The Essence of Natasha

Nov 20

Devout ~ Fervent ~ Helpful

Faithful ~ Vivacious ~ Tenacious

Natasha Borota and her “Mumsy” Barbara Borota

I met Natasha’s mom, Barbara, several years ago at a Tim Horton’s in Burlington. The first words I said were, “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I love, love, love your daughter!”

As a man who sometimes thinks like my father’s generation, where you don’t even say I love you to your children easily. I admit that I very rarely say I love you to anyone but my immediate family. Natasha and several others have taught me that I am so blessed that I can honestly say I love you and mean it graciously and safely. I thank Natasha for being one of the people who have made it safe and comfortable.

At one of the forks in my road, Natasha and I found office space at an office complex in Mississauga under the group assembled by Steve Meehan. Her office was two doors down from me. I am not proud of or regretful that I overheard Natasha from my office. She has a voice that carries, and as part of her efforts to put together functions for her clients, she is constantly on the phone cajoling, recruiting or finding ways to get others to participate in her next endeavour.

She has made a life assisting others to be charitable, predominantly athletes such as Larry Fitzgerald through his First Down Fund, the Michael “Pinball” Clemons Foundation and currently organizations and people such as the Thurman Thomas Family Foundation and Mitch Marner with his Marner Assist Foundation. Her network is extensive, one that never ceases to amaze me. She is in Buffalo one minute, the next in New York City or Arizona, executing fundraisers.

At one of the Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation events.

I kept hearing her phone conversations about her work with the Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation. The group of Jamaican expats raises funds to build schools in poor and underfunded areas of Jamaica, and it has built 27 schools to date!

I have been involved in several charities, including Gilda’s Club of Greater Toronto, Dancing with Parkinson’s, and Robert and Maggie Bras’s new drug development program. My participation mainly involves gifting my photography service for their events.

It was only natural that I offered to take pictures of a walkathon for the HHJF, and I was immediately hooked. These people were kind, thoughtful, fun, and caring—the type who makes you feel better after spending time with them.

I needed more than just taking photos of the walkathon; I needed to do more and had to go to Jamaica and assist in one of the builds. What I saw changed my life! I fell in love with the children and the people. As a photographer, I was given ample opportunity to capture images that struck deep in my heart’s core. I live a sheltered life, but Natasha and her team showed me another place. One that needed and thrived on the assistance we provided. I have been back two more times. The last time I dropped the guise of being a helpful builder. Instead, I used my talents to capture the essence of those trips with my camera.

It wasn’t just the Jamaican people who resonated with me but also the type of people who took their families. These people could have written a cheque but instead took their young children to help them understand how fortunate they were. These children participated in significant ways, and the interaction between those parents and their children was truly magical. Because of these experiences, these children would grow into amazing adults.

Natasha is a “force majeure”—she and her “itFactor” team can organize spectacular events. The Marner Assist Foundation is one beneficiary of that extraordinary effort; they make it look simple. Again, I have witnessed that from the outside, but I am genuinely grateful for Natasha, who gives me more beautiful opportunities.

One more Natasha story: We were on the Black River in Jamaica. The younger people climbed onto the ladder and swung by a rope from the suspended platform into the water. It wasn’t all that high, but it felt high. I was coerced into one more out-of-my-comfort-zone thing – a jump. I did it! Thank you, Natasha, for that and for all you do.

You can learn more about Natasha and the itFactor team.

http://www.itfactor.biz

At the Black River, Jamaica swimming hole.

Her dedication to the people and causes is exemplary. Natasha, the world needs more people like you. Meet Natasha Borota in her words:

What has been your biggest challenge, and how did you overcome it?

I have not overcome it yet, and it is not a challenge that I consider unfavourable; instead, it is favourable because I am working hard to be a better daughter to my mother. After the loss of her husband and my father, I was not sure how to step in and support her while giving her the love, dignity, and space to continue being herself. I still trust her choices, or lack thereof, in the next season of her life.

I am so grateful for her and am blessed that she is still here on earth with us. I am in awe of her faithfulness, strength, beauty, and kindness to everyone; she is a true angel here on earth. I am still a work in process, trying to navigate how to accept her independence, how to become a teacher to my mother in certain circumstances, and to not lose my patience or be a helicopter daughter, to enjoy this new chapter and fall in love with my mother all over again with grace and peace. Stay tuned…the challenge continues.

At some point, you reach a fork in the road. At that time, it did not feel like it, but looking back, you realize it was a big moment. One that changed your life. Describe yours.

The fork in the road came when I changed my career path in my late 30’s. My love and passion for horses brought me to a successful career as a thoroughbred racehorse trainer, and I cannot remember a day from my youth that did not include riding, showing, or grooming a horse. From that, I sought an education and a career built with my passion for horses. Everything was falling into place, and I never woke up a day that I was not excited to head to the track. I was living my dream.

But God had another path for me, and due to a severe back injury, that career path and door was closed; I had to keep my faith in God and find the courage in myself to do what was best for me and my health by finding another career and passion to drive me. I had to stop asking, “Why would God give me such a gift and then take it away when I was happy and successful?” When I stopped asking and started searching for the new door, he cracked open, and I had to choose to kick it down. It was then my new career, and the It Factor was born. This opportunity gave me more time to give back. It allowed me to incorporate my passion for supporting others less fortunate than myself or in challenging positions into my business plan.

I often miss what I had, but I choose to be grateful and claim what God has given me now. I want to focus on moving forward and only look in the rearview mirror to glimpse the joy my previous life gave me. I remain grateful for this. I continue to find joy in the work and the people I have been able to work with, but more importantly, the people we support daily who need us!

What is one gem you learned on your journey that you would love to share? Alternatively, what would you tell a younger you?

I have been blessed with so many gems, not diamonds or rubies but gems of wisdom, that I have learned from many amazing people. I share that your time is the greatest gift you can give. Don’t be selfish with your time because the more you give, the more you get from giving. If we all give a little more than we take, try to fix more than we break, and stand up for those who can’t stand for themselves, this will leave the world a better place than when we found it. This is what a true legacy is made of, not the diamonds and rubies we have accumulated.