We were lucky to catch up with Barbara Neznek recently and have shared our conversation below.
Barbara, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I would have to say from my Dad. He was in an accident 2 years before I was born. There were 7 people in the car, he was the only one who survived. He lost the use of his right arm though. He owned a moving and storage company, so he made a living driving a truck and moving furniture, he never complained and worked as long and hard as his men. He laced our ice skates, zippered our dresses, clasped our necklaces. As children we did not know about the accident or that our Father had what some would consider a disablilty. He was willing to try anything. He even taught himself to bowl left handed and won trophies in a league. He built a good business and we lived well.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a registered herbalist, which means I had to complete a 7 year apprenticeship and pass a very rigorous exam. I continue to read, research and study and talk to people in my field. I am also a Shamanic Practitioner. I completed all of the Foundation for Shamanic Studies core course as well as Sandra Ingerman’s two year teacher training in Scotland. I am on the Board of Directors of our Regional Shamanic Practitioners Association. I see clients on a regular basis and do a lot of teaching. I really enjoy helping people learn how to stay spiritually, emotionally and physically well. I grow most of the herbs used in my practice and enjoy teaching people how to grow and use medicinal plants and food as medicine.
I really believe in working for the good of our Community and am also involved in creating public or charitable events.
I am a Cornell Master Gardner and Currently on the Board of our County Cooperative extension.
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?
I have a dear friend who is a gifted psychic and very well known locally. She said that so many people who have “Holistic” businesses pray to the Fairies that their businesses are successful but never develop a business plan. I think it is ok to pray to the Fairies, it won’t hurt, but I ran a Moving Company for 30 years and have been able to apply business knowledge to my Holistic business. I also was very lucky because I always found such amazing teachers both in my pursuit of Herbal learning and Shamanism.
I think the most important skill though is too stay humble and never think you know everything, that there is always more things and ways you can learn.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
People don’t think that I ever get overwhelmed, because a big part of what I do is work with people who are overwhelmed, by illness, sadness, loss. I do though sometimes. I try to teach people that in most cases, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure so I plan time for activities that are just totally enjoyable. I go to the Beach with my family in July. I celebrate, really celebrate, all 12 days of Christmas I spend a week in the spring and a week in the fall with my Mother in North Carolina. I have a great group of friends and we support each other through everything. God told Moses to ask Miriam and a couple of other people to be his inner circle, basically he was saying, “this will be hard, get yourself a group!” I learned to say no. That was the hardest thing. I have always felt blessed, I was smart and had a ton of energy and was loved and thought it was my responsibility to use those gifts to make the world better. I think at one point I was on 6 Community service boards and in addition to my own 5 children had 3 others living with me. I still do believe the world can only be as good as we are willing to work for but have learned to focus my energy on a few projects at a time rather then spread myself too thin.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.willowtreewisdom.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WillowTreeWisdom/
