Meet Marea Michele | Mental & Emotional Wellness Professional & Writer

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

Hi Marea, how do you think about risk?
I’ve always felt extremely comfortable taking risk. Not to say that fear and uncertainty haven’t crept in, but never to a point where I’m unwilling to take a chance. From a young age, I’ve known great reward comes through risk. Over the years, I’ve learned to use my intuition and discernment in both personal and professional risk assessment. That serves me well.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I created Beautiful Banyan Institute for Healing and Growth-Work, to support others in doing the work to be their best selves. The center is located in Marietta, GA and is a community of women and men of all ethnicities, career paths and spiritual beliefs, on the path of self-discovery and healing & growth. The classes, courses and resources available are designed to offer the most immersive and supportive learning experiences.

While I hold several certifications, many of which are used in other therapy practices, what sets Beautiful Banyan apart is that I teach from lived experiences; from proven personal success. I can relate to those I serve, because we have similar experiences. I am proud of the work I’ve put in to have my life be what it is today and I am grateful and honored to be able to share what I’ve learned with others.

Nothing about my my journey has been easy but every bit of it has been worth it. I’ve learned so many valuable lessons along the way, but the one that continually supports me is that change is not only a part of life, it’s one of life’s greatest blessings.

To get to where we are destined to be, many many doors are necessary and the work, is preparing ourselves for the change that each of those doors require. Each time I’m facing a new door there’s a range of emotions and the one that overshadows them all, is gratitude. Not in anticipation for something better, but that the doors that were specifically crafted for me…are there, awaiting my arrival. Grateful that when I’ve reached the level of alignment and maturity to stand before them, I have the capacity and wisdom…to open them.

My hope is that the work I’m doing at Beautiful Banyan is not reflected through brand recognition, but through a surplus of changed lives, healthy self-love, healthy supportive relationships and mental & emotional well-being in people who can in turn, be a light in their communities and circles.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Depending on the friend of course, this itinerary may change up a bit but here we go…

Breakfast: Mary Mac’s Tea Room and Cafe 458
People Watching: Little Five Points and Piedmont Park
Lunch: Capers Restaurant & Bar and Catfish Hox in Marietta
Service/Philanthropy: Books for Africa
Beautification: Kalena’s Beautiful Beginnings Salon (KBB)
Dinner: Fish Tyme in Acworth GA and Two Urban Licks
Live Music: St. James Live

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?
Oooh this is a tough one, there have been so many contributors along my journey, with varying roles and levels of impact. That said, the two people who without out a doubt have been the most impactful in my life are my foster mother Roxanne Russell and my sister Valerie Rhodes. They both loved me in a way that surpasses all understanding and in doing so, taught me how to love. Additionally, I have cultivated some beautiful relationships with a handful of people that are priceless to me and the sentiment is mutual, which I’ve learned is much more rare that we give credit to. So my shoutout would be to those beautifully, authentic relationships that not only serve as a witness to my life but given me a space in theirs.

Website: https://mareamichele.com

Instagram: @mareamichele @beautifulbanyan

Facebook: @mareamicheleofficial @beautifulbanyan

Youtube: @mareamichele