Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Gen Obolensky of Clearwater, Fl

We recently had the chance to connect with Gen Obolensky and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Gen, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
A moment that made me really proud was when my daughter started a small side business arranging and selling succulents at a local farmers market. She came up with the idea herself, handled the setup, and interacted so confidently with customers. Watching her take initiative, be creative, and manage the responsibility of running her own little business was incredibly rewarding as a parent. It reminded me how much pride there is in seeing someone you care about step into their own potential.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Gen Obolensky, and I own Botanica Day Spa in Clearwater. At Botanica, we’re focused on holistic wellness—mind, body, and beauty. We take a high-touch, deeply connected approach using natural, clean beauty lines. Our goal is to create an experience that feels nurturing and intuitive, where clients feel cared for and supported in their overall wellness, not just their appearance.

What I love most is being able to help people feel beautiful, both inside and out.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One moment that profoundly shaped the way I see the world was traveling to South Africa in 2008. It was the first time I had experienced a Third World country firsthand, and it opened my eyes in a way nothing else ever had. I saw communities living with so little—basic resources we take for granted like clean water, stable electricity, or consistent access to education. Yet, despite the hardships, there was a resilience, joy, and sense of connection among people that deeply moved me.

That trip shifted something in me. It reminded me not only to be grateful but to be more intentional about how I move through the world, how I give back, and how I engage with others. It sparked a deeper sense of responsibility in me to live consciously, with compassion and awareness.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I’ve learned far more from suffering than from success. In many ways, I believe that life is suffering—not in a negative or hopeless sense, but as a fundamental truth. Challenges, pain, setbacks—they’re not detours from life, they are life. Our minds are wired to seek comfort, to avoid discomfort, to resist problems. But growth doesn’t happen in comfort. It happens in the stretch, the break, the rebuild.

What suffering has taught me is that pain with purpose is powerful. If you’re going to suffer—and you will—make it meaningful. Let it shape you, sharpen you, teach you. Don’t waste it on things that don’t matter.

Success often feels good, but it’s suffering that humbles you, refines your perspective, and connects you to others in a real way. It’s where empathy is born, and where resilience is built. I don’t welcome pain, but I don’t fear it anymore either—because I’ve seen how it can serve something bigger if you let it.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
Someone I truly admire for their character is Martha Stewart. Beyond the brand and the fame, what stands out to me most is her work ethic. She’s someone who isn’t afraid to roll up her sleeves and get her hands dirty—literally and figuratively. Whether it’s in the garden, the kitchen, or building an empire, she shows up with grit, vision, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

What I love about her is that she doesn’t pretend things are effortless—she embraces the process, the mess, the discipline behind beauty and success. She’s both refined and rugged, elegant and tough, and that balance really speaks to me. It reminds me that true success isn’t about shortcuts; it’s about showing up, doing the work, and owning your craft with pride.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I found out I had only 10 years left, the first thing I’d probably stop doing is obsessing over eating healthy—honestly, I’d go straight for the bread basket and donuts . But more importantly, I’d let go of anything that felt like a box I was trying to fit into. I’d stop chasing perfection, stop overthinking, and stop saying “yes” out of obligation.

I’d travel, eat the cake and spend as much time as I could with the people I love. All that “corny stuff” we push aside in the day-to-day? That would become the priority. Because in the end, it’s the simple, deeply human moments—connection, adventure, presence—that matter most.

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