Thanksgiving...The Almost Forgotten Holiday

I believe that people come into our lives for a reason, even if just for a little while…they cross our path for a certain purpose…we may not always know why, but they play a role, be it big or small, and for an instant or for a lifetime, it makes an impact. Sometimes these people are merely acquaintances that we look back on fondly… and sometimes they are those who are life changers… the people that help us discover what we want, how we want to live or what we want to be. I had a Junior High School music teacher who influenced me in such a positive way musically, that I wanted to make music my career and went on to major in music in college. He was a mentor in every sense of the word. He has owned the infamous Shuff’s Music in Franklin, TN for almost 40 years and is still going strong. Music was my first love and is a huge part of my soul…if not for him, I may not have had some of the incredible experiences that were yet to come in my musical life.

Many years later and about fifteen years ago, I went to get a facial at the place that I had been to several times. The girl that I had seen was no longer there, so I booked with another Aesthetician. To be quite frank… the previous girl was pretty good, but I was an exhausted, stressed and highly tense corporate girl… so I just looked forward to laying down and having someone rub on me in a peaceful room. That day, I had the best facial that I could remember… I couldn’t quite pinpoint it, but this girl was different. So, from then on I booked with her. I remember always looking forward to getting off of the road and heading to that facial. This person had a touch, an ability to get me to relax, an unexplainable demeanor… and my skin never looked better! When she changed locations, I followed her… I told my friends about her, and they started to book as well. Over the years we became friends and in my appointments, I found her to be someone I could talk to… bless her heart… I dumped my divorce, career stress, and personal struggles on her while she was trying to do her job… but her advice was always whole hearted, loving and confidential.

I was driving back to Nashville, after a long work week, with nearly two decades of Corporate stress, that had accumulated upon my last nerve… and I realized that I was literally spent. I was at my whits end with my career… but as a single gal… you can’t just give your notice and pray to the “career gods” that something fabulous would just fall in your lap. I was doing very well and had climbed the corporate ladder to a position that a lot of people would have given anything for… that is, until that shoe is on that foot. I knew that there was nothing about my career that I loved, that inspired me or that made me excited to get out of bed in the morning. I was doing it for the money… and it owned me. I felt pressure like never before, and all I knew was that I had a facial at 3:00, and come hell or high water… I was going to get back to Nashville… I knew that just for that time, I could turn my brain, (and my phone) off and zone out… then, I would get right back to my dilemma, and the numerous messages that I would need to return.

That afternoon, my whole life changed. I remember waiting in the lobby, thinking how peaceful it was and how amazing it would be to work in that world. I loved everything about it. Over the years, I had become so passionate about skincare, as I learned more and more about it. Once I got in to the facial, it didn’t take her two seconds to read exactly where I was. The discussion went from my career dilemma, to aesthetics…. I knew I loved skincare… but had never even thought… my corporate mind would never have allowed me to go there. She told me that she was about to expand her business, and that she was looking for a winner… my wheels started turning and I asked her everything I needed to know… I would have to go to school for a year, if I could find availability in a program, take my state boards, get my state license and build a clientele…. no quick and easy feat. It would mean about 18 months before I would see a real income. She had faith in me and offered the chance but wanted me to take time and really think. I knew in that moment, exactly what I wanted… and my 401k, pension, corporate salary, bonuses, commissions, expense account, car allowance, gas card, benefits and who knows what else, would NOT distract me. In less than a day, my mind was made up. I think I threw her off guard by making the decision so quickly… but when you are done, you’re done. It took me all of 24 hours to make sure I could cover myself financially, I prayed and I called her… and, I walked away from Corporate America… and the rest, as they say, is history.

For six years I have been practicing Aesthetics and I have never looked back… not once. I am doing what I love… what I was meant to do… and I am living. I am a different person than that crazy girl in a suit, stuck in the “glamorized” corporate rat race. I took the biggest leap of my life… I put it all on the table… because of her. I knew I could trust her and I knew I could do it. There was nothing easy about that 18 months, but it flew by. Over the years, I have learned from her, I have grown with her and I am proud to call her my boss and my dear friend. She is Nasi Hugh, the owner and lifeblood of Skin MB Medspa and truly, the most talented Aesthetician, with more experience in the Medical Spa business, than anyone in Nashville. She has built a business and a team that I love. She is my mentor, and all I can say is thank you… oh, and also… I’m really glad that other girl quit, fifteen years ago… because I met this Aesthetician named Nasi, and little did I know, in that first facial all those years ago, that I met her for a reason… she was going to offer me an opportunity to change my life… and now, the sky is the limit. Here’s to the people out there who pave the way, who don’t even know that maybe one day, they will make a life changing impact on someone… trust me, it happens.

Xx,

Mary