Meet Marsha Tessler: Marsha Tessler & Karen Rogowski /Directors – My Safe Harbor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marsha Tessler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marsha, what role has risk played in your life or career?
TAKING RISKS -What role has taking risks played in your life & career Marsha’s Story I Spent many years living in an exceedingly difficult situation. I was not a risk taker and did not have the courage to make a change. I stayed stuck in a situation out of fear. I created a fear that was so great in my mind of the unknown it caused me to be paralyzed against acting and taking the risk. I realized one day that I am the daughter of immigrant parents. They came to this country not knowing the language, not having a home to go to and not knowing what would happen to them. All they knew was that they had to take a chance to find a better place and better opportunities to improve their lives. They took the risk. I thought about what they must have felt and the fear of the unknown. They only knew they had to create a better life for themselves and their family. The knowledge that my parents took their risks – and succeeded beyond their dreams – helped me to get up the courage to follow in their footsteps and take the risk I knew I had to take. I learned if you take a chance and envision what you want to accomplish and believe in what you do than the risk is worth taking. I found that if I took the chance and stepped out of my comfort zone, I could make a difference and make things happen for myself and others. My care and enthusiasm about what I believed and my passion about helping others in need inspired me to start my own organization. With each success came a new confidence. I found that I was passionate about making a difference and created my non-profit MY SAFE HABOR, a helping hand to those in need. I learned when I had the courage to reach out for support, I was met with great success. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. Marsha & Karen, together as a team are virtually unstoppable in feeding the hungry. They are dedicated and passionate to their cause and help to make a difference in other people’s lives. TAKING RISKS -What role has taking risks played in your life & career Karen’s Story In any given moment we have two options: To step forward into growth or to step back into safety – Abraham Maslow I am a Capricorn so I LOVE stability and control. But learning to step outside my comfort zone has presented people and places I would have never encountered otherwise. It is a scary endeavor, to take risks, but the reward on the other side is ultimately worth the effort. It hasn’t always been a check mark in the “Win” column but there is still the reward of the lesson and what has been learned. I am a student of LIFE and will consider anything that may contribute to my personal and professional growth. If we don’t take risks, we jeopardize becoming stagnant. This state of mind can create anger and frustration which we can direct at others, when it should be directed at ourselves. Taking risks eliminates that attitude. So with time comes confidence. I started my own spiritual healing practice which is still in the growing stages, but I have put myself out there to help others learn more about themselves for their lives to flourish. After assisting Marsha with many My Safe Harbor events, she asked if I would like to be a Director. Knowing that the experience would be challenging but immensely rewarding, I said yes wholeheartedly. Stepping outside of ourselves to help others is highly gratifying and the gratitude from those we help is just priceless. Actress Sherri Shepherd didn’t know if she would compete on Dancing With The Stars. When her son asked her why she didn’t want to do it, she said she was scared. He said, “You should just do it scared.” So that’s what I do……..I Do It Scared.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The hardest part of taking a risk is getting started. Do what a friend advised me to do is “Just get started.” Start small with a plan and talk to others about what you want to do. You are gong to have to make changes along the way. Those who have taken this journey know that nothing is perfect from the start. Before you know it, you are on the road to success and it does not seem like it was so hard after all. Believe in your passion and visualize your success. Anything is possible if you “Just Believe.”

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
MY Safe harbor is dedicated to honor the memory of my Parents. Through much tragedy and hardship, they always forged ahead and never gave up. I have accomplished so much because of their influence, strength, and guidance. Also, I would like to honor my two amazing daughters. They stood by me through the most challenging of times. They were also my inspiration in starting an organization to help children in need. Because of them I strived to be a mother and woman they could be proud of.

Website: www.mysafeharborflorida.org

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