Fascinating Women

Dee Mago -Venezuela Immigrant -NakedFit -Single Mom -Family -High Energy

Dee Mago Season 3 Episode 2

This conversation with Dee is unique in how deep our conversation goes into being an immigrant, what it meant to leave even though family is everything, her core. Her positive energy pours through. She is a woman who embraces what ever comes at her or comes her way. She talks about going deep within herself, her joy and how she keeps it. It is a conversation that goes into some unexpected places. I think you will enjoy it. 

Dee Mago Bio:
Born in Venezuela, Dee moved to Canada in 2001, mother of three very active kids who keep inspiring her to be better every day. Dee discovered her love and passion for fitness, personal training, and living a healthy life, and since then she has focussed on transformation.

The reason being is that she loves and enjoys very much transforming people’s lives focusing on the Body, Mind, and Soul, through exercise, nutrition, and emotional healing, and other activities to help people move to bring vitality, longevity, and more energy into their lives

This is a journey of having an extraordinary lifestyle. Dee believes she can change your world by providing you with the proper tools to support this new chapter in your life. It's time to find equilibrium between your body, mind, and soul.

Dee is the founder of Dee Health n’ Fitness, online program “NakedFit” and author of “Happy Naked: A straight-forward, five-senses guide to loving the skin you're in and feeling that energy in every area of your life. She is also a podcaster and YouTuber bringing taboo/fitness/health conversation to light in order to elevate the vibration of our planet through positive experiences and lifestyle

Dee is a certified personal trainer, reiki master, and sound wellness partitioner. She works with people in small group setups as well as one-on-one – online and in-person


website: http://nakedfit.online
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfVhT6DDhovZsZuWQH9DwqQ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deemago_happynaked/
NakedFit: https://www.facebook.com/NakedFit
Happy Naked: https://www.facebook.com/DeeMagoHappyNaked

Dee's Book: Happy Naked - A straight-forward, five-senses guide to loving the skin you're in and feeling that energy in every area of your life.  https://amzn.to/3cHKLbZ

 Happy Naked The Lifestyle Journal: Keep Track of your well-balanced life https://amzn.to/3aAj5TG

About Mark Laurie - Host.
Mark has been transforming how women see themselves, enlarging their sense of sexy, expanding their confidence in an exciting adventure that is transformational photography. His photo studio is inner Spirit Photography. 
http://innerspiritphotography.com
https://www.instagram.com/innerspiritphotography/


Sound Production by:
Lee Ellis  - myofficemedia@gmail.com

introduction:

You're listening to fascinating with Mark Laurie. And now, our Lord.

Mark Laurie:

Hello everyone, my name is Mark Laurie from fascinating women.com.ca. And I have with me Dee Mago now normally I'm behind the camera photographing these incredible women, but they have such amazing stories. And Dee has one of those, so I thought we'd share her with you and see where it goes. Welcome Dee

Dee Mago:

Thank you. Oh, thank you. Thank you. This is awesome. Now we're in a different in a different place all together with the kind of camera and all that stuff.

Mark Laurie:

Yeah. Now you've been we've we've been knowing each other for a long, long time, haven't we?

Dee Mago:

Yes, yes, we have. I don't even remember where? Where we met? I don't know if you remember. fails? Yeah, but definitely. And we have, you know, we have a lot of people in common as well. So that's awesome, right? How everything, you know, comes together and your shops in different ways. And you know, always and then, you know, sometimes we get we stop seeing each other and then boom, here we are again.

Mark Laurie:

Renard. We're in each other's tribe. Now, you. You've never started out though. In Canada, you started out in Venezuela with no, Venezuela. No.

Dee Mago:

Yeah. Venezeula, it's so I, I grew up in Venezuela. And before even moving coming to Canada, I was in the States for a little bit. And then I have been in Canada for 20 years already.

Mark Laurie:

Wow. So how are younger going to move to Canada?

Dee Mago:

How, what was the question? What's your

Mark Laurie:

age? How old? Are you when you move to Canada?

Dee Mago:

Oh, I was 24. Well, like I was 24 was pregnant already with my first child. And, and the thing about cat at that particular time, if you would go back in time. Okay. Um, so September 11, that magic event? You know, as part of our shadows for the last 21 years, pretty much. That's exactly we like my my ex husband. And I moved here literally a month after that. So October 21 2001. Right. And, and then there was no jobs, there was nothing in Canada. Our families were crazy. The third world is going to war, it's going to start and then Canada's they're all gonna go for the US. And Canada is gonna be second. Oh my god, you guys are crazy. And and I look at I look at him and I say, You know what, dude? If we like if we do it now or never, because by the time our daughter was going to be born, you basically said, All right, it's like, oh, yeah, immigration, we're gonna wait, and then you don't know what's happening. And blah, blah, blah. We're like, you know what, we don't really know anything, we better go full on with this. And, and the timing also was very key. Because if I was too far in the pregnancy, they wouldn't let me in the plane. However, even though that it was too far in pregnancy, I was able to hide my belly and find jobs. And then after the fact, they were like, Oh, you never mentioned that you were pregnant. I'm like a while you never ask.

Mark Laurie:

Good to see. Ya, yeah, yeah. So what do miss the most about Venezuela?

Dee Mago:

Um, so there are a few things. I'm definitely one of always always goes around food family. And I think and the culture in general, because the one thing I'm realizing over all these years being in Canada, is the value of family. It is really truly one of our core values. Right. And, and that's something that I see very rare in people here like the, you know, family is not necessarily always, you know, the top priority. And I think it goes with when it comes to cultures, I'm not saying that one is better than the other one is just things that I noticed. Right? And basically, in a country like Canada, people have the opportunity, right to become independent, very young in time is not the case for us. We can live with our families, our whole life, basically. And all we keep doing is expanding the house building, you know, another level, you know, expanding yard figure always something out because the economy doesn't allow us to become independent. So as a result of that, I find that the family values are quite strong. Because we're very supportive. It's like if you're going to get married, if you have kids, we're always helping each other or that kind of stuff. That's something that I don't see really like that I even hear grandparents saying, you know, when I'm not gonna look after my grandkids, right, I'm just enjoying life, I'm retired. And that's not even where it comes from. It's like, we're all anomic glued myself into that is always looking even to have the opportunity to have grandkids to actually look after them. Because now it's a whole different thing. Is there another your responsibility? That's what I always hear from grandparents. I'm not, I'm not there. But it's like, you know, is that opportunity that you actually have to enjoy your kids without having the responsibility to raise them? And even though, my grandma, mom raised me, and it was like, she was like, a mom for us, right? And the suit is different. So all those things, definitely, when it comes to family, weather, I think it's people think all you you live in Israel, and then you came to Canada, and then look at the weather. You know, what, when, when crime and corruption is at the level that it is in Venezuela? Since I since I have memories, right? Who cares about the weather, the weather is secondary, like, and I'm being honest with that, right? Because really, when you when you see the level of poverty that I that I got to see every day, because I am middle class, right? So it means that, you know, I had a house to leave, even though that it was my grandma, right? But we had a house. We had food every day, we didn't have any, like when my sister and I grew up, like we didn't have a lot of extra stuff. We had what we needed, right? So we had food. And we went to school, like which is all thing. So we ended up going to you know, like university, all that kind of several education. But we are when 80% of the population is in poverty. And 5% of the population or even less are the ones that are rich and wealthy, which is the corrupting corrupted elite and the umbrella of the whole country. Just imagine what what is left for the middle class. Yeah, right. So it is nothing. Exactly. So when what being in Canada now it is completely the opposite the majority as a middle class, right, we still have, you know, homeless, there's still you know, unfortunately, and I even today, I still don't understand how still homeless people in the street. I don't get it. Because this system, it has been it's develop to keep everybody okay, like generally speaking, we're okay, we all have a house we have, like, you know, you can take vacation, all that kind of stuff. Right? There are a lot of things that are happening with with that right now as we speak that it came up in the last two years. However, Canada is still that place so far. That is putting us in like, Oh yeah, you know, we're good. We can we can have a job and all that kind of stuff. And we can still pay like have a mortgage of a car. And, and the level of poverty it is very low. Fine. So those are things that are like, who cares about the weather? I know I'm going to go to a place where and of course they didn't even have a clue what that what the weather was in Canada. Let's be clear with that one as well.

Mark Laurie:

We've heard that from some immigration people I've talked to the legal people they say that they always tried to communicate how cold we get like what cold is and he says people are coming from an area that's so warm, they don't get it until they arrive and then it's like wow, this is really cold.

Dee Mago:

How was your - this is nothing

Mark Laurie:

because you arrived in October so that would be the start of a chilly season the driving count Calgary or Dr. Downey

Unknown:

Yeah, I have been CAGR that. That's cool. Yeah, no, there's nothing and people asked me and my sister is moving to Canada sometime this year. And even though that she's on the opposite end, she's in Chile, but it doesn't really get as cold as he gets here. And and there's nothing there's absolutely nothing we can say that it can ever translate. How freaking cold it gets in this part of the world is just insane.

Mark Laurie:

some kids up, they stayed with us for a while from Costa Rica. And we took him up to Banff. Right? And it was one of our Chinook days. And they're up and they're making a snowman as well. This, this, like, minus 40. Right? Like, go no, it's it's like plus 10. That's insane. I can't imagine why. Or even like, their, their fans are kind of cold. So but that's got to be a scary thing. I mean, you're leaving a world behind leaving family, you're leaving? What you know. And so it's corrupt. It's all these things, but it's what you know. And you're, you're stepping into the deep unknown and that when you get here, there's so many things that I imagined are different, that that, you know, beyond your comprehension different. So is that for later on? Like, like that type of bold move? Did you see this bold at the time?

Dee Mago:

So we need to back up a little bit. Because even before coming to Canada, I went to the States. Right, right. Yeah. And same thing. It's like, what are you doing? thing? Like? Because even even when I did that, which is in 2000, right? Venezuela wasn't as bad as it is now. Okay, is when we back up a little bit on politics. Ogre Chavez was elected in 1989. So when I left in 2000, I didn't know what was going to happen. I have no clue. I have not experienced anything that my country have gone through in the last, you know, like, 22 years. But my family had, right. But it and that wasn't even the reason why I left. So it is, oh my god. This is something I always knew that was something that was something I school I was going to do. Okay, I never felt that I fitting in that system in the broken system. Okay. Um, I never, I never saw any progress that I could ever have any asset, or do anything other than live with my, my grandma mom, like my mom did, because my mom divorced. And then the three of us end up being going to my grandma's house. And then we were there ever, like ever since. Right? And, and then it's like, that is basically the future I'm going to have like, there's nothing, there's no, and let's keep this in mind, I had a good salary, because I was graduated in computers. So for my age, at 20 years old, I was making half of my mom's salary. And my mom had, you know, all this years of experience working for, you know, large international companies. And, and she had a good job after working really hard. But, boy, at that point in life, she had a good job, right. And she actually made it to a good position in international companies. So, so then when I am 20, and I'm making this much money, I at the same time, I don't have to pay mortgage, I don't have to pay, we each one of us will have a responsibility, and my responsibility was to pay the electricity bill. And however, even though that I was making that much money, there was no freaking way I could afford a car.

Mark Laurie:

Wow.

Dee Mago:

Right. There was no way I could save money to buy a house. So when you looking at? Well, what made you think it's that's the best thing you know? Yes, it is true is the best thing I know. However, I knew there was something better. Right? And that is the motivation. And when you're 25 you're like, you know what, you know, you're invincible.

Mark Laurie:

Yeah, that's right. WorldCat

Unknown:

that's what it's all about. It goes with age right. And having that juice, or just full spirit, say, You know what, I'm invincible. I can do anything I put in my mind to do. Yeah. And I grew up that way. I was raised also that way, in so many ways, when my grandma and my great grandma are very, very strong, that they're both passed, but they are very strong influence in, in our family, it's a very matriarchy family, by the way, okay. And and they both have a very, very strong influence in who we are as individuals and as a family. Right. So but even though that that was the case, I'm like, I know there is something better. I know there's something that is not going to be just this right. So English so then it The US because I had a cost in there. And then I went there, I end up going to Florida, everybody speaks Spanish. So the whole plan of learning another language was completely out of the window. And, and let's make a big difference between US and Canada. It is, as a Latin person with a latching loop, no matter what, and I still have my accent and, you know, even after 20 years, I doubt that it's gonna ever gonna go away. However, the level of discrimination in the US is real. Okay? So they know wherever you go, you know, everybody, and then there's this, you know, like, kind of annoying battles between Cubans and Mexicans, and this and that. And so then, you know, it's like, this is not this is not where I want to be. Because it's not the same as having the what is what are they call the the winter birds when they Canadians. For us? There's no birds. So it's not the same for the snowbirds. You know, what, because y'all look the same. Y'all speak English? Yeah. And everybody love Canadians, right? And then you're going to just enable a country where you still speak similar cultures, you know, same language and all that stuff. But if you're a Latin person, you will feel the discrimination, big, big time, which are now on which I understand, you know, why, you know, the black community feels the same way. Because it is a very racist country. And you feel it only when you're there. And again, I'm like, I don't like this. Right? Because it's not, it's not something that I want to leave my life with. And then, you know, goes with jobs. The US the latin community in the US have gone a long way. Because it's, I'm talking about 20 years ago, right? Things has been tough also for illegal immigrants in the in the US, which is a very, you know, usual thing to see. But I was like, No, this is not this is not what I want to be. And yes, the country of opportunities, right. I was making. I was making in the US, about three to $5,000 a month working as a waitress, and it wasn't killing me. I was not like, oh my god, I work in my heart, my ass off like no, like, just working normal. Okay, normal hours, you work some night shift and stuff like that for events and different things. Then I moved to Canada, and here we go. This is the beauty was like between my my my my dad of my kids, right? And myself. We were making less than $1,000 a month. Right. And we have we're renting a condo, one bedroom condo in downtown for 750.

Mark Laurie:

Wow, that's

Dee Mago:

all okay, this is not the same as the US. We got first shock, right? Yeah. And again, getting out of the comfort zone, it really didn't matter much because we also learn a lot in the US, he was in the US as well. And so we learned a lot on the system. So coming to Canada, we thought it was going to be the same. And then of course, now we know that US and Canada are not the same. You know, culture is quite different. The people are quite different. And then we jump into the other side, like discrimination shows in different ways in Canada, and not because of the race, right? At least in Calgary. I can speak on other places in Canada, because I know every every big city in Canada, it's also different because they have their own, you know, lick their own culture. Yeah. And and also they are there their own ways of living. So before Calgary, specifically, it is it can be it's also you see discrimination but differently, right. So that was a long answer for

Mark Laurie:

clearly something you're passionate about and deep into. So, I mean, you're clearly a bold person, like you're a person that has I just I've always seen you as kind of a fearless woman. But just everything you seem to encounter you encounter head on there's there's no like gentle trying to dodge. It's like okay, here comes a free trial. It's not going to say to have one room and that way you kind of dig into it. Do you have any quotes that drive you that you kind of hold dear from people that impress you?

Dee Mago:

Normally No. However, I know that the way how you know It's not about it's not for me, it's never been about a quote. I know the way how I was raised, it was a very, very it was very, very strong for us how we were raised. And I saying, We because basically my family was raised by my great grandma mom and my grandma, like, we're basically they represent something super important for us who actually shaped who we are today. And I think that's what it's all about is not necessarily about a quote, it is actually who has been that role model. And you talk about that at the beginning, when we were talking offline. It is, I'm looking for role models, right. And that's basically what it is. It is a role model. The role model is not Tony Robbins is not a freaking guy that I don't know. But it has a very, very good, inspiring, you know, like, gifts, right? And moves a lot. Those are now my role models, right? Like, and I follow them for certain things. But when you ask who shaped like who I am, it goes back to my roots, right? And that's kind of where it is. And I know even even when I when I decided to leave the country. Nobody was an immigrant, but then in Venezuela right now it is normal. Because all my family there are all over the world as we speak. Sadly, we're all spread out, we cannot see each other as we would be we were obviously all in Venezuela. But But that's kind of what it's what is the driver, right? They can minimi current. So being an immigrant is not an easy thing to do, period. Right. And that's something that shapes me as well. Right? Like, whereas, you know, I have kids, I find out that it's a different driver, when you have kids than when you don't mind. Because when you like I see that in a lot of my friends that are do not have kids and the ones that have kids, the drive, it is different. There's a different driver right there. And when you have kids is like, you know what, I really need to feed my kids, I really need to be better for them. And is no what I say it is how I'm doing and how I'm living my life. And that's where I know, even my mom, my mom, always she traveled when we were little, because she had the support. She had my grandma to look after us. So my mom could go out and party and enjoy. She had me very young as well. Well younger than I had my first child. But but you know what, but she like she was you know, a young mom, but she couldn't. She enjoyed life. And that is another thing. I never, I cannot say that my my kids are motherhood, it stopped me from enjoying my life. Because I made that agreement with my own self, that I was not going to be that mom that would say, oh my god, I stopped doing everything I wanted to do because of my kids. Right? I respect them answer say that, right? Because it must be tough. But I wasn't I didn't want to be that one kind of one. I am like I live my life. I'm gonna show my kids that I can enjoy my life. I'm going to show them that no matter what we are going to do this together. Will it make a turn or welcome? No problem. But it was a choice. It wasn't because I was sacrificing myself not from that point of view. Right? So those are the drivers right? So it's not a it's not a quote for me it is like, what am I here for? Right? And then I'm sure and then I'm sure it happens to you that it changes over over time as well. Because you know, first you're you're you're taking care of kids, you have a responsibility, but then now they're on their own. And I'm sure at some point, I'm not there yet. But I know at some point that also is going to shift right the driver it's going to be a different thing. So that's kind of how it works for me.

Mark Laurie:

Yeah, the thing I've felt parents we got a foster kid we still look after them like they're always they never really leave your headspace. Like like your you'll always will be the parent and they're always kind of in that type of stuff. What is the biggest thing you failed at when you look back and go oh, that was a stumble.

Dee Mago:

My motherhood mother it's a freaking toughest thing ever. Yeah. It is your mom because you never know your

Mark Laurie:

kids They're born with a here's the instruction manual, this kid's gonna have these issues.

Dee Mago:

You never I honestly, I don't know, it's a question that I asked myself almost daily. Right? Because I know like, even when I work with clients, I know that I'm doing something good. If they want to lose weight, and they're losing weight if they want, you know, if they want to improve their eating habits and actually end up happening, you can measure those things. But I don't know, I have no idea. I always ask myself, like, what the heck is this? I consciously didn't choose to be a mom. It was another happening. I'm like, I'm a horrible planner. Out of three kids, you only plan to write. And then it's something that you know life like literally life put me in this path. And I'm, you know, that my kids are My oldest is in university. But the other two it's like, yeah, I have no idea. I don't know. And being a mom, three different like, like a mom, a mom, different mom for each one of them, which is another thing. I I never, I never thought the long, long, long time ago, I asked this lady that is the mom of one of my friends. So they're tied. And she's Venezuelan and all that seven. I said, How the heck do you end up having three different kids? Because she also had three kids, right? How come you I mean, three different like kids all different when you're supposed to raise them? Like we're very similar the same? And she goes, actually, you never raise your children the same? Yeah, because they have different personalities. So you have to adapt to each one of them. There was a first time I heard that, and it stick to my mind every single time. Because when I see my my kids, I'm like, I definitely cannot do the same thing I did with my oldest I cannot do the same thing I've done with my youngest. Like it's not. And that's exactly it. It is you don't like I honestly, I still don't have the answer. I'm not sure if I'm really doing a good job or not. It is just

Mark Laurie:

so besides the kids, what kind of things you're curious about right now. But what piques your interest right now.

Dee Mago:

Um, so, for one of the things that I am, I have always been very passionate about it is freedom. Right? Always, which is why in first place, I left the country because I knew I wasn't going to have that level of freedom that I knew existed. But then it goes in different forms, right? It is like, what are they? Are we really free ourselves? Right? Like, how, how I can and then it goes back to what is my contribution to, you know, or my purpose or, because it's like, aside from being a mom, who what else I am, my and, and that's where it comes the next part of who I am, right? Is I'm here to help people I know I mentioned, I know my purpose in life, even though that kept shifting, but I can see what it is. And so that's what it's all about is use allowing people to, to be able to feel to feel free of being themselves themself. But you can do that by being in harmony also with your, with your body, whatever you see in the mirror, right? Like a you're happy with what you see. And I will say this, are you happy with what you see in front of the mirror when you're naked? It's most of us try to kind of go and then I'm like, I'm not seeing that. Right? And you keep in mind, you don't want to see that in the mirror. And I said that alone are non chemical on one of my Facebook Lives. And, and what it did is it triggered someone that I knew. And he called me right away. And he said, You know what? It is true. I don't want to see myself naked in the mirror. I really need to do something about this. Right? And those are the things that are super important, right? For me is how I can contribute. Or can I can help people to to be to be good at what they do, right? Or where they want to be or what they want. Like, you know, whatever it looks like to them, but how, you know to help them together. But we cannot do that. The other thing. We cannot do anything without health fine. When and it's what calling and spark would always say when you have health right You want everything. And when you don't, you only want one thing. And that's exactly it. Right? So which is why, and we absolutely all of us, without exception, underestimate our health when we have it, and then we overdo or abuse of our body, and then it ended up in sickness or disease or you name it, you name it, right. And we know that how the list goes on, right on all the different things that it can show up. But that is the thing. And, and we really, really, sadly, we just need to go through something really bad to then start appreciating health and how important that is in you know, being able to fulfill your purpose or, you know, support your family or work or anything, right. So those are important things that I think are key in our lives, right?

Mark Laurie:

How you define success without behind you counted, what's your vision of success?

Dee Mago:

Um, you know, I the way how I see that is, as long as I see people getting results from how I'm helping and guiding them. That is, that is, yay, success, check one more, go to the world. And it's happy. Yay. I'm so and that's what it is for me. Definitely. And, and hoping that, you know, my kids end up being good kids. And, and I think that's another way of success. It's knowing that, you know, people reached out asking me for questions, because they know, I can help them out in a very specific thing. I think that's also success, because it allows allows me to see that whatever I'm putting out there, right? It is. It is truly who I am. So it's not being interpreted as something else, if that makes sense. Right? That makes sense. I think

Mark Laurie:

that sound do you think? Always not always?

Dee Mago:

Not always? Not always? So I'm there? And that that's a really complex question.

Unknown:

Because, you

Dee Mago:

know, family never understands you. Right? Right. Yeah. Oh, my God, talking about family, you know, what it is? Right? The family complexities and money and which, you know, that question leads me to something else, which is judgment, money, right. And, and when people when people normally do not understand somebody else, most likely is their level of judgment that is not allowing to see the person fully. And the NI n also understand that a lot of people actually have a lot of words, and they don't want to show up who as they really are, right. So that's, that's something that of course happens, but when it comes to, you know, be being perceived as something else, you know, when, at the end of the day I, I learn and so, learning because sometimes it hits hard. Try not to take anything personal, right? I do my best at not taking things personal. Because I know that we all without exception judge based on our own experiences. And then the level two, it is also based on what other people tell you about that person, or in this case by me. So that's the other layer of that. And, and you know what? I honestly do everything puzzle, you don't get me no problem. That's fine. You don't have to work with me, if you don't get me it means that we're not gonna be friends. Well, we can say hi to each other. Wherever, right, it was a long time ago, somebody was telling me, Oh, you're too intimidating. I said, that's all my problem. Like, do I have to shine less, because other feels intimidated by me worldwide about Junior shine higher, and then we meet there.

Mark Laurie:

I love that. That's way back in my corner starting to believe in flying and personal growth and heights and so on. And this instructor says people have two choices. They can either when you start to break out of that mold drin they can either drag you back down rather than have themselves personally change. Or they can, you know, raise themselves up. He says for most people, it's much easier to drag you down, than raise themselves up. And so he says as you start to strive and have successes There's gonna be a lot of people in your life that you thought were good friends or family members that really don't like the light, you're shining on them, that they suddenly they're looking bad because you're ascending. And you can probably leave those behind. Because that's your choice to see they're dropped down to their level and stay there or, you know, give the nice thought and then move on. And that's a hard thing to do.

Dee Mago:

Mm hmm. Yeah, it is. I really, as an immigrant, you leave everything behind. So after you leave your your home, like the real home, because home, Calgary is home for me now, right? But it doesn't mean that you know, it is for the time being Colorama going to be here probably my whole life. But that's what it's going to be it's gonna be home for that time being design, you're ready, left home, longtime eco. And there is nothing like home, by the way, right? In a sense of what at home means. Yeah. And so even though that I'm making, you know, Calgary, my home and doing something similar to that there's never anything like that. So, so you know what, it's like, you your, the level of attachment is different, right? And then you're being judged as you have an accent, I don't understand what you're saying, You look different. You do this, you know, you're too loud. You like to, like, you know, the, the worst thing that a Canadian can say, right? Because I love about it. You know how to like any of that. Instead of saying, you know what you're like, You're too over the top, you're very passionate. But that's, those are the things that are just, you know, so like, the one thing we can give Canadians credit for being polite, right?

Mark Laurie:

But they're quite right. I mean, I've, most people see passion at this level, like takes it back and they go, Wow, that's a passionate person over there. And all these I've known you, this is where the passion normally is. And you're up here someplace with your passion. And I what I like about it is you express it without apology. And with unbridled enthusiasm, like it's, that's what I've always enjoyed about you. It is full on we we did the photographs of her body speaks with you. And it was the same positive like this is like I'm into this completely. And so you immerse yourself if you always done that, that complete immersion into whatever you

Dee Mago:

are, you always have. I had a moment in my life that I kind of realize that I wasn't. But I always always I'm not the kind of person that thing first act after I'm like, I act and I'm like, Oh, I was supposed to do something different. So anyway, that's I always been like that, and the time in my life that I wasn't fully in that place. Right. Afterwards, I realized that I wasn't leaving, in who I am. And yes, it is. It is good. Always. But you know, when there's a second part for me, that I when I take action, I just go into it, I don't care. It is because I'm trusting. And that's the part that I lost in so many ways at some point, right? That I wasn't trusting that whatever action I was going to make, it was going to take me where it was supposed to take me to period. Right, right. And so, so and then that level of trust, faded a little bit at that time is now it's been it's been years rebuilding that Right, right? Because it goes with, you know, and I'm just gonna do this. I know, it has to go that way. You know, thinking too much. thinking too much. Never helped me anyway. So I'm like, I hear wherever I'm going to do this even even when, when you and when you suggested to take all the pictures right? Then, for me, I was like, I don't like that. And I think I expressed this to you many times. I don't like photos. I don't like posting. I don't like it I like this is just torture. But it's like, I get all this and I just gone. And I'm like yes, let's do this. If I think I'm gonna say no. Right? And if I say no. So then I don't even know how I can, you know, share that experience to being you know, fully naked in front of a camera like any stranger because it's a very, we have the concept that you know, naked it is a sexual intimate relationship, right? Yeah, that's how we know that word for and that it actually makes All like so narrow thinkers, because naked, that's what it means to you and to all of us, right? And it's undo that thought. And say, Nick, it is more than that. Right? And it's vulnerability, right? It is a fact that when when we are in front of in front of you fine. Taking aside what it really naked means to us. It is very intimidating for like, oh my god, how am I going to do this? I'm not even a model. I'm no bears. And I have done this many times in my life, where I'm putting myself in a position that I know, it will be like, Why do I get myself into this, but I just go ahead, and I just do it. And that's how I feel every time. You know, we have a Photoshop is like, where they get myself into. Right? But then I just go ahead. I'm like, You know what, I'm gonna do this? Because I know it is. It is, it's, it takes me to a different level. Yeah. And that's all I you know, I'm exploring.

Mark Laurie:

There's a phrase that comes to mind where the guy goes, somebody's trying to build a proper parachute. The guy says, Now up, work out the way down, they'd like leap off the cliff and going down and going. So how do I symbolist approach to the way down, maybe never plan to do well, there's a bridge is gonna save me like, there's just, there's a inherent trust. I think part of that when you when you have that space, we're talking only about the 20 year olds feel they're invincible. I think those of us who have been able to keep that thought that that's an invincibility comes from the belief that it's all going to work out in the end, that somehow this may look bad right now, but in the end, it's going to work out and I have to trust in that. That was one of my favorite lines out of the very, very best Marigold Hotel. He says yeah, he says if it's, it's all gonna work out in the end, if it if it's not, then it's not the end yet. He will solve itself as we kind of go down to it, which I always really neat and neat kind of process. What's been the best advice you've ever received?

Dee Mago:

Um, well, the one that I shared, it was about the mom that says that we raise our kids differently. So I have to be Yeah, so that is, so that is one that really, really allows me to be more kind with myself. Because now when I see other moms, yes, that's what we do, we get to change and shift, right? And adapt. And, and definitely, that it's been something that I have kept in my mind, because it's no different than life. We just need to adapt and shift. It's even working with clients, I cannot, you know, Coach, or guide the person, same, everybody the same, because they're all different personalities, and it's being able to adjust and adapt. That's the bottom line of that, of that statement that she shared with me. Right. And, and that's, that could be that's a skill that we all manage to master, our life will be way, way better and less suffering.

Mark Laurie:

It's a very, I mean, it's aimed for the children, but it actually goes much broader because a lot of people approach every person the same on a team member on a committee. But everybody is so different in terms of their background, respond to it, and so on, you have to acknowledge that you have to sort of sit back take into account and then kind of move forward from that viewpoints. That's pretty powerful advice is really good. I love your version on naked. It's one time when we were we were starting off in our photography career. And there there's naked nude. And women were telling us that one things I liked about us is we don't see them naked we see them a nude and it says powerful distinction. And I think that's with people because naked is burying the soul like we had one client that came in and she said yeah this the it's the nudie doesn't bother me. I'm quite my body is in good shape. And I feel quite good about it. She says But what you're asking me to do as a photographer is let us let you look at my soul. That who I am, she says and that's what terrifies me the photographs that you're going to create don't don't just reveal my my nudity but reveal my deep soul and that scares me. If I'm be adequate enough into it, do you feel like that when you're being photographed, that you were exposing not just your body but but who you are inside?

Dee Mago:

Oh, no, because everybody knows who.

Mark Laurie:

That's right. You're kind of what you get. What You See Is What You Get kind of girl that

Unknown:

you know, you know that's, I don't really I think it's pretty obvious, right? That's true, it

Dee Mago:

seems so it and um, I guess like when it comes to the actual being photographed and be naked you It is it is more about the fact that it is putting it is putting myself out there and show, right this is this is not easy, it looks pretty, Mike did a good freaking job. But that's not easy. Either it even for both sides, because I even think even from your perspective, it is it requires a it's, it could be a gift or a skill, fine, where it's about being able to capture that in a way that doesn't seem sexual at all, because that is still there aspect fine, yes. Because it's not is not an anything that is a very, very, very important line that needs to be drawn that way. And in this situation, because it is not something sexual at all mine, and I not and I have seen tons of your pictures and I have met people that you have photograph as well. And that's exactly what it is, it doesn't feel sexual it is taking that deeper layer of what, you know, the naked beauty can look like without that statement that it's already there. Like, it's just, you know, let's just put that aside, is just what else mine. And I think that's the beauty of just doing that kind of photography, for you know, for us being on the other side of the camera, and, and then just just play with it, right. So that's kind of what it feels to me, I'm like, I don't like this. Like, I'm so afraid. I'm gonna go with the flow, I'm gonna do everything that Marx tells me to do, and then jump and put my hair like this. And, you know, like, Don't close your eyes get

Mark Laurie:

from your, from your computer background into what you're doing now.

Dee Mago:

Oh, that's a dramatic story. Basically, I was already in the transition, I wanted to transition to fitness. And that's when my ex and I separate. So that was in about 2012. And, and then be I was even working at a gym at that point. And then I was when we start when we knew we were going to separate. I was like, Yeah, this is not gonna be good, right? Because I was just a starting in that, in that industry very passionate about it. It really helped me a lot during pregnancies, you know? So then I was like, Yeah, this is this is I can help people. Um, then I was like, Yep, no, I have to go back to it, which I did. And then I went a worked in contract for a very, very, very long time, pretty much the last eight years of my career was contract. So then I got a contract. And then the contract only lasted a year. And I couldn't find any other contract. And I was like, you know, and then you're like, This is the thing I know, right? Yeah, I get to do it, that I'm going to support my family, blah, blah, blah. And then nothing, I could not find a freaking job in it. Like it was just crazy. And then, and then of course, I do a lot of charity jobs in between and all that kind of stuff. And, and then one day, in 20 2014, I got a phone call from this person that I known for years, and my mom is friend with her mom and all that stuff. And she said I'm gonna have my baby. And I want to make sure that you're ready because when I deliver my baby, I want to start working out with you. i At this point, I have not said absolutely anything about me working as a personal trainer, period, right? It was I did courses I was doing it for fun. And when she calls me I'm like, That is interesting. And am I going to do for somebody else making the same money I could do by working for myself. I think that might be it. And and that is basically how I transition. I never liked computers. I have I have I wasn't gifted, right? I have to learn and elevate my skills through all my career in IT, which it takes way more effort and somebody that is gifted like they just give them a you know, a keyboard and they already know what to do. I was like no and I have done it all in computers from programming, you know, database administration help their support, like You name it, I did it all, but it was the stuff that I had to put more efforts. And I knew it was not. That was I never felt that it was what, like what a wanted to do for my life. But again, it goes back to that will your family tell you this is the best thing you're gonna make money computer 30 years ago was booming, you know that the career was like the new, the new? The new doctors, right? So you're familiar with wanting to be a doctor and engineer architect. And then what then became to get to work on computers? And, and yeah, and that's kind of how it is. And ever since I never looked back again, action without thinking. I never, I never looked back. And I said, I'm going to do this definitely, it was a better fit for me. And and computers, you know, when you know, you know that life put things in the right way. It is because all the skills that I learned, but Well allow me to, to work on things in my business mind without asking without asking for help or support. And I also have people, you know, that I work with, and I work with and and they could ask for help. Right? So that's kind of where it has good things and and that's kind of one of the things it definitely I don't think it would have worked out the same way if I was have done it differently. Right.

Mark Laurie:

Yeah, you know, Thrones, it was always winds up being the best path. Yeah, thank you so much for your time today. It's been a delight. Now you're just to the audience a little bit here. She has moved into personal training. She's got a book out called Naked, no. Happy, happy naked. That's right. Which is amazing. I think you work in a second right now all that informations can be in the bio. So if you want to check her out as a trainer, watch, check out her book. It's very you seen her personality? You know, the books we feel like count off a lot. Thank you for joining us today.

Dee Mago:

De Thank you. Thank you. It's always fun to talk to you. It's a

Mark Laurie:

blast and we'll see you all next time.

Exit speaker:

This has been fascinating women with Mark Laurie. Join us on our website and subscribe at fascinating women does he a fascinating women has been sponsored by inner spirit photography of Calgary, Alberta and is produced in Calgary by Leigh Ellis and my office media.