybe think not actually taking care of those two other parts of who we about something like a meditation, and they just go, ”Oh, are. So that’s pretty awesome. that’s not for me,” but just being open-minded, and realizing that it’s your journey, and you can find what works for you. Mary: Yeah. And that’s the way it’s going to be effective, is when you find what works for you. So, being an explorer is very important, Kharisma: So you are about to give birth to an amazing and exploring is going to strengthen your intuition, and program in a couple of months. Share with us a little bit when your intuition is strong, you will know what you need. about that. What is it called, what is it about and how is it going to serve your clients? Kharisma: So true. Very true. So, for those who are struggling right now, or may have tried one aspect of that, whether Mary: So this program is called Inergize, and it’s not spelled that’s getting back into health, or working on their mind, or with an ”E”. It’s spelled with an ”I”, like everything comes getting in alignment with their soul and who they are, what from within, and all our energy. Everything that we need would you say to them, besides not giving up? You know, to build our energy, especially as entrepreneurs, is already they’ve tried, they’ve tried everything. It seems like nothing within us, and all we have to do is— we have to tap into works. What would you say to them? Because there is that that, and there are different ways we can do that. We can group of individuals who tried all kinds of programs, been do things like yoga and meditation. We can do breath work. supported, and nothing seemed to have shifted. What would There are certain foods that support our energy more than you say to those individuals? others. There are different foods that support whatever type of energy we want to grow inside us. It’s really, really Mary: I would say that first of all, you’re not alone. We amazing, and I’m super excited about it. have all felt, at one point or another, very lost, and like we’re just taking one step forward and two steps back, but Kharisma: Wow. That sounds amazing. I love the name, there is hope. There is always hope, and really, when this Inergize. How long is it for? is happening, when we feel like we’ve tried everything, the first thing... Obviously, like you said, don’t give up hope, but Mary: This is a two month program, and it’s a group there are mental, emotional, or spiritual blocks that are program, which I love that format, because you’re not only holding you back, and what we got to do is we got to kind getting the support of a coach, you’re getting the support of of locate those and release them, and really, that’s when the a community and a tribe, because sometimes, not everyone flow comes back. You feel more in harmony with yourself, in our lives is supportive, and I think we all have experienced and that’s when miracles start happening for you. at least some of that, but being in that environment where everybody’s working towards the same thing, everybody Kharisma: You mentioned blocks, whether it’s emotional, is sharing and supporting each other’s journeys, it is so spiritual, or physical blocks. What would be an example of a powerful. block, say a mental block? Kharisma: Yeah. Wow, it sounds amazing! So, any advice for Mary: Oh my goodness. A mental block that is very, very those ladies out there reading this in a magazine, or on our common...We all talk to ourselves, right? And most of our online hub, about really getting the mind, body, and soul self-conversation, if we really pay attention to it, it is bad. Like, we would put ourselves in the crazy house, if we

{ P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } KHARISMA MAGAZINE 161really heard ourselves all the time, what we’re saying, and Mary: There is a difference. I think women are in tune a lotthe mental blocks that I hear most often are, ”I can’t do it,” easier with their bodies, because we have to be. Our body”That’s not for me,” and ”I’ve tried that.” wreaks a little bit of havoc sometimes, and you know, we really have to be more in tune. Men are more conditionedIt’s just closing yourself off mentally, so not only do you to push down their emotions, and don’t always realize thathave these subliminal blocks, that we can’t get to, because that’s what’s happening, so you do have to approach it ayou have closed your mind down, but you have consciously little bit differently, but there is so much magic in there.blocked yourself. Now, when we block our energy, there’sa couple of ways we can do it, because our thoughts Kharisma: Wow.actually have reactions, physical reactions in our body. Ouremotions are the same way, and also, if we’re eating a lot of Mary: And I love working with men, too, because yes,inflammatory foods, that can physically block off our energy obviously, women, I adore women, and I’m all aboutflow. empowering women, but I also think that if we only focus on the women, we’re missing a piece there, too, because ifKharisma: Very interesting. And to round off our talk here our men aren’t empowered and raised up, then it’s going toabout the blocks, what would be an example of an emotional be very slow change in the world.block, would you say? Kharisma: Yes. Very well said. I totally agree with you, 100%.Mary: Oh, feeling unloved. I think that one is huge for people, Is there anything else that you would love to share with ourbecause when we’re little, we have a very simple view of the readers and our audience before we wrap up?world, and we can interpret something that maybe was notmeant to portray a lack of love, but that’s how we interpreted Mary: I want to send everybody out there so much love,it, and we carry those blocks and wounds with us very deep, because I think there’s not enough of that in the world. Butand that can lead to a lot of, like, overeating. It can lead to know that there is hope. There’s always, always, alwayssugar cravings because sugar gives us pleasure, and if we’re hope, and you know, when you are working to align yournot feeling enough love and pleasure in our life, we’re going energy, really unleash this powerfulness that’s inside ofto reach for those sweets. It can turn into something even you, miracles will happen.more serious, like an alcohol or a drug addiction as well. Kharisma: Indeed. Awesome. Awesome. This has been great.Kharisma: Wow. This is some powerful stuff, and you know, How can our audience connect with you, to learn moreyou are doing an amazing thing with your purposeful body about your new program coming out, Inergize?of work, while having that holistic approach, which I think isso, so, so important, when we are working with individuals. Mary: Yeah, my website is maryjthompson.com. You can find it there, and I also have a really cool freebie, that is anMary: Yeah. audio that you can listen to, that will help you to balance the energy centers in your body.Kharisma: Do you work with women and men, or justwomen? Kharisma: Wow. Awesome, awesome. Well thank you, thank you for being with us, Mary. This was a very informative andMary: I work with both men and women. engaging interview with you.Kharisma: Okay, awesome. Awesome. Is there a difference, Mary: Thank you, Kharisma. It’s been amazing.working with men versus women?

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KHARISMA MAGAZINE { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } 164 INFINITE RECEIVER HOW YOUR CAPACITY TO RECE IVE E X PA N D S I N F I N I T E LY LIKE THE UNIVERSE INTERVIEW WITH MARU IABICHELA DARE TO

BE ICONIC { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } KHARISMA MAGAZINE 165 MEET MARU IABICHELA, who is called “The Queen of Expansion” for her incredibly transformative work teaching women how to open up energetically, mentally, and practically, so they can invite an avalanche of blessings and unstoppable prosperity in. Kharisma: I’m so honoured to have you here with me today and to talk all about infinite receiving. You are known in the world as the ‘Queen of Expansion’, so welcome. Maru: Thank you, Kharisma. I appreciate the invitation. That’s a big title, but one that I gladly accept. It’s not some kind of real crown or anything. It’s more of an attitude and a way of living and being in the world. Kharisma: Share a little bit about your journey to where you are today, that you are impacting the world and the lives of so many men and women with infinite receiving. What brought you here, to this point? Maru: Oh my gosh, so much. Do we have seven hours? I’ll try to summarize. But essentially, I’m not even a shadow of who I was two years ago. I come from very humble beginnings and it’s not even so much financial because, I grew up rich but, it was my mom’s husband’s wealth. And I never thought I was worthy of any of the opportunities I got, so I grew up shrinking all my life. So for example, if I had nice things I would not wear them. If we went to Disney Land, I would not bring any of my toys or pencils from Mickey Mouse back to my school because I felt bad for the other kids that couldn’t go to Disney Land. So, I literally grew up most of my life, like, shutting off opportunities and hiding from the light. I didn’t want to be separate from anyone. I wanted to be one of ‘the people’. I wanted to be like ‘the people’ but somehow, I’ve just been blessed and life kept giving me opportunities. I’ll never forget at seven years old, I asked to be moved from first class to coach because, I didn’t like being in the front of the plane. I turned down being moved from pre-K to second grade because I tested out of first grade. I said, “I’d rather go back to day-care than to move forward.”

166KHARISMA MAGAZINE { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } This is not something that stayed when I was little- I kept corporate job, but I was like, “I have to do something for acting like this most of my life. I would always take a bullet myself, I don’t see myself working 40 years for a couple for people, just to be like ‘the people’; I just never wanted to weeks of a year. That’s crazy.” So anyway, I started being feel special. I would hate the thought of being different or an entrepreneur and I was not making any money and I being special in any way. So, when my dad passed away, I realized when I was at a point of bankruptcy, having to file turned down the inheritance because I was like, “Oh no, let bankruptcy. I was like, “Okay, God.” I had three weeks to other people fight for it. I’m fine.” I don’t know how my DNA figure it out, if not I literally was going to have to go do had it to where I’ve just been shrinking all my life. I would something drastic because, I couldn’t afford to stay the take guys back that cheated on me twice. I would lend money same. And I just had the ‘come to Jesus’ moment, I was like, to people, never charge them, never ask for it back. I mean, “God, if you allow me to stay in business and I don’t have to talk about a doormat. Talk about the stereotypical good, nice go get a job, I will help other women just claim back their girl and wanting to do good by everyone. I mean, I’m sure power from shame and guilt,” because I had a lot of shame there’s a lot of things that went into play that contributed to and guilt over my finances. that being the case. And some people would say, “That’s not how I perceive you,” but that’s how I... now, looking back, I was not in a happy relationship, but I would never admit that’s how I see myself. Very small, kept myself very small. that at that point. However, I did turn it around really fast. Then I went through another pivot point which is what So, for me to now be invited to interviews, to magazines and really brought me here. The first really huge pivot point that get paid to travel the world in a relatively short period of helped me face myself and realize I was not my numbers time, it’s been a pretty swift awakening into my power and - even if I had no numbers in my bank account - that was into my truth. And people don’t even believe me, you know, Spring 2015. Then, fast-forward a year ago, we’re recording that I actually have a boyfriend that respects me and that this September 2017. Then in February 2016, I found myself perceives me as ‘the prize’, because before, I was the chaser. again in a difficult financial position, but this time, totally You know that whole thing of ‘the guys are the providers unhappy. Like the previous time, at least I was somewhat and they have to search for the woman’? I’m like, how long happy in my relationship and I had family support. This time has that been going on?, because I was never notified of that. I had nothing. It was almost like God slowly took everything I was always the one that was proving myself, losing weight, away from me for me to really find myself. changing my hair to be liked and to be approved of so. I even turned down a promotion at work because I felt bad And it was at that point last February where my gas was for other people. disconnected, my fiancé broke up with me, I became a single mom, all of a sudden that I was like, “Okay. Now it’s just me, Kharisma: Wow. myself and I: what am I going to do with this?” And now I was making money, I had a very successful 2015. I think my Maru: This is my story, too. That’s where I come from, business brought in over $150,000 in revenue, which was that’s the journey that has brought me here. It’s been a lot awesome, and I had none of it in the bank. That was my of deflecting of blessings, deflecting of everything pretty story and I was like, I learned to make money and I couldn’t much the universe, God wanted to give [to] me. I was like, keep any of it and then that caught up with me really fast. “No, give it to somebody else, I’m fine.” What I found is And I just started asking different questions, I said, “Okay, that this isn’t just my journey, it’s the journey of majority God, I’m not playing anymore. I can’t afford this ‘feast-and- of women. famine’. Now I had to provide for my son, pretty much. I have to fend for myself, I’m not having any financial backing here. Kharisma: Yes. And I don’t have any savings or good credit to move out of my situation, I have to do it all by myself. Well, throw me a Maru: But we do it in different ways. I was just very blunt bone here.” And I just made a pact with myself, I said, “I’m about it since I was little, you know? I’m like, “Don’t give going to give it a shot for three months. If I can’t figure out me that. Don’t give me nice things.” I’d rather be called this feast-and-famine thing, I’m out and I no longer want to homeless than special. And for me to wake up from this, I worry about a client or a project. I just want a solution that had to go through a series of serious heartbreaks, financial will get me out of this place forever.” hardships, because the niceness was keeping me broke. And entrepreneurship ... I decided to quit my corporate And then I got an idea, this random idea, which is why I job. That was really tough because I didn’t want to break tell people: follow each bread crumb, each idea. My crazy anyone’s heart. I was given a lot of opportunities in my idea was to ‘check-out’, go to a hotel, and just go away for a

{ P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } KHARISMA MAGAZINE 167night, because my reality was too much; and it was during I was scared, I’m like, “Whoa, that was fast. That was weird.this checking-out to the hotel - which didn’t make sense I’m sure it had nothing to do with what I thought and said,because it was $100 I really didn’t have... an extra $100, I I’m sure it’s just a coincidence, move on.” So, I just keptprobably had $300 to my name, and spending those $100 driving. But anyway, I called a friend and I told her whatfelt crazy - that I was on my way to the hotel, I heard a voice happened because I was like, “This is really weird.” Andthat said, “Maru, you only get what you have the capacity to then she said, “Tell me what to say, I’ll say anything.”receive.” In, like, an hour and a half she called me, she [says], “Maru,And I was like, “That’s interesting, because I don’t get it, my someone called me; they hired me for this project.” Likebank account has nothing in it. So, there’s plenty of room immediately after she said it. So, I was like, “Whoa, this isin there, I don’t understand.” But then I got it: it was like really weird and I’m sure there’s nothing to it.” But I got toa metaphysical, energetical, spiritual, emotional capacity. the hotel and I remember doing nothing. I had this army ofThat even though I was asking for all these blessings, I pens and pencils and sticky notes and I’m like, “I’m going tocouldn’t handle them. figure it all out. I’m going to map it all out. And I’ll go back to the drawing board and I’ll figure something else out becauseKharisma: You didn’t have the container to hold it or I have to figure out this feast-and-famine thing and how toreceive it. stay consistent.” But I didn’t do anything. I remember just ordering wine and room service and watching The Voice.Maru: I didn’t have the recipient, I didn’t have the And I woke up the next day and I don’t know, I had a sense ofcontainer, I didn’t have the bandwidth. I didn’t have any peace about myself. That was a Saturday night; by Thursdayof it. I just asked myself, I was like, “Okay, we’ll see. If I had made $32,000.that’s true, if you only get what you have the capacity toreceive. How big is my capacity to receive?” I remember Kharisma: $32,000?thinking 40%. Maru: $32,000.Kharisma: Wow. Kharisma: Wow, that is amazing.Maru: And I was like, “That makes no sense to me. Ithink I’m ready for more money, more success, more this. Maru: It all felt like out of the blue. And all these people,I’m ready for a break.” And yet my opening is for, like ... at least three people ... I used to charge $7500 to workyou know, my container is just only open and available with me for one-on-one coaching. And like two, threeto receive a little. So how do I create that? I was just like, people had paid me in full and there was something else. I“This is so crazy.” And then I had a series of visions and I’m remember it was $32,000 within five days. And I was like,not going to take you through all of them but essentially, I “Whoa, could something really have shifted?” Because itdid get a sneak peek into the cosmos, like out of the blue. felt like the flood gates opened up. And then my parentsSomehow, one of those ‘God things’. I remember out of my called and offered to buy me a house so that my son and Ileft eye seeing a tiny sliver; it felt like a little window, and could move out. Then a client called and offered me a freeI just remember seeing blue, and that was the universe. I week in St. Bart in her villa.remember the scientific fact about the universe that it’sexpanding infinitely. No matter what human scientists can Kharisma: Awesome. That’s amazing.do here on earth, the universe is expanding infinitely, it’sa scientific fact. And I was like, “Hmmm.” I was like, “You Maru: I was like, I’ve just entered the twilight zone orknow what my capacity to receive is tiny. But if it became something, I don’t know what. But I really, I was a littlelike the universe, what if I equated those two things?” And I scared. I was like, “This is crazy. Could it really be happeningput them into a formula and I remember thinking like, my to me?” And the answer was Yes, because even though Icapacity to receive expands infinitely like the universe. wouldn’t tell a lot of people what happened to me, I would tell certain people. Two weeks later, a friend called and II just started saying that for no rhyme or reason. And within said, “Try this phrase on, try this on.” And then they would25 minutes someone had wired me $7500 out of the blue. have something really fast shift for them. So, after about aI was like “Whoa,” that was the client that wanted to work month, I was like “you know what, I’m going to do a videowith me, was on the fence, and he never got back to me, so I and I’m going to share my story, with no strings attached,completely forgot about it. I’m not selling anything. I’m just going to tell people if you’re

168KHARISMA MAGAZINE { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } doing these seven things, you’re cutting your circulation off, receive this, but not that.” And when you do that, you’re you’re cutting your capacity to receive off, and you need to discriminating receiving, period. So, you asked me what are stop it. And from that video my life was never the same. It’s the principles. I spend 90 days talking about them, so there’s almost as if I had a secret that got out and then people were so many principles that are behind it. But in a nutshell, it’s like, “I tried that, and this happened!” And crazy things that basically that if it’s true that you only get what you have the I had nothing to do with them. I think what I teach now is capacity to receive, that means that what you’re receiving just so practical and so nonsensical that it’s just easy for right now is what you have the capacity to receive. It’s where people to see the connection. you’re at with the amount of money that you constantly get, the amount of love, the health. That’s kind of, like, your set Kharisma: What are the principles behind Infinite point, that’s where you’re at. That doesn’t mean that’s what Receiving? Because it’s impacted your life, then it impacted you can do, but that’s kind of where you’re at. the lives of individuals around you. I believe you’re on Infinite Receiving 5.0 now, is that correct? In order to change that, you totally can: you’re not broken, you’re not ugly, you’re not fat, you’re not nothing - none of Maru: Yes. We’re in the fifth cycle. So basically, I teach the that. You’re not broke, you’re not stupid, you’re not poor. class at least twice a year, it’s live, and I’m really involved in It’s just that your doors are kind of closed. And to open it and I really help people receive. Not just receive money the doors ... you can learn to open the doors and expand and clients and love and health, but also receive all of it. yourself, but there’s a lot of things that get in the way of Because life sometimes does not come to you in pretty us literally having the doors open or opening the doors. bows and that’s the problem that most of us are, like, “I’ll You know, shame, guilt are huge blockers of receiving. I’ve found that shame and guilt are like the opposite of Drano. “....YOU’RE NOT Drano will open up and clean the plumbing system. No, it’s BROKEN, YOU’RE like the closers, basically like the shrinkers. So, there’s so many things that in my terms shrink our capacity to receive and make it smaller and smaller and smaller or keep it the same. And it’s a lot of feelings, shame, guilt, impatience ... obligation. Like the sense of obligation NOT UGLY....YOU’RE NOT STUPID.... IT’S JUST THAT YOUR DOORS ARE KIND OF CLOSED.”

{ P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } KHARISMA MAGAZINE 169that we, a lot of women, have. Like responsibility, sense of doesn’t look like anything I ever thought he was gonna lookresponsibility for others that is not yours. like, he probably looks better. And it’s just not even ... it’s just so much better than what I was asking for.So there’s so many things that keep you where you’re at andthat don’t allow you to expand or grow. I always tell people Kharisma: That’s amazing.you cannot infinitely receive in a 12 ounce container. Maru: Because in receiving you have to trust and you haveKharisma: Right, because there’s no room. to have faith, but women don’t do that really well. We want to control the outcomes, we have very strict standards forMaru: There’s no room. So, you got to grow your container ourselves and for others. So, I teach people to lower theirand to grow your container, I think you have to grow your standards, to lose control, just relax because you don’t havefaith, your trust. But you also have to understand where to do anything, the universe has got you here to this point,and when did you decide that your container was the size you’ll be fine.it was, because I can help you track it. It was at that pointyou decided that you can only receive so much and beyond Kharisma: Amazing. And this infinite receiving has openedthat, it’s a threat. A threat to the love you receive from your opportunities for you all over the world.family, it’s a threat to what you knew when you were a littlekid. There’s just so many things. I help people mold their Maru: Yes!minds to receive more and accept more and be okay withmore. It’s not easy for people. It’s crazy, but it’s not. It’s like Kharisma: With you speaking and impacting variouswe’re so used to receiving what we receive and the minute communities, tell me a little bit about that.something changes, people panic. They’re like, “When’s theother shoe gonna drop? How long is this gonna last? Am I Maru: Yeah, so as soon as I started sharing this messageworthy of this? Is it a fluke of destiny? Oh my god, I’m not and it literally spread like wildfire, the good kind of fire. Ithat good. What? What?” was like, “What am I supposed to do with this, God?” I was freaking out, but I said Yes to a calling and I started teachingKharisma: That’s so true. this four-week class and then it was an eight week class. You know what’s interesting is in each class ... I started it atMaru: You know what I mean? So, it’s those things that I a very low price, like the first class I charged $123, the nextpluck. That I’m like, “No. No fear of success. You can have it class I doubled, the next class I doubled and then I’ve justall. You can have more. You deserve more. You’re worthy of kinda been adding $100 to each iteration. And each classmore.” The things that are getting in the way of you thinking has received at least 100 students. The most successful oneyou’re not worth more are the things that are keeping was in February 2017, I got 178 students and it was a six-you where you’re at.” It’s a lot of mindset work. If I could figure launch. But I never intended it to be the huge financialsummarize it and make a long story short, I’d say I teach success that it’s become. For me it’s been ... I just wanted topeople how to expand their capacity to receive, so that they serve, I wanted to help women stop shrinking like I shrunkcan stop shrinking and they receive pretty much all they all my life. I shrunk to my light, I shrunk to my power, Iwant and deserve. And what happens is funny, it’s like they deflected blessings, I’m like “Don’t look at me”, you know,don’t get what they want, they get better than they could “Let me hide.” I don’t know why I did that but we all do that.have imagined. It’s kind of like now I have this gorgeousboyfriend and I’m super happy with him, but I thought he And I just wanted to help other women heal and that’s alwayswas gonna look a certain way, he was gonna have a Harvard been my number one focus of anything I do. My numberdegree, he was gonna have blue eyes and be blonde and all one reason to do anything is: will it help women expandthis stuff that I was dictated. And then when I got away from their power? Will it help women receive more, earn more,that I said, “God, send me someone who can more than get more, respect themselves more? Yes, I’ll do it. And I’mhandle me. Someone who is secure in themselves. Someone not attached to the financial success of it and that’s what’swho is mentally stable, not crazy. You know, someone who created the financial success, I’m pretty sure. Becauseis just mellow and mature and has some kind of spiritual by now, we have like 600 people in the program of whichsense and very confident in themselves.” the minimum has paid $400. You do the math, you know.And I started moving away from me telling God what to The latest iteration was $800. It’s been very financiallydo and what to send me but just giving the universe some successful. I’ve been able to grow my team so that we canguidelines. I got the most incredible soul for me. And [he] support more people. I have travelled - just this year alone

170KHARISMA MAGAZINE { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } - 43,000 miles... those 43,000 have been 12 trips, some of yes. But because I know my principles, I knew that I wasn’t them to the Middle East. I was flown to Dubai to speak to a ugly or broken, I knew that somehow, I didn’t have the group of women in May this year. I was just in Brazil, end of capacity to receive it. I had no capacity because they kept July a little over a month ago speaking to a gorgeous group bouncing back like boom, boom, boom. But I was working of women about expansion. And then I’ve just been like a ping pong ball all over the U.S., and it’s not been easy to be “I DID NOT THINK away from my son, and I’ve gained a bunch of weight. I WAS LOVABLE. I’m learning to manage myself better in the expansion, but I’m totally okay with that because no one was born walking I DID NOT THINK or running marathons. You have to get your footing and learn the steps, and you don’t learn by other people’s advice, ANYONE WOULD you have to throw yourself in, right. So yeah, it’s launched my speaking career, which is something I’ve dreamed of. CHOOSE ME. It’s absolutely awesome. I think I have great energy, and in person, I’m completely off the chain! I think I have an ability, on it. I knew that if it was true - that if I thought it was true especially through infinite receiving, to really transmute - that I would grow my capacity to receive. So, then I tried people’s energy and help them expand and receive more again and then four guys showed up to dates, and then one just by virtue of being in the vortex. So, I’m very blessed. day my fence broke and he showed up to fix my fence. And then to me, probably one of the greatest expressions of this program really working, of this mentality really Kharisma: Wow. working, has not just been the money - the money has been awesome - but to find love, to find true unconditional love. I Maru: I met him out of the blue. That’s why I only wear blue, never thought, I never thought love was for me. After my ex by the way. broke up with me, which was the best thing that could have happened to both of us - there’s no question about that - I Kharisma: Yes, I love it. And it’s part of your brand, part of truly thought that I wasn’t lovable. your philosophy. It’s everything about you. I did not think I was lovable. I did not think anyone would Maru: Yeah. And what’s funny is that I never intended this choose me. And it was always about me being chosen. It to be a brand ever. I hate it when people tell me, “Oh, you was always about me being the one to ... you know, it’s like colour- match.” Or, “This is your brand.” And I’m like, “It’s for some reason I couldn’t apply the ‘receiving’ to me as not.” It was born out of the universe-vision I had because a woman. Like, it was really working out for business and it was blue and one of the principles in Infinite Receiving money and that was like taking off like wildfire. And then is Don’t save the Best for Last. Which is the reason why I’m when it came to me, I decided to get a dating coach the day wearing what I’m wearing today, because why save it for a that I cried when I had a vision of somebody proposing to special occasion. This is a perfect special occasion; every me. And I almost fell to the floor thinking that’s never going day is a special occasion. And I had a shirt that was this to happen to me. And this is a strong, successful, beautiful colour, this deep royal blue, everytime I would wear it, I felt Latina here! so powerful and I was like, “I’m going wear that shirt more often because it reminds me of the universe and I just feel Kharisma: You are. so awesome in it.” And then I realized, I’m like, “Why do I wait to wear this shirt like every two months?” And that’s Maru: Last August, I had a vision of someone getting what it was, that’s how it started. Because I was like, “I’m engaged, supposedly me. And I dropped to the floor crying just going to wear my most powerful colour every day. Why because I thought that would never happen to me. So, I was am I saving it for some days only?” like, I’m really broken, I cannot bring myself broken into And that’s how the thing started. And then I threw everything any relationship; I have to fix myself. I have to repair this out by last May, I had thrown everything out that was not relationship and why is it that I don’t feel worthy of love. So, blue. I have white and black but nothing else. I started working on all the things that I teach, pretty much throw everything you have on it, do what you need to do. And by February ... this is after I got stood up 12 times. I got stood up and ghosted on 12 times from August ‘til January,

{ P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } KHARISMA MAGAZINE 171Kharisma: It looks gorgeous on you, too. So, I know that if I sow light, I’m going to get even moreMaru: But that’s the point: it’s like, one, it makes me feel light. I’m already very blessed, but I know that there’s nomost powerful, why wouldn’t I? ... and then I found out all end to how much light you can receive, so I’m just going tothese things. Oh, blue is the colour of the fourth chakra.....oh do it. I just do the right thing and I want to talk about thisgreat, self expression. I’m like, cool. What’s the other one? thing that I teach called giving is proof of having. Giving isOh, everything that’s infinite is blue, the ocean, the sky, the proof of having, because what I found when I used to tithecosmos. And I’m like well, duh, no wonder I call this thing in my church, which I don’t go to church anymore, but justinfinite receiving. So, it just all went together, fell perfect saying. When I used to tithe it was hard, it was hard as hellinto place and I just ... I don’t have any intention whatsoever because then my amounts kept getting bigger. So, if I wasof wearing anything else, ever. I just don’t. One time I tried making $13,000 that means I had to give $1300, and it’s easyto do my nails red and I was like ... it’s crazy. I can’t do it. to donate with time, it’s not easy to donate with money.Kharisma: I know one of the principles of Infinite Receiving And yet, the money kept coming. So, I learned a thing oris to give back. And you believe in giving back, I know recently two. And I still sometimes have to remind myself that whenyou have you’re ... I think you’re still running a promotion you give, you’re demonstrating that you have. And when youto give back to the people in Houston, Texas after the recent operate from having, instead of lack, instead of scarcity, youhurricane. Why is it important to you to give back, and at get more because that’s the vibration, that’s the intentionsuch a level that you are giving back today? you’re holding. You’re reminding yourself that you don’t live in a limited-abundance universe and that your account is not limited to what you just have there right now.Maru: It’s been a journey for sure. And I’m not even going tolie, when I had to do the Hurricane Harvey, I didn’t have to, I And so that is why I give, because I think the more I putDAND IT WAS ALWAYS out there, the more I circulate, the more comes back to me in so many more ways than just money. And it’sABOUT ME BEING CHOSEN. also that I’m making a statement for having. It’s like you give, it means you have. You have something to give. It’s...I COULDN’T APPLY THE better to live in that space of feeling like you have and that, yeah, you can give from your overflow or maybe it’s‘RECEIVING’ TO ME AS A not overflow - maybe it’s $100 that’s a stretch for you - but you’re beating the lack.WOMAN.” One of my mentors, and her name iswanted to. But even then, I was like, “Wow, why does it bring Agapi, and she’s Arianna Huffington’sso much lack? It brings up a lot of lack and scarcity.” Like sister - not to drop names or anything - but she’s really“oh my gosh couldn’t you use that money?” But the truth is cool. When we met for a meeting, she said something toother people need it more than I do. And a lot of my giving me that just reminded me of what we’re talking about here.back, I’m not public about. Most of the giving back I do is to She said that she was talking to a friend and he was havingpeople that I see need it. I privately reach out, and I know I’m some money problems, so he went and brought himself avery clear in my mission why I do what I do. I know that it’s silk shirt, a very expensive silk shirt. I was like, “Ah, I loveto help the world expand and to help women expand their that.” Because our instant reaction when you’re havingpower, and when I know I can make a difference I put my issues is to go into fear, hold back, hoard, and “I only havename in the hat. That’s it, it’s just important to me because a few moments, a few dollars, a few dimes, a few this, so II don’t know any other way. You know, I believe in karma, I have to be really responsible” and blah, blah, blah. And so, itdon’t know if you do. But I believe that as you sow, so shall just doubles down on the fear and the scarcity and the lack.you reap. And that’s, for sure, one of my guiding lights and But when you’re able to do something that puts a ‘thankprinciples in life period. you’, you have that level of trust and faith, that’s where the miracles really happen.

KHARISMA MAGAZINE { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } 172 keeping any of it? And when I got there, I literally had to break my piggy bank for gas money. I’ll never forget that, it Kharisma: Wow. That is powerful. You know that the was August 2015. universe matches how you are vibrating and what you’re holding onto and what you’re giving away right. So, it’s very Kharisma: Amazing. important that we receive despite our current situation, whether that’s you have your last $5, but don’t try to hold on Maru: I was like, “Holy crap. This was a myth buster.” It’s, to that saying, “Well, this is all I have.” Because then you’re like okay, if I could do it different, I would be, okay, this is able to receive more. That’s pretty powerful. Very powerful. what I perceive happens, and imagine it a little better, but I was just focused on a number and hitting a number and What do you say to women or entrepreneurs reading this it just was totally shallow, void. There was nothing there, magazine about giving back in their business? nothing. Maru: I think we all come to the point of being ready for Kharisma: Any last words to our audience? that when we’re ready. I’m someone that I don’t have any particular charity or anything that I give back [to] Maru: Stop saying, “Oh my god, I can’t believe this is consistently, I give back a lot in time for sure and I really want happening to me. No way. That never happens to me.” Just to set an intention ... I am doing it already, that I’m giving start saying, Yes more often. Yes of course this is happening back more monetarily because money is a very powerful to me because the nature of our lives, the nature of the currency. You know, it’s not just currency, but energetically universe is to expand and grow and evolve infinitely and so speaking is the language of how we operate in the world. is your ability to have it good. It needs to expand, grow, and And I want to receive more money so, therefore, I’m willing evolve every single day and every time you deflect something to give more money. And I would just encourage everyone to like I used to - deflecting a complement, deflecting try it. I think it’s a very abundant practice, it’s very abundant something that happens - and you get skeptical on it, you’re right? And it’s not reserved just to a few that have money. literally pushing back on the universe’s blessing. And so, I Like no, I think one of my good friends, Adrienne Dorison, would say there’s so many little tips and advice I could give her whole model of her business. I think she gives back you, but I’ll just leave you with that one. When something 10% of every transaction or something like that. And she’s amazing happens, normalize it and you’ll attract more of it. very abundant in all ways of prosperity and affluence and heart and soul and everything. And I see that, and that’s not Kharisma: Yes. And you have some hashtags that’s very always been my model, but it’s definitely something that I’m aligned to you and who you are: #moreplease. living more in now. Maru: Yes, hashtag #moreplease. You can find me with And with my mission of helping women receive this message #moreplease, #nailedit, which is a fully sarcastic play on of empowerment at earlier and earlier ages, I want to create words to stay ‘open’. Not like if you eat the tub of ice cream my own foundation. I want to create my own something to and you’re like, “I suck, I’m guilty.” Because those things are contribute to something that feels very aligned.... to where blocking, and close you off. Then you say, “I totally nailed I’m just not waiting for hurricanes or a natural disaster or it, I got out of bed today.” So, it’s a sarcastic way of making something to give back. fun of yourself and taking yourself lightly. And then there’s #ofcourse, if something good happens [you say] “Of course, Kharisma: Right. something good’s happening, that’s how it’s supposed to be.” And of course, #infinitereceiving. Maru: But I do think it’s important. If you’re just doing it for self-enrichment reasons or to hit six figures or to hit Kharisma: Awesome. Awesome. This has been quite a five figures just to do what the internet is telling you to do, fantastic conversation with you Maru, and [about] infinite your success is going be very short lived. And it’s not going receiving. I know that our audience will be blessed and will be full success, it’s going feel empty when you get to where be inspired to really reach a point in their life where they you’re going. Because when I got to six figures the first time, can infinitely receive all the abundance that they desire and I didn’t have any money in the bank and I was miserable. So, then some. what I was working so hard for when I got there, it was not at all what they told me it was going [to] look like or what it Maru: Oh yes, infinitely more. Amen. I love that. Okay was going be. Nobody told me what it was going look like: I darling, thank you so much for the invite. just had this vision and this mental construct of six figures! I want six figures! I want a six-figure business! As if it was some kind of badge of honour. But what good is it if I wasn’t

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174 PERSONAL CHEF DARE TOKHARISMA MAGAZINE { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 }

{ P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } KHARISMA MAGAZINE 175 El iAfLeTstHyYl eMEET MILAN PERRY, Creating a A H EALTHY LIVI NG of Mind, d e s i g nEXPERT, GOURMET CHEF,HAND FOUNDER OFM EET SOMNI LAATNU REPLELRERWY, ELALN ESS , Body & SoulH EALTWHYH ICLHIVIFNEGATUEXRPESERHT,ER INTERVIEWGOU RMHEIGTH LYCAHCECF LAIAMNEDD WITHFOUNDER OF THE MILANSO NATPURROEGLLREAWMECLLHNI CESSW, O M EN PERRYWH ICHDONF’TEADTIUETR,ESSOPHHISETRICATEDH IG H LYH EAACLCTHLAYI MLEIVDI N G FO RPROG RTAHME BCUSHIINCESWS OTRMAEVNELLER,DON’T DIET, SOPHISTICATEDH EALTAHGY EL4IV0I NPGLUFSO. RSHTEH WE O R KSBUSI N EWSSITHTRCALVI EENLTESR, WAHGOE40 PLUYSE. ASRHNE WFOORRKAS NWEIWTHCLI ENTESXPWEHROI ENYCEEARI NN WFOELRLN ESSA N ETWRANESXFPOERRIMENACTIEO NI.NWELLNESS TRANSFORMATIONBE ICONIC

176KHARISMA MAGAZINE { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } Kharisma: Share a little bit about your story on what’s led just wherever and whenever. Just whatever I could find, you to do this work that you are doing in the world today. basically, because that was the type of job and life that I had. It was very demanding. Milan: Well, my lifestyle as a working woman, it really has always had a demand on my life. I always found it necessary As I reached closer to my mid to late 30s, I realized I couldn’t to take care of myself because of... During my 20s and my do that for the rest of my life. It was time for me to make a 30s I was a commercial print model. It really forced me to change, and to make that type of a change, I knew I had to take care of myself and just on an external level and how do something drastic. Leaving the company was the most I looked and just how I presented myself, because my drastic thing that I knew that I could do. When I left the livelihood depended on it. Just like so many other women, company, I found the muscles that I gained from being a you have to look good for your job. driver and lifting all those boxes were leaving. Now I was 15, 20 pounds overweight. As time passed, I started doing a few career changes, and I was just really tired of being on cue and tired of having I never wanted to look that way. I just...Someone would take to look on point every time I went out. I decided to just a picture of me, I would ... They would show it to me, I would walk away from that glamorous world of commercial print tear it up if they gave it me. I just didn’t like the way I looked. modeling and later on I found myself working as a FedEx Even though, from the outside it didn’t appear that way, courier driver. because I was still dressing chic, but I didn’t feel that way on the inside. Kharisma: Wow. Since I wasn’t comfortable, that’s really when my journey in Milan: Most people find it really surprising for me because wellness and educating myself and educating others began. I’m a very feminine woman, and I’ve always been proud of It was a, I guess you could say, turning point in my life. All of carrying myself in a very chic manner. It was a very different the external factors, they just weren’t really that important change for me but at this moment I found that it wasn’t really to me anymore, because as I was getting older, I realized about me looking good for the job anymore but taking care that was... I guess it was vanity for me, and being a model, of myself more on a physical level and on a cellular level, there’s a certain amount of vanity involved. because I needed to keep up my stamina. I needed to have energy. I needed to be able to react quick. Sustaining myself I just felt being healthier was the most important thing that with the right foods, it was really important and crucial at I could do for myself and my body. A lot of women, when we that moment. eat we have these guilty feelings and sometimes I would eat just what ever I wanted to, I mean, sweets. I’m not saying As time went on, I really started noticing how my thought there’s anything wrong, within balance of course. process changed, and there was this shift, especially during my 30s, and that’s usually when most women have a shift All things in balance, but sometimes there’s some things in their body. My shift as a FedEx driver was coming from that you just really love and you gorge on it. I had weakness being extremely fatigued, from my ankles being really for Nutella and I would gorge. That was when I was stressed fatigued....Just having these imbalances in my body where I at FedEx, I would just gorge. That’s how the weight started started suffering from migraines. coming on for me. I’ve never been extremely obese, but I’ve had moments of going, just up and down or yo-yoing on I just had a lot of problems with my menstrual cycle and it the scale. was just extremely physically demanding and I just wasn’t paying attention to what was going in my mouth. That was I started getting into this rut and my husband would make really some of the problems as well. I was eating on the comments about it: ”You don’t really dress like you used to. go. I would eat from five star restaurants to one star and You don’t fix your hair up, and you don’t really wear clothes

{ P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } KHARISMA MAGAZINE 177like you used to, or wear the shoes. You’re tired,” and I got drugs for the rest of my life. I wanted something a little bitinto this rut of not caring about how I looked and I said, ”You more natural.know what? I have to make a change,” so I just committedto myself that I need to stop with whatever addictive foods Discovering how herbs are whole foods and synergistic, thatthat I was eating, I needed to stop eating how a truck driver really motivated me more to put it all together. I said, ”Thiswould eat. I needed to really just focus in and internally pay is amazing, and this is wonderful.” I needed to share it.more attention. There was never enough, but I realized there was a missing element and component in what I’d already learned, whichThat was really the motivation that I needed to stop and is when I went into the culinary field.make some changes. After I mentally made that shift in mymindset that that’s what needed to happen, my next step Going to culinary school really gave me an eye opener towas how am I going to make that happen? To make that how foods are made in a restaurant, whether it be five starhappen, that transformation, I had to get myself out of dining or one star dining. It just gave me a view into thatthat environment, and get myself into another one which lifestyle, if someone eats out a lot. What sauces are made of,required me educating myself. what certain dressings are made of, and how loads of salt are added to the foods.I started my education through schooling, which startedthrough nutritional consulting, and that really gave me a All of them together just really helped to round out mybasis on how food responds in the body. After I felt that I transformation and even being a wine consultant, I justjust needed to learn more, to really be able to educate really got an opportunity to see how everything workedsomeone else. together from my body, the wholistic health, the nutrition element, the learning. I drink wine and get that element too.After that I studied holistic health, which it really gave me That was my transformation, to take better care of myself.a window of physiology and anatomy, because the body With that knowledge I said, ”You know what, I want toprocesses food in such a way that we can either benefit empower my clients as well.” That transformation of mindfrom it or the body can reject it. Understanding how my and body lead me to helping women in the process.digestion system was working, how my lymphatic systemwas processing, waste out and circulating. Kharisma: Wow, what an amazing journey. I just love it. I mean, there’s so many women out there, and men too, but IOnce I got an understanding of that portion, which is the know your primary audience, your ideal audience is womenholistic health part, I just felt, well, I started something that you work with. A lot of them go through these thingsfor health so I needed to follow through, so I went to the and you had to go through that journey in order to help yourdoctor.The doctor put me on pharmaceuticals, because clients to also go through a transformation that you’re alsoonce I thought I was having an aneurysm and it was just that taking them to. How did you marry the travel aspect? Nowexcruciating for me. Once I was admitted to the ER and they you’ve done the holistic training, the gourmet... Now you’regave me a spinal tap, they gave me a CAT scan, and I a gourmet chef. How did you marry the travel aspect to it?was fine. Milan: The travel aspect came in because one of my clientsMy doctor said, ”You really need to monitor what is causing travels for work quite often. Actually, 40 percent of her lifeyour problems.” I connected it right back to stress, which was in travel, and when she would travel, we needed to keepthere are a lot of women who not only suffer from weight the program going. To me that was of the utmost importance,issues but also stress relate issues as well. That’s when my because I knew once she was no longer connected to me,study of herbalism came in. I have a background in herbalism, that momentum would be lost, and the motivation. We stillbecause I realized I didn’t want to be on pharmaceutical connected when she was on vacation. It was through Skype.

KHARISMA MAGAZINE { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } 178 I think most places have an internet connection somewhere, so we would No one connect through Skype. We would person will connect through email. I realized that get the same it was crucial, because a lot of people ex p e r i e n c e tend to work out before vacation, they go on a cleanse or they go on a from me. diet before vacation, and then when vacation comes, it’s like a free for all. You can eat as much as you can, eat as late as you want to. When you get back home, all the work that you’ve done to prepare for vacation, now you have to come back home to your reality, and do it all over again. Kharisma: It’s so true. Very true. Milan: If you have that connection going in that follows you from the beginning that was already helping you to the middle, and then to the end, then the transformation will be that much greater, because my packages are not dieting. I’m not giving people a cleanse that they can get on. Anyone can do that at any given time they want to. Cleansing and dieting, I think they’re good for a moment. Not dieting, but cleansing is good for a moment... Maybe it’s a moment of time, maybe a couple days, three at most, because the body still needs to function. It needs the right foods to function. Your body needs protein, your body needs carbohydrates. You need those foods. When the body’s deprived, then it’s not going to perform at its peak. When you’re dieting, that’s just restricting yourself all together. You’re restricting yourself from foods that you enjoy, foods that you love, foods

{ P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } KHARISMA MAGAZINE 179that you’ve become accustomed to. There are just so many unless if they have children or they’ve been married, thendifferent women and men in the world from different parts maybe they cook. If they’re career women, they don’t cookof the earth. You can’t tell a person from South Africa that or maybe they don’t enjoy to cook, or they don’t really knowyou can’t eat this, or you can’t tell a person who’s Asian who how. They have their certain staples that they cook andwants to be healthier or lose weight, you can’t tell them, that’s about it, and then the rest of the time they dine out,”Well you can’t eat this,” but this is part of their culture. because it’s easy. When that’s your lifestyle, which includesMaybe someone who’s... Say, take the culture out of it, and a travel component, you have to understand what dining outnow this is a religious issue. is really about: The experience. Maybe the person is Muslim, and they can’t eat this A lot of times we go out to eat, we get caught up into theparticular item, so how do you work with them? comradery, we caught up into just being around other people, and the atmosphere, and the music. You forget that,My packages are all transformative, and they’re oh my goodness, I’ve eaten a lot more than I should’ve eaten.individualized and unique to each and every different United States and some of the other countries may be slowlyperson I work with. No one person will get the same picking up that feeding style as well, but you no longer getexperience from me. small plates.Kharisma: Awesome. You get these large plates with food. In your mind, mentally you feel as if I have to eat all of this, and you really don’t. AMilan: I should say. lot of people, they’re eating more food than their body can actually process, or the wine comes first, and the food comesKharisma: I love that, so it’s customized and it’s holistic, later, and you’re drinking more wine, you’re consumingit’s a holistic approach in terms of the food that they eat, more and then the food comes.and the nutrients and all that sort of stuff. Especially whenthey travel to maintain that healthy lifestyle. It’s not like a Well, now you’re going to eat more because your food is ayo-yo diet. little salty because in restaurants, food is salted. The more salt is added into the food, it makes you want to drink more.Milan: Right. Of course you’re going to drink more wine. Now you’re getting calories and weight put on because of the addedKharisma: Do this for three days and then so on. sugars in some wines because of the processing of the wine or maybe how they’re created. You’re getting just extraMilan: Exactly. weight and you’re not even conscious of this.Kharisma: That, I mean, and that’s how it should be. It should The travel package is very comprehensive, because it takesbe a lifestyle. We should approach this as a lifestyle, because into account the woman that dines out as well.then it becomes part of our daily activities. It becomes partof who we are, really, which is important. Kharisma: That’s really good to know. Like you said, when you do travel as an entrepreneur, maintaining that healthyMilan: Exactly. I just want to make mention going back to lifestyle, usually slips at the bottom of the priorities. Thisthe vacation portion of the women who tend to travel a lot, is good to know. You are one of our contributors for theand even just thinking about this generation of women, the Kharisma magazine. Our audience can really get to learngeneration of women that... Maybe not necessarily I grew more about you and get to learn more from you throughup with, but there’s certain demographics of women who, your content. You’re contributing on a regular basis, so

KHARISMA MAGAZINE { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } 180 I’m really happy to have you aboard because this is an area that we as women entrepreneurs really need to take seriously, and really need to be mindful of. It’s not just about being successful in business, but is about our life and our lifestyle as well. The other thing is that this series is all about giving back to impact, so share a little bit with us how you are giving back to impact, whether it’s in your life or your business, or both. Milan: I was giving back and I rather mention, on a personal level in my life, I speak two languages. I’m fluent in English as well as in French. I’ve had an opportunity to meet individuals from so many different parts of the French speaking world. Whether they are from Canada, Montreal, France, Haiti, and even Africa. Giving back, I’ve had an opportunity to help individuals get acclimated within this country, through lifestyle, through direction and rather it be help raising their children in another country, being more responsible people in another part of the world. That’s one way I’ve really had an opportunity to give back to people. Kharisma: Share how our audience can reach you. Milan: You can reach me through several different ways. You can reach me through my Facebook page, which is Facebook.com/SoNaturelle. They could also find me through my LinkedIn page, LinkedIn.com/ In/Milan — M-I-L-A-N — then my last name, Perry. If they want to directly contact me, then there’s always my website, SoNaturelleWellness.com, or my email as well, [email protected]. Kharisma: Awesome, awesome, awesome. Thank you once again for being with us today, Milan. Milan: You’re welcome, thank you.

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KHARISMA MAGAZINE { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } 182 MONEY MINDSET MENTOR ​MEET D​ ENISE DUFFIELD-THOMAS​, A MONEY MINDSET MENTOR DARE TO FOR THE NEW WAVE OF ONLINE FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS. Her best-selling books “Lucky Bitch” and “Get Rich, Lucky Bitch” give a fresh and funny road-map to creating an outrageously successful life and business. Denise helps women release their fear of money, set premium prices for their services, and take back control over their finances. Denise is an award winning speaker, author, and entrepreneur who helps women transform their Economy-Class money mindset into a First-Class life.​

{ P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } KHARISMA MAGAZINE 183BE ICONIC

KHARISMA MAGAZINE { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } 184 Kharisma: Recently you did a re-brand of the Lucky B brand, and I really want to delve into that and share with our audience. Why did you decide to make a change after such an incredible, successful journey with the Lucky B brand? Denise: Yeah, it’s such a great question, and I think, the main thing for me when I started my business was that I am an introvert. It’s a big part of who I am, and I really wanted to find a brand that could give me a little bit of confidence. And it felt like not putting on a mask, but it gave me a little bit like a superhero cape. You know what I’m saying? And having a brand like Lucky B was very ... it was memorable. It was fun. It was funny. It was cheeky. All that kind of stuff. And I loved it and it really served me so well for a couple of years. But the last year or so, I started to not feel like it was not me anymore. And I’d spoken to a few of my business friends about it and a few of them had said, “Don’t change, it’s going great. Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.” But I felt like I just didn’t need it anymore. I didn’t feel like it was bad or it was wrong, or anything like that. I just felt like it wasn’t me anymore and I felt like I wanted to stretch to do something else. And it felt like the right decision, ‘cause I felt like I didn’t need a gimmick anymore. I could just be me. Kharisma: So were there any challenges? Did you have any doubt when that first came to you? You probably pondered over it for a while. Was there any doubt that you were making the right decision? Denise: Yeah, I did have a little bit of doubt because when something’s working well, sometimes it’s not a great thing to change it. And sometimes it can be a sabotage. You’ve probably seen this as well in your community; sometimes women sabotage their businesses by changing things up too often, right? I know I’ve seen it, and you go, “What are you doing?” Everything’s going well but they get bored. Or, they just sabotage themselves, and so they’re trying something new every two months. And I knew it wasn’t that. I didn’t feel like I was doing that. I didn’t feel like it was a sabotage. I felt like it was just more of an evolution, rather than breaking my business for the sake of breaking my business. And I think it’s okay to change something that’s working if you feel like it’s not really you anymore. But you’ve just gotta check in. Are you changing something every month because you’re scared? Or, you’re changing something because you’ve got a belief that it’s not good, or everyone’s seen it. Or something like that. I knew that, that wasn’t that for me. I knew

{ P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } KHARISMA MAGAZINE 185 it was probably just an evolution thing. Kharisma: So your brand, your business, everything that you built up to this point has been helping women. Especially with their money mindset. Removing those blocks. So what will be different in terms of the new brand, and the new way that you’re positioning yourself? Is that going to change? Or is it just more of a ... outer change in how you show up in the world? Denise: That’s such a great question and the truth is I don’t know yet. I knew that I wanted to change the top-line name. But how that’s going to filter down to everything I’m still figuring it out. And I’m giving myself the next couple of months to really sit in the question, “Who do I want to serve? How do I want to serve?” I know that money is a huge part of that because I’m such a passionate believer in women empowering themselves through money, and through entrepreneurship. So that’s not going to change. But I think some of the practical things that I might be talking about might shift a little bit. Instead of talking about “Oh, here’s what you should do with your pricing”. I think I might be looking at some slightly different angle of that about leadership and, “Who do you want to be in the world?” And there might be other people who are better at teaching the nuts and bolts of the pricing stuff, if that makes sense? So I think my lesson for other people is “Don’t pressure yourself that you have to have it all figured out. Some things will unfold and you have to give yourself space

186KHARISMA MAGAZINE { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } to ask those questions.” stuff, didn’t really resonate with them so I knew that even though I love the brand Lucky B, it had started to close a few doors for me in my next evolution, and I didn’t Kharisma: Besides the re-branding, want to just hold on tightly to that brand for no reason. It was like: “Oh. If it’s shutting is there a bigger vision that you this door, and this door, and this door, but that’s my next evolution then it’s time to have for yourself: Denise Duffield- let that go.” So, I think the vision’s coming together. Thomas? I’ve always loved and followed Oprah my whole life, but that doesn’t mean that I Denise: Yes. Well part of the re- aspire to be on TV, or to have that big an influence, because I want to figure out what brand actually was opening myself that means for me. I want to serve a lot of people but I don’t necessarily want to be to more traditional opportunities, famous, if that makes sense. So I’m still figuring that out. But my biggervision’s always because I want to publish a book with about empowering as many women across the globe as possible around their money, a traditional publisher, which we’re because I know that in negotiations for now. And the B that has such a brand, like the Lucky B stuff, didn’t positive impact on really resonate with them so I knew the planet when that even though I love the brand women have more Lucky B, it had started to close a few money. So, it’s just doors for me in my next evolution, made me bring and I didn’t want to just hold on that stuff a little bit tightly to that brand for no reason. more to the center It was like: “Oh. If it’s shutting of my business this door, and this door, and this rather than it being door, but that’s my next evolution a private goal. then it’s time to let that go.” So, I think the vision’s coming together. Kharisma: Awesome. That’s I’ve always loved and followed pretty amazing. Oprah my whole life, but that And I really love where you’re going with your new brand. So what would you say doesn’t mean that I aspire to be on to a woman entrepreneur who’s been wanting to make a shift of scale or scale the TV, or to have that big an influence, business to a different level, but has been doing something that has worked - like because I want to figure out what you’ve experienced - and is afraid to pull the trigger. What would you say to her? that means for me. I want to serve a lot of people but I don’t necessarily Denise: It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. I think that’s important as well, is that want to be famous, if that makes you don’t have to blow up your whole life and your whole business. Keep what’s sense. So I’m still figuring that out. working, and just tweak a few things as you go. It’s totally okay to evolve. It’s totally But my bigger vision’s always about okay to change and grow. empowering as many women across the globe as possible around their And I mean, you look at Madonna, right? She’s changed her image every couple money, because I know that that has of years, but the core of Madonna is still the same. Sometimes, the outward stuff such a positive impact on the planet changes and that’s okay. when women have more money. So, it’s just made me bring that stuff The other thing I want to say is that not everyone goes on the journey with you. a little bit more to the center of People who liked you at the start of your journey, some of them will evolve, as in, my business rather than it being a they’ll go along the journey with you. Other people they’ll just go, “You know what? private goal. She was in my life for a season,” and they’ll leave. And you can’t be afraid of that because all you can do is just get truer and truer to who you truly are and that’s Kharisma: Awesome. That’s pretty going to feel really great. amazing. And I really love where you’re going with your new brand. Kharisma: That’s awesome. Is there anything that may be presented to you that you So what would you say to a woman may not be open to consider? entrepreneur who’s been wanting

{ P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } KHARISMA MAGAZINE 187Denise: Yeah. I always filter things through, like, how I want to live my life. I’ve got just want to have more money thantwo young children. I want to have more kids. And so there’s certain opportunities them, and more money than them.”that I could do but they would make my life a bit harder. So I often say ‘no’ to travel, We’re about making our lives better,and I say ‘no’ to speaking gigs and things like that, because they just don’t fit in my and other people in our life, makingcurrent lifestyle. And it’s the same with things like doing TV. I really don’t aspire to their lives better too. And havingget up at four o’clock every morning to be in hair and makeup to sit on a morning TV time to smell the roses along theshow. That stuff just does not interest me at all. And also, I think my introvert side way. And do `yoga. And to help ourdoes not like it either. Yeah. So I’m okay to saying ‘no’ to stuff these days, but I think sisters. And to create a life fromsometimes I should say ‘yes’ a little bit more. Have you read the Shonda Rhimes richness, not just one piece of thebook The Year of Yes? piece being, “Oh, I’ve got tons of money but I’ve got no friends. I haveKharisma: No, but I heard it’s a really great book. no enjoyment. I have no spirituality practice.”Denise: It’s amazing. She talks about how she stopped saying ‘yes’ to opportunities. We’re not about that, so I thinkSo the trick is knowing what to say ‘yes’ to. What to say ‘no’ to. And that’s definitely that’s where my work is going next,my challenge as well. as well. It’s just about creating richness in all areas of your life, notKharisma: Wow, that’s a real strong point to make. Being open to say ‘yes’ to the just your finances.right opportunities and being strong enough to say ‘no’ to the wrong opportunitiesas well. And also having the discernment to know, which ones to say ‘yes’ to and, Kharisma: I love it. I love it. Andwhich ones to say ‘no’ to. So that’s pretty awesome. I think you’re also going to the clients that you already serve, orDenise: Exactly. Well my word for the year last year was discernment because I your audience that you alreadydidn’t have it. I always felt like I had to say ‘yes’ or, a blanket ‘no’. So that was a really have. I think you’ll definitely enjoygreat word of the year for me. My word for the year this year is ‘richness’. this journey that you’re going to take them on in the next leg of yourKharisma: I like that. life. So I think it’s an amazing place you’re going. I really do.Denise: And that’s not just about creating more money, it’s about creating richnessin other areas of my life as well not just work-related ones. Denise: Oh thank you. Thank you. And I think one of the best thingsKharisma: Okay. I love that word. It’s so juicy, actually. about making a pivot or a shift is when you get people to go, “Oh! Yes!Denise: It is, right? Because I think some people think sometimes - especially even This is great! I love this!” And thenmy work - they’re like, “Oh well, it’s just all about getting rich.” Yeah, but ‘richness’ you know what? You’ll get peoplemeans different things to different people, and I don’t think all women just want who’ll go, “Don’t love it. Bye.” Andto have as much as possible. That’s definitely a male thing, right? It’s like “Oh, I you have to just be okay with that. Kharisma: Yeah. That’s okay, too. Denise: Yeah. That’s okay, too. Kharisma: Exactly. So, in wrapping- up, is there any final words that you would say to audience when they are ready to make that shift? Or, anything relating to the blocks that may be facing them in their life, whether it’s money, whether it’s relationship, family, business. Any final words?

188KHARISMA MAGAZINE { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } Denise: Yes. Yes. When you want to do anything in life, listen the perfect mantra whenever you’re thinking about doing to that internal voice that tells you, you can’t. Just ask it a anything big in your life. couple of questions, “Why am I not allowed to have this?” And see what comes up. You might have excuses about, “Well Kharisma: Awesome. I love those final words. And how can I’m not allowed to have this because of my education. I’m our audience connect with you? not allowed to have this because [of] where I’m from. I’m not allowed to have this because of my family background.” And Denise: Well, I’m at denisedt.com. I’m also about to do a that gives you really valuable information, right? It gives you tour in America. I’m going to Dallas, L.A., Miami, and New valuable information on what beliefs that you have, that you York. So I would love to see people live. need to clear and to release. Because every woman, really, we should be asking ourselves, “Why not me? Why not me? Kharisma: Awesome. I can do it. Someone else can do it, I can do it, too.” And the world is really screaming-out at the moment for diverse Denise: Yes! I know! I would love to see all of your community voices. So, couple of years ago, it’s like, “Well, there’s one live in one of those events, and that’s the best place to see leader.” Now, because of the technology, we have to be able me. to find our tribe online, find the people who love us online, not just in our neighborhood, it’s like, “Well, why not me? I Kharisma: It’s such an honour to have you here, and I know can have a voice like anyone else.” that the substance that you’ve offered us today is really going to be profound and inspiring and transformational. And so you have to just give yourself permission to step Thank you for taking the time out to speak with me today, up and to be you, because somebody really, really needs to and to share your thoughts in the Kharisma Magazine. hear it from you. And they need to see your face. And they need to hear your words saying it. So, “Why not me?” is just Denise: Thanks Kharisma!



KHARISMA MAGAZINE { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } 190 service to others IS THE rent you pay for your room here on earth.

{ P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } KHARISMA MAGAZINE 191- muhammad ali

921 GIVING BACK

«Saving one dog will not change the world but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever» TO DO NATEm a r l e y s m u t t s . o r g /d o n a t e /

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{ P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } KHARISMA MAGAZINE 195 s humans, we have various goals. Some of us want to be successful in business. Some of us want to attain fame. Some of us want to change the world. All of these aims are metrics through which we measure our success. What if, instead, we measured our success by how much we gave back to others? Often, there are misconceptions about needing a lot of wealth or political influence to help others. I’m here to tell you a beautiful story I experienced in India... one that proves that we can give back without having much ourselves. While I was walking around the city of Ahmedabad with my father, an 18- year old boy named Babu Rajwadi approached us, asking if he could polish our shoes in exchange for two rupees. For those of you who may not know, two rupees is equivalent to roughly $0.03. Of course, both my father and I agreed to let him polish our shoes. Two rupees is close to nothing, and I’m a firm believer in helping out those who are less fortunate than I am, especially when they are working hard to positively change their futures. As soon as my father and I nodded in approval for Babu to polish our shoes, a look of excitement flashed across his face. He was endlessly proud at his success in landing a new “job.” Not wanting to let the opportunity pass,Ahe quickly pulled out a broken brush and a tiny can of black shoe polish from a rolled up grocery bag in his pocket. It was obvious that Babu was dirt poor. Poverty in India is pretty widespread. It is not uncommon for people to ask you to give them money in exchange for carrying out random tasks. There was something different about this kid from everyone else I had seen in the past, though. Babu started thanking BACK

KHARISMA MAGAZINE { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } 196 “aHemhtahodrteheearbn,drottwh money in exchange for carrying out random tasks. There was something different about this kid from everyone else I had seen in the past, though. Babu started thanking us for the opportunity we had given so they all him as he started polishing the shoes. He spent a solid five to ten minutes making sure that he did a thorough job of removing every single mark on each shoe. During that time, we chatted with Babu about his life. It turns out that the boy had lost his father just a few years earlier, due to health problems. As a result, Babu was reliedofficially considered the “head of his household.” He had a mother, three brothers, and two sisters. He was the oldest out of his brothers and sisters, so they all relied on him for support. His entire family was struggling financially. Yet,he on him”had avision of one day buying a special box filled with all types of shoe laces, threads, and coloured polishes so he could offer his services to more customers and make additional money to support his family. Out of curiosity, my father and I asked Babu how much the special box of shoe materials would cost. He practically had the number memorized. “900 rupees,” Babu spurted out. I was sure I heard the number wrong. “Did you say 900 rupees?” I asked. 900 rupees is only about $13.20 – basically what the average Westerner spends on a meal at a restaurant. “How much of the 900 rupees do you have?” we inquired. “I make about 50 rupees total every day, and I have to use that money to pay for my bus fare and buy food for my

{ P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } KHARISMA MAGAZINE 197oerssisters...family, so I’m not able to save anything,” Babu responded. when he was saying that his father passed away or that he had“How much more money could you make if you had that very little money, not once did he even show signs of negativespecial box full of shoematerials?” thinking. Instead, he seemed grateful for“I could easily make up to everything he had.300 rupees per day. Rightnow, most people don’t He talked about howtrust me to polish their amazing his momshoes since I only have one was. He bragged aboutbroken brush.” Without any how great his youngerfurther hesitation, my father brother was becomingand I made up our minds to at polishing shoes. Ibuy the shoe materials that think most people in hisBabu needed to expand his situation would sit backbusiness. and feel sorry about how unlucky they were. BabuI honestly thought Babu was lived such a simple andgoing to break down in tears humble life, but one filledwhen we told him what we with the most happinessplanned to do. We all went I have seen in a very longtogether to a small shoe time. This story just goesstore and bought everything to show how simple thehe needed. Before we parted act of giving back can be.ways, Babu also asked me ifhe could see a dollar bill from There is no need to bethe United States. He had never seen one, and he thought it flashy about it –but evenwould be a great gift for his mother. a seemingly insignificant donation of your money, time, or physical effort could change someone’s life. Babu will leaveAfter being able to spend that much time with Babu and behind his legacy as an entrepreneur.hear his story, I have no doubt that he will be successfulin the future. His work ethic was unique. If you ask me, a$14 investment to potentially turn somebody’s life aroundis worth every single penny. What I thought was mostremarkable about Babu’s story was the fact that I did not hearhim complain once in the time that we spent with him. Even

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{ P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } KHARISMA MAGAZINE 199 HOW THOUSANDS OF RESCUED DOGS ARE BEING GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE Share a bit about T​he ​Animal Hope and Why is rescuing dogs from the horrific Asian Dog Meat Wellness Foundation. Trade important to you and your foundation? The Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation: It The Asian Dog Meat Trade has become the focus of our is not just a foundation. It is everything that I foundation. While a dog is no more different or special then, am, who I want my children to grow up to be, per say, a chicken or a pig. I believe what makes this trade and the hope I see in their future. more horrific then the factory farming industry in our own country, is that they are stealing people’s pets, which, to What we do as an organization, I believe it is some, are their family members. unique in comparison to other movements. The power in what we do, it lies in the sacrifice More then that, in Asia they believe if you torture the dog we choose to make; going undercover into first, that it makes the meat more tender or adds a special slaughterhouses, in an effort to bear witness so health benefit to those whom eat it. other people can see the truth. Imagine if someone stole your dog that you considered your While our media is difficult to follow, while the child, not only killed it for food, but tortured it first. This movement we represent is hard for most people is why we are so devoted to raising awareness in regards to bear, it is the truth that brings justice to the to the dog meat trade, and pushing for legislative change animals. If no one sees it, it makes it not real. within these countries. What was the journey that led you to open​The​ In your​Petstaurant,​​you u​ se dietary changes, herbs, and Animal​Hope​and Wellness Foundation? homeopathy to cure ailments and help animals suffering from diseases​. Why do believe this type of approach is I do not think anyone ever says they are going beneficial to animals? to start a foundation. I think, in time, that you grow to become it. I believe in balance. In my profession, I work with the health issues of both people and animals. When it comes to humans, Like most people, I had a hard time finding doctors and practitioners are evolving to understand that myself. I believe it is the struggles that we bear, medication is not the answer to everything. the lessons we learn, that teach us how to be better. When it comes to animals, veterinarians seem to be living in the dark ages. Much of what they do involves suppressing Our foundation, we focus on cruelty and abuse symptoms so you cannot see the issue. In time, the situations. And we use the suffering that we suppression no longer works, and animals owners become see in the world, and the individual souls that frustrated trying to find answers. survive it as the centerpiece upon which we teach compassion and inspire others to be At the Petstaurant, we focus on trying to find the root of more human. the issue. We ask questions, we look at symptoms, and weBACK

KHARISMA MAGAZINE { P R E M I E R I S S U E 2 0 1 8 } 200 ”WHEN IT COMES TO ANIMALS, VETERENARIANS SEEM TO BE LIVING IN THE DARK AGES” consult with owners on what they are doing, how they are The theme of our premiere issue is called Committed feeding, and specific things that might be throwing off their to Giving Back. Why do you think it is important for animals immune system. individuals and companies to integrate giving back into their business​and life? From there, we use diet change as a means to naturally medicate the body; utilizing supplements and herbs to The fabric of society— it lies in our ability to give. To be combat and remedy areas where a dog or cat might be having human. To be compassionate. I am an ethical vegan, which issues. Some people think I do not believe in medication. means I choose not to eat animals, not for health reason - That is not true. It is the over-medication that I do not but specifically to save lives. Whether you give a piece of believe in. And just like human beings, if we eat a certain yourself to an animal, a child, a woman, or someone who is way and take care of our bodies, many times the answers starving... If we do not give back, then how can there ever be await. hope for humanity? I know rescuing dogs and animals has it’s rewards and I see the utter madness in the living. I walk into killfloors challenges, and can be very emotional at times. How do you where they not only slaughter animals, but torture them. handle these range of emotions when you lose an animal to Still at the same time, I believe in humanity so much, and abuse or neglect or not being able to save them in time​?​ ​ that at the end of the day, there are more people who give instead of just take. I do not think you handle it. I believe you become who you need to be, in the moments that you need to be it. What is a​ day in the life of Marc Ching like​?​​ In the work that we do, happiness is not something that you I spend most of my time working. I run a twenty-four hour find. There are no winners, no way to offset the darkness. I free practice for animals. I also own a number of other think it is the breaking of the heart, and the way in which business. At night, I work overseas running programs in we die, that makes us give even more of who we are to the other countries, and trying to work with government to animals. bring about legislative change. In the day, after I get home from work, my heart lies there on the floor with my children. Sometimes I feel like I have been suffering for such a long time, that I feel like I was born as darkness. Hopefully, in No matter how hard of a day I am having, no matter the blood time, the goals that we set at the foundation are achieved, that spills out of my heart, they are my hope, my humanity, so I can go back to doing something that does not require my freedom. I love them so much. And while I miss so many bearing witness to those that die. things that are important to them, rescuing dogs on the other side of the world...I believe that when they are older, ​How has this type of work impacted and change your life?​ that they will understand the sacrifice made. That it was for them, for the world they have to live in. Going undercover into hundreds of different slaughterhouses, it has literally destroyed my life. This is What’s your vision for the next 2 - 5 years? not a job for me. I do not get paid. This is me trying to save myself. Every time I hold the dying in my arms, I feel as if My vision for the next 2 to 5 years, is to be the best person I am saving my own children. My whole entire family has that I can be. Visionaries do not see, they live. Everyday I become a victim. My wife. My son, Brendon. My daughter, look at my hands, and think, how can I use them to build Kyrsten. something in the sky that is beautiful.