We were lucky to catch up with Mary Blank recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mary, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

Ah! Risks. A topic I could discuss for hours.
Seven years ago I made one of the hardest, scariest decisions of my life, and that was to leave everything I had ever known. My home, my family, my community, my culture. Being born and raised in the Amish community, I had my whole life story planned out by everyone around me. At the time, I certainly didn’t know any different. It’s what I was used to. Living life the simple way, without technology, electricity, cars…it’s where we learned to create our own entertainment. It was beautiful!
Until I started asking questions and not being able to get answers from anyone, sending me down an empty, dark, and lonely path. How can something I thought to be true suddenly be shattered and affect the very core of my being? Insecure. Unsure of anything and everyone around me.
But I found God in the midst of my questioning. I found parts of myself I had not known. And just like that, everything changed…

5 months later:
Long story short, on a cold January morning I found myself standing alone in the airport, ready to fly to California for six months to be involved with a non-profit organization.
I stood there frozen in fear, my heart wrenched on the inside, as I waited to get through security. Loads of grief and deep pain as I fought back tears, knowing this was the official goodbye to my old self. To what I knew. Even more than that, it was seeing the pain this decision caused my family. So much misunderstanding.
What if I’m making the biggest mistake of my life? But what if it’s the best thing that’s ever happened? I don’t know anyone, and I’m starting from zero, what if I can’t make it? But what if there is so much more to be discovered?
Suddenly I felt wrapped in peace, and a small voice saying, there’s people and places waiting on the other side for you. And there was. It was the best 6 months, filled with healing, rediscovery, relearning, and adventure.

Take the jump! Scary as heck, yes, but with that always comes a life full of purpose.

I came back home 6 months later a completely different person. Ready to take on the world. Transition to three years later, I made another big change. Moving to the city of Philadelphia, which had always intrigued me but I never thought this would be possible. I had a comfortable job which I loved, had friends, built community, had my fun photography side hustle, and everything I needed. But I felt stuck. Knowing where I wanted to be, yet feeling like it was so far from reach. Financially it didn’t make sense for me to move to a much more expensive place, live by myself, and figure out how to be in business full time. But deep down I knew change was needed in order to thrive. And I refuse to ever allow myself to just exist.

So I jumped. Scary as heck, yes! Hard work, yes! Fulfilling YESSSS!

Mary, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Mary, I’m the founder of Windborne Co., a creative production agency for tourism, entertainment and hotel brands from all over the world. We provide video production, photography, talent casting, and crew management for their ads, campaigns, social platforms, and website. Basically we help their visions take flight.

Soon after I moved to Philly, I discovered my passion for the hospitality industry, and that ignited something in me to go after it. I blended two things I was passionate about, photography and hospitality, which over time started going more of the producer, video production route. With that, photography will always be my baby and something I create! :)

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

There were so many times I thought I’m going to need to shut down my business. It was stress, nights of not being able to sleep, going on miles of walks to think clearly, screaming on the inside. It was in the rest, crying, and quiet where I always found the breakthrough.

Resilience requires for you to be in an uncomfortable stage. To question. To hold space and be present with your reality.
Resilience requires determination. Determination to run towards change. To push yourself over and over again in many different ways. Some days its stronger. Other times its a long and quiet process. Consistency is key.

And then there are times where it requires you to see with crystal clear eyes. Face the truth. Face the things you are terrified to face. (let’s be honest, alot of times is your own self)
Resilience is embracing the process. Giving space for discomfort to be felt. Giving space to sit in those moments of painfully deep silence.

It’s being comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The number one thing I had to unlearn was my work ethic. And I didn’t even realize it until just recently.

The Amish community puts their all into work ethic. Just like having a college degree used to be a BIG deal, this was their big deal. It’s their identity.
I put my whole value in working hard, and if I didn’t show up every single day at my absolute best, I was already losing.

There was a few months starting in December where I wasn’t able to sleep. I faced so much anxiety for no reason except I was miserable and nearing burnout. But I forced myself to keep going until I crashed. Completely at loss for what to do, I started asking myself what’s really going on.
And I realized the truth.

It’s only been the last 6 months where I have been working on restructuring that mindset. Right now, there are lots of days where rest and logging off early is the most productive. And I started giving grace for days where I did not show up the best.

I’m a huge believer when something is off, ask yourself what is really going on. You might be surprised what actually comes up…most times it’s something we might not want to face, believe, or change about ourselves.

But then the question remains…do you want to just exist or to live fully?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://windborneco.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/windborneco/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryblank-/

Image Credits

Profile image: @vienna_photographer