Today we’d like to introduce you to Lanie Weingarten
Hi Lanie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am 23 years old and was born and raised in Carlsbad, California. I went to the University of Oregon and received a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising. Post-graduation I was unsure with what I wanted to do with my life which is when I found out about Au Pairing. I knew I did not want to be in America that Summer so I searched up “cheap ways to get to Europe without spending all of my savings.” I found Au Pair World and impulsively created an account. It was 2 months before I was graduating and I got a few responses from families but nothing crazy until I matched with one family that changed the game. We hopped on a phone call and I instantly knew that this was the family for me. A few days later, I got the offer to move in with their family for the Summer on the Italian Riviera and I gladly accepted. In July, I was on my flight to Italy with a one way ticket and no clue what the next 4 months would look like. That experience changed my life. I met the most incredible and inspiring people, fell in love with the culture and was so warmly welcomed by a family that felt like my own. While there, I learned so many valuable life lessons on how to deal with imposter syndrome, battling your twenties and navigating a country that is not your own. The greatest lesson I learned while being there is that you can not expect the place to change you, it is all about your mindset and the active choices you make on your disposition of each given situation. As I packed my bags to go back to America, I was feeling full of life and ready to chase down my dream reality. When I got home, it was a bit of a challenge to adjust to not only the post grad lifestyle but having 0 friends at home and also jobless and fortunate enough to live with my family till I found my bearings. I then took to the streets handing out my resume in hopes to land a job. After a month of tirelessly applying to jobs, I landed a job as a Hostess at Alila Marea Resort in Encinitas, California, little did I know that I would continue to add to the job list. I also worked at a local coffee shop as well as a sustainable fashion boutique and I received a job to work as an F45 instructor. Now, it is present day, I am currently working as an F45 trainer, hostess and now I am a membership advisor at a Spin Studio called VERVE Studios in Del Mar, California. I also just moved out of my parents’ house and live in my dream little beach town, Cardiff in Encinitas and I also have my own car. Each day, I am truly just navigating my way through this topsy turvy cycle of your twenties but I am grateful for every moment of it because it is getting me one step closer to achieving my dream goals.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
While in Italy, I struggled with severe anxiety for the first time in my life. I remember sitting at the dinner table one night with my host family and just feeling like breaking down in tears. Everything was fine and there were no apparent problems but my mind was a war zone. I felt trapped in my thoughts and it was a scary place to be. When I got home I luckily got a handle on things and I am in a much better place now but in some strange way I am grateful for those challenging times because it helped me realize all the beauty around me and how capable I am of pulling myself out of my own mental hell.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am currently an F45 trainer, hostess, and membership advisor at a Spin Studio. Something I have noticed within all of these jobs is my love to motivate and inspire individuals. My goal in life is to help people become the best versions of themselves and make their day 1% better than it was. I am most proud of my ability to be so close to the beach and live in Cardiff. For my entire life I have dreamed of living in this beach town and never thought it was possible but I set my mind to it and now I wake up everyday and I can drive 2 minutes to the beach. I am also incredibly proud of myself for having the courage to go against the status quo and solo travel to Italy with a one way ticket and not a clue with what I am going to be getting myself involved in. In addition, I am proud of myself for growing exponentially as a trainer and an individual through my career as an F45 trainer. When I first began, I was a shadow of a person, I felt small and useless. I wanted to quit, I cried to my parents and they told me to stick with it for a whole month, so I did. Now, I am confident and a lead trainer at my studio, it feels surreal. I have people come up to me at the end of class and tell me how I have changed their lives for the better and it truly melts my heart to see how I have had an impact on people in such a powerful way. The thing that sets me apart from others is my persistence. I am incredibly driven and my interpersonal skills are what have gotten me far in life. I am constantly striving to be better, achieve more and most importantly inspire. It is what I love to do. My dream in life is to be a recording artist, since as long as I can remember I have had a passion to sing but life has gotten in the way. However, this upcoming year I am dedicating myself to making my deepest passions and dreams become a reality because at the end of the day if you want something bad enough then you can make it happen.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most valuable lesson I have learned along my journey is that everything happens for a reason and it is what you make of the situation that makes all the difference. Two years ago, I went through my first heartbreak and it was tough. I felt hopeless, drained and unloveable, but I slowly stitched myself back together day by day. When I went to Italy, I foolishly went with the expectation that this trip would change my life and all my wildest hopes and dreams would come true. While there, I realized that it is not the place you are in that will make you happy but it is the people and what you decide to make of your situation. The same thing applies with every aspect of my life. I love F45 because of the people, the community helps me become a better person and in turn it inspires and motivates me to help each members also become 1% better.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lanieweingarten.squarespace.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lanie.reece/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lanie.weingarten/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lanieereece
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@laniereece
- Other: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/lanie-reece-weingarten
Image Credits
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