Taylor Godber
by The TRIBE
Occupation: Athlete / Chef / Wellness Retreat Facilitator / Writer
Instagram: taylorgodber
HOW DID YOU IDENTIFY YOUR PASSION AND THE WORK THAT SATISFIED YOU VERSUS WORK THAT JUST PAID THE BILLS?
I think we all want to get paid to do what we love. I remember working up in Northern Alberta in a mining town. Following a dream to be a paid athlete, meant hustling other jobs to make ends meet, and still does mean that. There aren’t many athletes that can solely live off of their salary anymore, at least in the ski and snowboard world. I knew working up there wasn’t the best of environments for any part of my health or well-being, but the money was great. Where I call winter-home now, the off-season [when the town is between bike & snow tourism almost halts to making a proper income]. There were a few girlfriends who were working up there & making great money so I made the trek up there for a few months every year, to put my head down and grind out work, picking up doubles as many days as possible to save money to travel and for the winter months. I was serving and bartending at the time. They were jobs that had allowed me so much freedom to do so much; flexible schedule, cash-tips, fun people, and a fast paced environment. The turning point came when I went up there for my 4th and final stint. The bars and restaurants were exponentially quieter and it was as if the blinder I had put up was taken down and I was brought to a reality of what was going on. The air was polluted and gave you a searing headache, the tap-water tasted polluted, and looking around people were generally depressed and un-happy [working in the tar-sand fields away from their families, long-hours breathing in pollution, and in pockets of destruction of nature itself] and there I was doing my job, which I was trained well in to up-sell [increase bill price by offering additions to meals, keeping drinks full, and always suggesting a double instead of single shot of booze] all encompassing, making the company more money and making myself more money at the same time. But everything about it just didn’t feel right anymore. And it was as if all the knowledge I had of self-care and nutrition and mental health illuminated the truth & I realized that I wasn’t acting in accordance to my own values. People were coming in to gain some sort of comfort in their distress, masking their pain with copious amounts of booze and getting any semblance of feel-goodness from heavy, salty, sugary foods and there I was suggesting they buy more.
I did later on work in at a couple restaurants who’s standards of service and quality of offering was a way higher level – locally sourced, sustainable harvested, and more catered around the experience versus a hard focus on profit & that felt better. And so I began to shift how I even made the money to fuel other passions as well.
WHO WILL ETERNALLY BE A WOMAN YOU ADMIRE AND RESPECT, AND WHY?
Probably my Mom. Some traumatic instances of which I’m still working through went down in my childhood, but I know that everything she ever did do, came from a place of love.
IN LIGHT OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF OUR HASHTAG #WHYITRIBE, WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE WHO WE ALREADY ARE TODAY?
Society at large sells this idea that we are not enough and will never be. And even on the path to evolution or enlightenment there really isn’t an end. Especially as dedicated women who want to progress it is so easy to get wrapped up in the idea that we can always do better, because we can. The goals, the aspirations, the dreams and desires, the path to get there, each step is integral to achieving that ever moving target. There is no top to the mountain, it is always shifting and morphing into something new. Which is why the present moment, taking time to slow down to just reflect on how far we have come is so important. Change that lasts and imprints into our way of being, that which is practice, becomes habit and then natural expression, isn’t overnight, it’s a slow burn and when you are in it, it’s easy to be so disciplined and focused to arrive at whatever it was expect to be “it”, but the it is in motion.
NAME A TIME RECENTLY WHEN YOU SAID SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF/HOW DID THAT MAKE YOU FEEL?
I would lying if I said it didn’t feel uncomfortable. Where my partner and I are at geographically at the moment we often surf different breaks in the morning; and re-convene for breakfast after and share the happenings of the morning. When I share the moments where I felt that I learnt something or succeed in applying a new skill, I witness how part of me says, “don’t brag about yourself”. It’s like a shame game for celebrating yourself.
It’s an interesting observation to witness as of recently, that my ability to step into challenge and discomfort in the mountains and oceans, inviting in the chaos in a sense with open arms, yet in the emotional and spiritual body sometimes I judge it and feel the desire to skirt around it. I’ve begun pulling in a mantra when adversity or triggers or opportunities to rise above instead of become victim appear, that I speak aloud right before dropping into a big-mountain line, or navigating a sketchy scenario on my snowmobile, or committing and paddling into a wave, “Yes, you can.”
WHY DO YOU THINK WOMEN SHY AWAY FROM CELEBRATING OR PRAISING THEMSELVES SO MUCH?
We [I can only speak for myself] am so quick to praise others, yet to celebrate or share myself feels shameful and cocky. There’s seems to be no holding back on acknowledging someone else’s sparkle, but to remember ours feels scary. We don’t want to make someone else feel bad.
HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THE TENDENCY TO DISCREDIT COMPLIMENTS YOU ARE GIVEN?
It is a work in progress. Remembering that by accepting a compliment you are receiving love from someone, to not accept it, is to rob them of the opportunity to express love itself.
WHO WAS THE FIRST FEMALE TO TEACH YOU OR INSPIRE YOU TO FEEL THAT #YOUAREENOUGH?
Myself.
HOW DOES SOCIETY REINFORCE THE IDEA THAT WE, AS WOMEN, ARE NOT ENOUGH AND HOW CAN WE TAKE THAT POWER BACK?
You know, I think this is an ongoing battle. Advertisements are insidious at making us feel that we need external things to be beautiful enough, worthy enough, funny enough, confident enough…billions of dollars are sunken into this very motive. We take the power back by building strength to see past this. It is a process of teaching ourselves and others, if we/they were never taught, that we are enough and always have been and always will be. That it is okay to enjoy external pleasures, but these things do not dictate ‘who we are’ or our value or self-worth.
ARE WE TOLD ENOUGH AS YOUNG GIRLS THAT #WEAREENOUGH? IF NOT, HOW CAN WE CHANGE THIS MESSAGING FOR YOUNG GIRLS TODAY?
By being leaders and educating the generations to come. Such as, Instagram is a collection of moments (it is not real life), this is airbrushed, it is safe to ‘feel’ the spectrum of emotions of being human, your worth is not dictated by likes on facebook, by acheivements, or what the price of the hand-bag you own, or car you drive.
WHAT WOULD YOU GO BACK AND TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF, TO ENCOURAGE SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-LOVE?
You are safe. You are safe to be you. Not everyone will be okay with that, but you being you will bring forth your tribe, your people. You are enough. You are worthy of abundance in all aspects of your life. You have the capacity to bring to fruition your wildest and most beautiful dreams. You are magic. I love you.
WHERE DO YOU THINK THE NEED TO COMPETE WITH OTHER WOMEN COMES FROM? IS IT TAUGHT?
Women’s rights has come a long way, but equality isn’t a reality yet. Many women, especially in the action sports world are battling for the one-spot allocated for females on the teams. Sure the air of inclusion is spoken, but it doesn’t discredit the fact that there are only one or two spots on the team.
WHY IS THE TRIBE MOVEMENT IMPORTANT?
Together we are stronger. Empowered women empower other women.
HOW ARE YOU TRYING TO KEEP YOUR SELF-ESTEEM UP IN THE MIDST OF THIS GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHERS READING THIS?
This is tough, each set of our circumstances is so different from one another, but I would give the advice I would give anyone going through a time of uncertainty, prioritize self-care so you can centre and ground. For me that means on the daily: journaling, meditating, conscious-eating, spending time in nature, exercising, connection with community (even a FaceTime phone call or sending a message). And be present with whatever is arising, learn to become the witness in this global time of stillness. These times have the tendency to bring all sorts of emotions and feelings to the surface; be kind to yourself, remember you are not your thoughts, and ask for guidance and support should you need it — it is powerful to be able to ask for help, not the opposite. Practice gratitude, things maybe be tumbling around you, but there is always something to be grateful for — writing a list of 10-blessings every morning is nice way to set the tone for the day. And last but not least, find something that brings you joy, move the energy inside of you: maybe that’s walking in the forest, putting on your favourite tunes and dancing in your room, or screaming under whatever. Find a place to release the swirling discomfort that the pandemic has brought up for many. You are supported, you always have been and always will be. Everything is going to be okay.
