Empowering Bytes: Leap into joy with Karen Miraflor
Join Nkechi Nwafor-Robinson and Gaby Mammone as they chat with the amazing Karen Miraflor, co-founder of the whimsical Amazing Fun Park in Mississauga.
This episode dives deep into Karen's inspiring journey of transformation, where she swapped boardrooms for playgrounds after experiencing profound personal loss. Karen shares her heartfelt story of how grief sparked her desire to create a joyful space for families, where laughter and memories are at the forefront.
We explore the magic of embracing fear and choosing joy, as Karen emphasizes that empowerment is about aligning with one's true purpose, not just chasing comfort.
So, if you’re ready for a dose of inspiration and a sprinkle of fun, you’re in for a treat!
Takeaways:
- Karen Miraflor's journey from corporate life to founding Amazing Fun Park shows us the power of aligning our lives with our true passions.
- Empowerment is not a permanent state; it's about making moment-to-moment choices to follow your dreams and embrace fear.
- Creating spaces that encourage joy and connection, like Amazing Fun Park, can help families build memories and celebrate life together.
- Karen's story illustrates how grief can lead to transformation, inspiring others to find joy and purpose amidst loss.
- Choosing courage over comfort is a key theme in Karen's journey, reminding us that sometimes we must leap into the unknown to find happiness.
- The importance of shared experiences in life, especially in family settings, can be a source of healing and joy for everyone involved.
Have an empowering story to share on an Empowering Bytes episode? Submit your request, for a chance to be a guest.
Amazing Fun Park: https://amazingfunpark.ca/
Find us online: https://linktr.ee/nkechinwaforrobinson
Transcript
Great day, amazing human.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:Welcome to Empowered at My Skin podcast, where our mission is to help 1 billion people in this world think in more empowering ways.
Speaker A:Empowered humans empower humans.
Speaker A:So you are in the right place to become a lead domino for empowerment today.
Speaker A:My name is Nkechi Mwaho Robinson.
Speaker A:I'm not only your host, but I am a vibrant optimist obsessed to bring you empowering content with every single episode.
Speaker A:We will bring you weekly content, alternating between longer episodes with featured guests and a shorter episode called Empowering Bites, where I'll be joined by my co host, Gabby Memone.
Speaker A:So if you're ready, let the show begin.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:Great day, amazing humans around the world.
Speaker A:It is your girl.
Speaker A:And I'm here with another episode of Empowering Bites.
Speaker A:And this one's a very special because it's a little bit different.
Speaker A:But before I do, you know, I gotta introduce the co host with the mostest, the most fabulous, amazing human that I get to record episodes with and bring you empowering by for probably like, almost like.
Speaker A:Like a whole leap of time, like 170 odd episodes.
Speaker A:I know, sure.
Speaker A:I'm like, yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:And yeah, so you know who she is, but she still needs an introduction because she's the G to the A to the B to the Y to the mat.
Speaker A:Monet.
Speaker A:Gabby.
Speaker A:Matt.
Speaker A:Heavy.
Speaker B:Every introduction has always been different.
Speaker B:I love it.
Speaker B:And what's special about this episode?
Speaker A:We have a third person.
Speaker B:Amazing people in our circle.
Speaker B:We have another amazing person in our circle, and that's who is here with us today.
Speaker A:I love it.
Speaker A:We actually said that to the humans last episode.
Speaker A:We said, hey, if you want to get on the podcast, you can.
Speaker A:You just have to express an interesting.
Speaker A:And here we are.
Speaker A:We have an amazing human that we're looking forward to introducing.
Speaker A:But we're gonna just.
Speaker A:We're gonna have her tell us a little bit about why she is an empowered human in this world.
Speaker A:Well, her name is Karen.
Speaker A:Is it Miraflore?
Speaker C:That's correct.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker C:So, hi, everybody.
Speaker C:Yes, I'm Karen Miraflor, and I am so thrilled to be joining today two amazing, amazing individuals here on Earth.
Speaker C:Angels on Earth.
Speaker C:Thank you guys for having me.
Speaker B:Wait till they learn about you and your story.
Speaker B:This is why we invited you on.
Speaker B:It's amazing.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So tell us why you're an empowered human.
Speaker C:Well, okay, so I actually am one of the co founders of Amazing Fun Park.
Speaker C:So it's an indoor fun park in Mississauga, and I traded boardrooms to playgrounds.
Speaker C:I went away.
Speaker C:Well, didn't really give up anything.
Speaker C:I just kind of like pivoted and gave up a good career, actually, that I worked on for really all my life.
Speaker C:And now we are spreading happiness and smiles through this fun park that we created and we built just out of grief, really, from the death of my dad.
Speaker C:And then, you know, one step after the other.
Speaker C:It came to be so exciting, exciting times.
Speaker A:And so us humans visiting the fun park, what would we experience?
Speaker A:Is it for kids?
Speaker A:Is it for adults?
Speaker C:Is.
Speaker C:Is.
Speaker C:It's for both.
Speaker C:It's actually kind of a magical place.
Speaker C:Really.
Speaker C:It is, because it remind, you know, it's kind of a child's healing as well.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:For a lot of us.
Speaker C:So as soon as we enter, it's kind of like a magical place.
Speaker C:It's enchanted forest themed.
Speaker C:So.
Speaker C:And, you know, we also touch on, you know, the sounds, which we have a stage for.
Speaker C:For it as well.
Speaker C:And we also have the smells, so.
Speaker C:So that's also important, the cleanliness of it.
Speaker C:And so it's the visual and the smell and the, you know, experience, really.
Speaker C:It's the vibe.
Speaker A:So now I'm curious.
Speaker A:When you smell, it's.
Speaker A:You have scents that we do.
Speaker C:So we invested on scents for all over the park, actually.
Speaker C:So.
Speaker C:And it's a 20,000 square foot park, so.
Speaker A:Wow.
Speaker C:It's.
Speaker C:It's quite massive.
Speaker C:It used to be a club for adults and now it's a club for kids.
Speaker A:Oh, wow.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:That's a.
Speaker A:That's a transformation.
Speaker A:Thank you, Divine universe.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:But when you say sense, because I'm a very.
Speaker A:I'm a.
Speaker A:Like, I have some.
Speaker A:I have some aromatherapy going on here.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:So when you.
Speaker A:I love hotel scents.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:Like, I.
Speaker A:So when you say scents.
Speaker A:Like, like, give us a.
Speaker A:Give us a.
Speaker A:Like, what am I gonna smell?
Speaker A:What will I experience?
Speaker A:Experience when I walk into.
Speaker C:It's exactly that.
Speaker C:So it's kind of like a, you know, where you get the scents from?
Speaker C:You know, the hotels.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:That's also where we get them from.
Speaker C:So the manufacturer is actually local.
Speaker C:It's also local.
Speaker C:And they.
Speaker C:The scent that we picked is actually, funny enough, it's called Toronto.
Speaker A:Oh, wow.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:I want to see what Toronto smells like.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:And.
Speaker C:And it actually smells very fruity and at the same time, powdery clean.
Speaker A:Okay, nice.
Speaker C:Gabby would know.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:I look forward to.
Speaker B:They've opened only this year and I've already been five times.
Speaker A:Oh, wow.
Speaker A:I look forward to.
Speaker A:So I have to ask because I'm, I'm excited.
Speaker A:I'm.
Speaker A:I love games.
Speaker A:And so was there a love for games that you.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah, I love games.
Speaker A:I, I, I, yeah.
Speaker A:Board games, all types of games.
Speaker A:I love game parks.
Speaker A:I, I don't like one.
Speaker A:I don't, I don't like.
Speaker A:I'm not a roller coaster type person, but I definitely have done.
Speaker A:My company invests in them.
Speaker A:Active activate.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah.
Speaker A:Activate games.
Speaker A:Right?
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So I like things like that.
Speaker A:Yeah, I like going to.
Speaker C:We do, we actually do have a very similar game, like, Activate.
Speaker C:So one of the attractions is that is the floor grid game.
Speaker C:We also have modern arcade games that is like a big iPad table.
Speaker C:It's got 150 games in it, and it's meant to be played by four people.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker C:And we also have a VR roller coaster ride that.
Speaker A:It's so fun.
Speaker A:I don't know that I could do the real.
Speaker A:I just can't do the real.
Speaker C:Me neither.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Not anymore.
Speaker A:After I saw that bird kind of go into that girl's face, I was like, oh, I'm done.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:But what's cool about these is that you have the goggles.
Speaker B:So if it's daunting, just lift it up.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:But anyway, so no birds hitting your face, but no birds.
Speaker C:And then we also have, like, neon car rides that you can ride on.
Speaker C:And, and we have an interactive wall ball pit, you know, where the graphics change every five minutes, and then you throw the, the ball on the, on the, the wall and then it reacts.
Speaker C:The graphics.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Yes, I've seen, I've played that.
Speaker A:Yeah, they have that, I think.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Oh, wow.
Speaker A:I'm really excited.
Speaker A:And, and if I'm visiting.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:So for the listeners, is it like an hour?
Speaker A:Experience is an hour and a half.
Speaker A:Like, how long is the experience?
Speaker C:So the experience is for two hours.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Oh, wow.
Speaker A:That's a good time.
Speaker C:Yeah, you know, it's, it's enough time to explore all the different attractions and have fun with your kids.
Speaker C:Nothing in this park is meant to be played by yourself.
Speaker C:Like, everything is shared.
Speaker C:It was very intentional that way.
Speaker C:We wanted the family to connect, build memories, and that's really how I celebrate my dad and my family.
Speaker C:So we wanted it to be a place where definitely the experience would be great.
Speaker C:And the vibe, like, as soon as you enter, you know, there's music in the background, there's karaoke.
Speaker C:You know, we're Filipino, so of course we're gonna have karaoke on stage.
Speaker C:And I love seeing all the kids build their confidence, you know, and the parents are just so lovely.
Speaker C:Recording their kids when they're on stage, and that kind of experience is.
Speaker C:And build memories that way is.
Speaker C:Is amazing.
Speaker C:We also do birthday parties, and you're.
Speaker A:Doing a great, great party.
Speaker A:I.
Speaker A:For Gabby, which we'll talk about a second.
Speaker A:But just before you do, Gabby, before I hand off to you, you kind of tapped on it, and it was kind of where I would love to.
Speaker A:Because I do believe anointing comes out of affliction.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:Like, I do believe that there's something really special that happens in this world with certain people that have gone through certain things.
Speaker A:There's something magical that can come out of the learning, the experience.
Speaker A:And so wanted to.
Speaker A:My understanding is that your story is one of healing and clarity and.
Speaker A:And really choosing a life now that lights you up from the inside.
Speaker A:So can you take us a little bit back to before this fun park came to vision and what it was that you're experiencing and.
Speaker A:And at what point did you start to see the vision of this future for yourself?
Speaker C:So, you know, I used to think that empowerment meant control.
Speaker C:So before, it was always about having a grip, you know, like, on every goal, every step, every outcome.
Speaker C:But now I think very differently about that.
Speaker C:Empowerment, to me now is about alignment.
Speaker C:It's about aligning my life with my own dreams, my own truth, my calling, and when, you know, I need to.
Speaker C:When I don't have the confidence, you know, because it does happen, right.
Speaker C:Like, fear set in.
Speaker C:When fear set in, I just used to always just tailor my dreams to my fears, which is the complete opposite of what I should be doing.
Speaker C:Right?
Speaker C:Like, you're supposed to dream big and you're supposed to fly, and.
Speaker C:And it was comfort.
Speaker C:That's what it was before.
Speaker C:So I was comfortable with my cushy job.
Speaker C:And, you know, it was okay.
Speaker C:I have three kids and they're all grown now, but at the time, we were building a life, and.
Speaker C:And so, of course, there are needs that need to be met first and obligations, right?
Speaker C:But when my dad.
Speaker C:When I lost my dad, there was never a moment of, you know, drama of, like, oh, my daughter, this is what you need to do.
Speaker C:Like, it was never like that.
Speaker C:When my dad was diagnosed with.
Speaker C:With cancer, there was no battle.
Speaker C:My dad gave into it and he was, like, over it.
Speaker C:He was like, to go, I'm done.
Speaker C:And the moment that really clicked on with me was remembering what he said about done.
Speaker C:He cupped my face and he said to me, my love, I'm finished.
Speaker C:I have done.
Speaker C:I have done it well.
Speaker C:I've lived a Good life, you guys are all, okay, I'm ready to go.
Speaker C:And I thought, and that's what, what clicked with me when I thought, oof, I want that kind of ending for me.
Speaker C:And at that point it gave me, you know, the realization of is this what I really want to do for the rest of my life?
Speaker C:Just be okay?
Speaker C:You know, like not really being aligned with who I truly was and the purpose that of my.
Speaker C:The purpose of my life.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:And so of course again, it was never a click of a button.
Speaker C:It was life never is like that.
Speaker C:So it took a little bit.
Speaker C:I had to go through grief that was not easy, but within it.
Speaker C:One morning I woke up and I thought, I am done with grieving.
Speaker C:I don't want to feel this way and I don't want anyone else to feel this way.
Speaker C:I want spread joy.
Speaker C:I want to have joy for me and from there I can spread it.
Speaker C:So I thought of, you know, maybe this is the time to give up the boardrooms for the playgrounds, you know, and.
Speaker C:And my husband and my sister and my brother in law collectively had an amazing idea of just doing something for kids to celebrate.
Speaker C:My father, who actually really, really loved children out of anything else.
Speaker C:He had 10 grandchildren altogether from three kids.
Speaker C:And so that was his thing.
Speaker C:And for me, my greatest memories of my dad were always about being in an amusement park in the Philippines.
Speaker C:So yeah.
Speaker C:And I thought, you know what, let's do something like that.
Speaker C:And of course my husband, who was really the businessman in the group, was always Mr. Fun himself.
Speaker C:So he knew, he knew kind of like what to do.
Speaker C:And I just took the first step.
Speaker C:That's all I did.
Speaker C:And I did it scared.
Speaker C:Yes, I did it scared.
Speaker A:The best things are, you know, be done scared, right?
Speaker C:And feeling empowered is never a permanent state of being.
Speaker C:Right?
Speaker C:It's a moment to moment choice.
Speaker C:It's not something that you feel once and you have it forevermore, right?
Speaker C:It's not like a college degree, you know, so.
Speaker C:So you have to recommit to it again and again and again.
Speaker C:And each time you chose courage over fear.
Speaker C:Each time you follow that pull of your purpose, you get that feeling.
Speaker C:It's the feeling of brush within you and kind of makes you want to fly, you know.
Speaker C:And that to me is pure magic.
Speaker C:And that's when magic happened for me.
Speaker C:When I decided, I told my husband, okay, I'm ready to quit.
Speaker C:I'm ready to quit my full time job.
Speaker C:Let's create something amazing.
Speaker C:And it, I love that word.
Speaker C:That is one of My favorite words in the English language, that word, amazing, and hence the name, you know, because that's really what I wanted kids to feel when they go in an amusement park, because that's how I felt whenever my dad brought me to one.
Speaker C:You know, you felt amazed by what you see.
Speaker C:It took you, transported you to a different world, which is exactly the goal here.
Speaker C:I wanted everyone to just leave their problems at work, problems with families, problems with siblings, problems with everything else, leave that behind, and then transport you to a different world of enchantment and magic.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker B:I love that you put something, Karen, in the guest form that has come completely full circle.
Speaker B:You said, and I quote, I know what it's like to choose comfort over calling, but I also know the magic that unfolds when you leap.
Speaker B:And that's exactly what you've just shared.
Speaker B:You shared about losing your father.
Speaker B:You shared about going from your corporate life to this awakening that you had, which brought you clarity.
Speaker B:We just think that's so beautiful, so fascinating.
Speaker B:Thank you for sharing that.
Speaker C:Thank you.
Speaker C:Thank you for giving me a platform to share that and for anyone to.
Speaker C:Who's listening.
Speaker A:It's.
Speaker C:It's just really one decision that kind of.
Speaker C:And it has to scare you.
Speaker C:It has to.
Speaker C:Yes.
Speaker C:If it doesn't, then it might not be the one, you know, like, that might not be the right one.
Speaker C:I've made so many mistakes before.
Speaker C:I've made so many, you know, and the.
Speaker C:The greatest lessons you learn, not out of joy, not out of, you know, all the good things that have happened, you learn those things from those same mistakes and those, you know, pivots that you needed to do.
Speaker C:And.
Speaker C:And, hey, it hasn't ended, like, it doesn't end, right?
Speaker C:Like, you can't say, like, from here on out, you know, Right.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:It's moment to moment.
Speaker C:Every day is.
Speaker C:Is.
Speaker C:Is a new day.
Speaker C:But, my gosh, we opened in February, and to this day, it's only.
Speaker C:We're now just at the end of July, and the people I've met through this fun park is just unparalleled compared to the 25 years I've done in the corporate world.
Speaker B:Oh, my gosh.
Speaker B:That's amazing.
Speaker C:It's just on a daily basis, it's like, moment to moment, there's all of these people, and, Gabby, you're one of them.
Speaker C:So.
Speaker C:So it.
Speaker C:It's just unreal.
Speaker C:That is, to me, magic.
Speaker C:That is the magic.
Speaker A:And so what do you say to somebody that maybe is, like, on the verge of wanting to leap but maybe overwhelmed by the unknown.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:Like, it's.
Speaker A:It's.
Speaker A:It's.
Speaker A:They feel the fear.
Speaker A:They know they should do it.
Speaker C:Fear.
Speaker A:But the.
Speaker A:But it's so overwhelming.
Speaker A:What do you say?
Speaker C:It's okay.
Speaker C:Listen.
Speaker C:Listen to your feeling.
Speaker C:Like, stop thinking.
Speaker C:I was very analytical.
Speaker C:I have made a career out of analytics, and so it's always like, you know, studying one data over another, and I forgot to feel, you know, if you feel that your dream is calling to you, it's.
Speaker C:Don't.
Speaker C:Don't lose that vision.
Speaker C:Don't ever fit your dreams, you know, and shrink them because you're entertaining your fears.
Speaker C:I have been there.
Speaker C:I have been at that edge of, you know, taking that leap, and there's no going back.
Speaker C:I mean, what.
Speaker C:What is the worst thing that can happen to you?
Speaker C:What.
Speaker C:What is the worst thing?
Speaker C:It will open you up to a different avenue at best.
Speaker C:Again, fear is moment to moment.
Speaker C:You just don't have to just ask yourself, what if it works out?
Speaker C:What if.
Speaker B:Yes, my dreams come true?
Speaker C:That is the magic.
Speaker C:It makes you want to fly, you know?
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:You did an episode on that.
Speaker A:Didn't we, Gabby?
Speaker B:We did.
Speaker A:What if everything does work out?
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker C:Oh, I love.
Speaker A:Thank you so much.
Speaker B:So conditioned.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yes, we're so conditioned to sometimes think the negative or be it be interrupted by fear.
Speaker B:But what if it does work out?
Speaker B:What if it's better than we expected?
Speaker B:What if.
Speaker B:And so what's nice here to hear you say it is that you prioritized joy and you prioritized the feeling of, yes, I can do it.
Speaker B:You know, you reminded us of that magic.
Speaker B:That magic where it begins in the moment where you choose courage over comfort.
Speaker B:That's amazing.
Speaker B:In your own words.
Speaker C:I love it.
Speaker C:I love sharing that part of my journey because it actually gives me so much hope every day, you know, like, it's very different than when I was doing the 9 to 5 job.
Speaker C:Like, now it's more of who am I going to meet today, you know, versus.
Speaker C:And how is that going to enhance my life?
Speaker C:Because, again, that is when the magic happens.
Speaker C:These people that I meet on a daily basis enhance my life from the littlest of, you know, of moments to the big moments, you know, like meeting someone who went through so much, who was another angel on earth that.
Speaker C:That I met last March, someone who is so inspiring and, you know, who's battling cancer and lost the ability to walk and had the most amazing, amazing demeanor and vibe.
Speaker C:When I met her, I was like, asking myself, what excuse do I have to feel bad when this amazing woman and was just like spreading joy all around and not carrying her burden.
Speaker A:Yeah, right.
Speaker C:Like that.
Speaker C:From that to this little kid that was crying because she didn't want to leave.
Speaker C:This was just last yesterday, by the way.
Speaker C:She didn't want to leave the park and all I had to do was give a lollipop.
Speaker C:She was good to go.
Speaker C:So it's that.
Speaker C:It's those moments that for me, you know, when I was in a boardroom and you're in an office somewhere in a high rise, you don't really get to meet those kinds of people.
Speaker C:And so the moment to moment of joy is not felt in the same way that I do experience now.
Speaker C:And if I didn't do that leap, I would not have had this chance.
Speaker A:I love that.
Speaker A:I love that.
Speaker A:Karen, thank you so much.
Speaker A:We really appreciate you coming here and sharing your story.
Speaker A:I look forward to going and experiencing the amazing park and for sure.
Speaker A:And hopefully our listeners that are here on this hemisphere of the world will do so as well, you know.
Speaker A:So thank you so much.
Speaker A:And Gabby, this is where we have to say, I'm Ink and I'm Gabby with one B.
Speaker A:And we're out.
Speaker B:Thank you, Karen.
Speaker B:Thank you, everyone.
Speaker A:Bye Bye.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:There you have it.
Speaker A:I trust that you are feeling more empowered in your skin.
Speaker A:As the late Dr. Maya Angelou said, when you get, you give, when you learn, you teach.
Speaker A:So it would mean so much for us at Empower to My Skin, Inc.
Speaker A:If you share this episode and tag us or teach an insight that you took from today's episode on your social and tag us.
Speaker A:Feel free to leave us a review over at itunes and follow us on social media.
Speaker A:Power to my skin.
Speaker A:Finally, remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode.
