Meet Ayla Stansberry | Marine Corps Veteran & Small Business Owner

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

Hi Ayla, how do you think about risk?
Risk plays a huge part in most life decisions. Sometimes the risk is so low that you don’t even consider the negatives and most times, especially challenging ones, the risk is all that you can think of. The best part of experiencing a bit of risk is that you don’t become complacent. You are in a continuous cycle of growth alongside emotional/mental/physical challenges. My relationship with taking risks in life has always been conducive to what I’ve wanted to accomplish, but lately, I have been trying to take a step out of what is familiar or safer and begin to branch into those unknowns. Most times when I have challenged what I’ve known I learned something new about myself or the world around me and therefore made me a better person. For example, this past summer I fell in love with a community stray while I was enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. I learned to build a bond with another species from scratch, which if any of you have done before, you can understand that it’s not a straight and narrow path of progress. But in doing so, I became more knowledgeable in the craft of caring for animals that may or may not have felt the touch of a human or know what is safe and what isn’t. Zosha the community cat had inspired me to reach out to local communities in order to help others like him. I grew in confidence every time I had trapped and successfully helped a local stray receive the love and care they deserve. It is the concept of taking risks, not knowing the outcome, which outways the negatives, especially while conducting Trap-Netuer-Return (TNR).

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I always considered myself a creative individual. When I was younger I remember when I had gotten my first instrument, it was a piano, and I would sit in my room or outside and create pages of short songs and write short stories. The only thing I lacked was confidence in my own work. But over time as I had grown up I realized that confidence is the first step in any career you want to succeed in. When I decided to create my small business I had to accept that most days I wouldn’t feel one hundred percent confident in my abilities, but showing up and putting action to my words is worth more than skipping out. After meeting Zosha and getting him off the streets, I made a commitment to both him and myself. That commitment was to be their voice, help educate those around me, and continue to help curb the growing population of homeless and unwanted strays. Every day I dedicate Zosha to my growing work within my community and every time I help an animal in need my confidence grows as well as my connections to others around me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If a friend of mine were to spend a week out in San Diego I would take them to sunset cliffs. There’s something surreal about that place whether it’s a casual date, a gal’s date, or you just want some water therapy. I’m terms of food Tacos El Gordo is where it’s at. I never knew what tacos could be before visiting, definitely order a Mula for me when you go. Lastly, to end an evening Polite Provision is a great place to share a drink. The lighting provided a perfect atmosphere for conversation and relaxation.

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?
I would like to thank my grandmother Linda Riley and aunt Belinda McNally for always being there for me while growing up. I was raised by two strong women who helped pave my road to success and provided me with a strong foundation and understanding that in life you aren’t given things, you must work to achieve what you want in life.

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Image Credits
No credentials given to any of these photos, I own all of these images.