We recently connected with Briana Gallo and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Briana, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
I believe confidence and self-esteem is developed naturally when you are able to do something you love. I have been fortunate in life to be able to follow my passion. I wear many hats when it comes to my profession. I am an international photographer, I lead local retreats here in CA and cultural immersion experiences in Nepal, Ethiopia, Japan and Oaxaca, and I am a pilates instructor. Every hat I put on requires a quiet strength so that I can empower those around me. It doesn’t matter if I’m on a photo shoot or in the pilates studio, I use my passion for what I do to make people comfortable and relaxed. Do I have moments where I’m dying and I feel my self esteem running away, of course. When this happens I take a deep breath and remind myself that those around me are probably way more nervous than I am so I channel my nerves into helping them feel confident. With a gentle smile and some encouraging words I can move forward with confidence. Over half the time the encouraging words I share with others are really geared toward my inner self.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I have loved photography since I was a little girl. I was an only child. When I would travel with my family I would borrow my dads camera and go take pictures. I used the camera as a way to meet people. Fast forward 40 years, I am an international photographer. I have a business, Driftwood Adventure Treks, where I lead cultural immersion experiences in Nepal, Japan, Ethiopia and Oaxaca. When COVID hit my travel business came to a screeching halt. I had to get creative. Because I enjoy working with people I decided to go for my Pilates certification. I have been teaching yoga for years, loved pilates but never thought about teaching it. I decided to give it a go and fell in love! I suddenly found myself with a new passion in my late 40’s. Travel is slowly starting to pick up, however my destinations are very far away and not only hard to get to the trips require people to be away from work and their families for up to 3 weeks. This fall I ran a local retreat for women in Idyllwild, it was magical! We had a private chef, I taught yoga/pilates every morning, we hiked and enjoyed Reiki, a sound bath with a Shamanic Healer. the focus of the weekend was more than just a weekend away. We really focused on what our journey is and what it can be. So many of us are in a “rut”, it’s very important to take time to explore where we are and where we are going. You can’t forget your inner self – day after day most women find that they give, give, give, but when it comes to themselves they have nothing left. My retreats reintroduce you to your inner self through adventure, great food and like minded individuals. The fall retreat sold out within a few weeks. I am so excited to be running another one the weekend of Feb 9 in Idyllwild, CA.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
3 qualities or skills? You have to believe in yourself. You have to be OK with change. Be able to ask for help. Starting something new, or just stepping in a new direction can be scary. You have to believe in YOU! No one else can do what you do. If you truly believe that you can do anything. As you begin your journey things may be all roses, until they aren’t. When this happens you have to be able to look down every avenue and be open to change. Every road has a different ending, if we all just stay on the same path that path will eventually get old and worn. If we are open to different paths, different conversations our world can open up in so many different directions. It’s important to keep your goal and your idea pure and not let things get too fuzzy, but with this in mind be open to exploring different paths. See where they take you.
Along the way always be open to asking for help. There will be a point where you feel like you are stuck and you can’t get out of your own way, ask for help. It’s OK. My opening the door for help you will find that not only do you get more done, you meet some pretty amazing like minded people along the way!
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I would LOVE to collaborate with like minded individuals for my local retreats. I have run group experiences focusing on photography, cultural immersion, yoga both here in the US and abroad. I just recently ran a women’s retreat in Idyllwild, CA – it was amazing! I collaborated with a private chef, a sound bath/Shamanic healer team, and a Reiki Master. My focus was to give women a weekend full of self reflection, adventure and “me time”. I find that when I am running a retreat my focus needs to be on the grey area, that’s where the magic happens. What’s the grey area? That’s the times that we aren’t engaged in an activity, that’s the time when meaningful conversations are had creating magical moments that will last forever. I’m looking to grow my local retreats to different locations as well as a variety of different experiences. If anyone feels like they would like to see more about my experiences and retreats and possibly collaborate they can email me at [email protected]
Contact Info:
- Website:www.driftwoodadventuretreks.com
- Instagram: @driftwoodadventuretreks
- Facebook: @driftwoodadventuretreks
