“Make yourself so happy that when others look at you they become happy too.” — Yogi Bhajan
Hi there! I’m Marisa — a 24-year-old, multi-passionate, female technologist. I’m on a mission to make the world a better place, as cheesy as that sounds.
I’m that person that loves Mondays and that girl who tries to sneak smiles out of others — you could call me an optimist. My corny jokes make everyone’s eyes roll, but getting others to laugh is my greatest joy.
Where It All Started
I grew up in New Jersey and have since hopped from place to place, with a year in NYC and landing currently in South Carolina (but moving soon! Stay tuned!).
I studied computer science at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia. During that time, I led several student organizations, which gave me the opportunity to lead and empower others. For a year, I held the title of Governor for the state level of a community service organization — I loved every second of it. …
Hey, did anyone figure this thing out yet?
This game of life. What’s the point anyway? Does anyone have the answers?
Earlier, I spent two hours outlining my goals for the next five years, and then I read an article by Tim Denning about his annual visit to the hospital in which he’s unsure if he’ll even wake up.
My breath stopped short —what if I don’t have those five years? Have I done enough? Is my life well-lived? What is life even about? (Yes, I know, deep questions at 11 pm on a Friday night).
Maybe you clicked on this article hoping for some answers, but I’m afraid I have a lot of uncertain questions and thoughts. …
What if you become that someone?
Sometimes I think about how different objects came to be. Everything was someone’s dream at some point, and we take these things for granted.
In the summer, I walked around my neighborhood in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and felt mesmerized by the architecture of the bridge and buildings. Honestly, it wasn’t anything too incredible, but someone built that. Someone decided to paint that house blue or install those floor-to-ceiling windows. Someone designed the neighborhood and paved the roads and hooked up the pipes and constructed the houses. And, not just one person! …
There’s something enchanting about a blank page — something exquisite about silence before the first strum of music.
What are you going to build today?
What story is in you…
Sometimes you really need to “reach” for your goals.
“C’mon! You can do better!” my gym teacher heckled. I couldn’t. Is it so bad that I couldn’t touch my toes? I wasn’t flexible enough, or maybe my arms just weren’t long enough.
We were in the embarrassing days of high school, in the era of annual fitness tests where the athletic kids effortlessly did pull-ups and ran laps. The rest of us tried our best. I received a negative score on the “sit and reach” test, which required touching your toes for a measly score of 0. Negative thirteen was pathetic — even my gym teacher laughed at me.
I couldn’t touch my toes. …
Your dog’s not the only one who needs to get outside.
I quarantined alone in New York City for two months. I forgot what grass looked like. Green? Kinda blade-like?
There were weeks when I barely saw the outdoors, just gazing through my foggy window on the brownstone-lined street. I stared at a computer all day for work and then stared at it some more as I watched movies or video chatted with friends.
Information overload reigned over my brain— too many things to get done, too many people messaging, and too little time. It seemed like nothing helped until I walked outside and felt the fresh air and warm sun.
Taking a walk is a proven way to clear your brain and feel energized about your day. When you feel stuck on a problem — like caught in writer’s block or unsure about a decision to make — go for a walk. …
How your writing opens your brain to others
It hit me square in the face. I had a realization that many of the people reading my work don’t actually know me as a person — we’ve never met, and if you’ve heard my voice, it’s probably from my podcast. And yet, yet, I have this community of writers supporting me and cheering me on.
In September, I joined a writing course by Tim Denning and Todd Brison. The lessons are fantastic — I have more notes than a gal can re-read in one sitting. But, the cherry on top of the course is the community it brought. …
It’s not as scary when you break it down
My heart struck a chord.
Podcast? I asked myself. Really?
Overwhelmed by the need to help others navigate a path I had walked, this podcast idea took over my brain. It struck a nerve I couldn’t shake. One week, two weeks later I couldn’t get it out of my head. That’s why I knew I had to pursue it. That’s when a podcast became my new passion project.
When you feel this calling to pursue a thing, you have to take it on, even when it’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done — especially when it’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done. …
They change the very fabric of the world.
Your words have power, and you will never know their full strength.
You will never know how that boy waited on your every vowel for your love. You will never see the glow of pride in your mother’s eyes when she sees your success in print.
You will never know the full extent of goodness your social media post or book or cry into the wild did. You’ll never know, but you can hope.
You can hope that every single word you utter is magic to another person. …
#4 — Chase your curiosities.
Another year ‘round the sun. I pegged this year as my “metamorphosis” year, set on hunkering down on self-discovery and better understanding my goals.
It was a transformative year, and I learned at least 23 things.
#1 — Ask for recommendations.
Books, songs, restaurants, TV shows, vacation spots, hobbies. The world is full of people waiting to help you and wanting to provide some wisdom. My favorite books and songs come from people I know. My sister knows what TV shows I’ll like. My friends know exactly what restaurant I should check out.
That’s why online customer reviews are so important — 88% of shoppers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. …
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