Give or take ten years ago, I read an article in my local newspaper about an organization that assisted low-income women who were victims and survivors of domestic violence. It provided free legal representation for the women to seek final restraining orders against their abusers. Attorneys could volunteer to complete training and then take pro bono cases on behalf of these women.

"Whether you think you can or think you can't -- either way, you're right." - Gerald Ford. I've heard this a thousand times before, but it really struck me recently. Perhaps it was because the iFit trainer said it while she had me slogging it up a hill so high the elliptical inclined to the point where my topknot was bumping against the ceiling. (At 5'4", that happens approximately never.)

I ran into a local mom at the grocery store this weekend. As we debated the pros and cons of different kids-themed frozen waffles, I confessed I ate them too. She agreed and noted how quick and easy they are in the morning rather than cooking breakfast for the kids. She added: "I'm a bad mom." 

Those of you who have heard me deliver my authenticity talk know that I wrote a highlights column, “On Marino’s Mind,” in my high school newspaper. Fast forward nearly 25 years, and I’m using a different platform to highlight topics of my choice. It’s funny how these things go, but more on that after this fun excerpt from my first article. And why am I sharing this? I'm taking another trip around the sun this week and I can't believe how much my teenage voice and writing style foreshadows me now!

Just because I’m good at being a lawyer at a law firm doesn’t mean I have to do it….It’s ok not to want it anymore. It’s ok to let it go.

I love writing my newsletter. Suffice it to say, it's a highlight of my week. Sometimes it takes me 25 minutes. Sometimes it takes me an hour. However, I used to have this tiny problem: No matter how long it took, I couldn't leave it alone. I couldn't say, "It's done!" and move on with my life. I'd tinker with it night after night, driving myself nuts over inane things like whether semi-colons are too archaic. (They're not; I love 'em.) 

Five summers ago, I was a partner at the law firm that had been my home for nearly a decade. I was a commercial litigator and, at the time, was handling several high-profile matters. I worked a lot. Like, a lot a lot. I was also overjoyed to be expecting my son and spent the summer getting ready to be a mom.

Did you ever sit down to complete a new or difficult task and think, "Hm. I'm not sure about this, but I can knock it out in an hour." It then takes you almost three hours to finish. You feel frustrated as you remark, "Wow. That took a lot longer than I expected." Why does this happen?!

When everyone was mouthing the words to "Driver's License" by Olivia Rodrigo a few months ago, I didn't join in. I didn't know the words because keeping up with popular music is something I no longer do. (Btw, I cringe to write "popular music" because I sound like the section of a long-defunct CD store.)

We need to get comfortable being uncomfortable if we want to make any progress. The alternative is staying cozy…right where we are.

Welp, we’ve been at this for over a year now. Quarantine. Forced remote work. As I’ve written in the past, I was WFH for several years before the pandemic and always loved it. Quarantine obviously presented new challenges, but as we start a new week, here are some reminders about why WFH really, truly, is awesome. (At least, in my opinion. Maybe some will resonate with you, too.)

I've wasted too much time worrying about what others think. And I'm done with it. Why? I realized that worrying about what others think gives them the power to define my self-worth. Relying on outsiders for validation? Eek! That's enough convincing for me.

If I asked you to go dumpster diving with me, you'd probably say, "Um, hard pass." But I'm going to ask anyway, so let me back up. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has heard 2020 described as a complete dumpster fire or seen gag gifts to that effect.

I was texting with a friend the other day and she was telling me that her family cancelled Thanksgiving due to the second wave of the virus in our area. She commented that all she could do was stay positive, despite how difficult it is in a year that's already been, well.... tough.

I know I’m not alone in my frustration at the inability to unlock my iPhone using Face ID while wearing a mask. Cut to me at the grocery, trying to pull up my notes folder containing my grocery list but realizing I can’t take my mask off. Instead, I’m taking off my antibacterial glove to type in the code when I really just want to high tail it out of there. <Sigh.>

I felt like Michael Bolton with the printer in the movie Office Space.

Like many of us, I've done some quarantine baking. One not-from-scratch recipe was a pineapple upside cake. The side of the Duncan Hines® said: "Be a pineapple. Stand tall, wear a crown, & be sweet on the inside." <Mind blown.>

I started taking piano lessons in second grade. I loved show tunes and learned to practice consistently and meaningfully every single day. I broke down each new piece into bite-sized chunks: I practiced slowly, measure by measure, line by line until I made my way to the end. Then, I would put it all together, eventually practicing the piece out of order so I started with a tricky passage and learned to master it. I let myself make mistakes and worked through them. When I wasn't practicing, I could hear the music in my head. While I was reading a book or watching tv, my fingers would often tap the notes on an imaginary keyboard.

This blog appeared as an Op-Ed on ROI-NJ.com on March 25, 2020.

Before COVID-19 (“BC”), we all sought mindfulness. We talked about slowing down and eschewed our “busyness.” We vowed to meditate, refocus, and connect with each other on a basic level.