Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Marcela Marañon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Marcela , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I’ve gained my resilience from every struggle I’ve faced in life. Life is full of experiences—some good, some bad—and I’ve learned to quickly move on from the bad ones and embrace them. In moments when I feel like my world is falling apart, I remind myself to be resilient, knowing that these tough moments shall pass. I cry, I mourn, and I shake it off, always keeping moving forward.
In those moments of adversity, I draw strength from the knowledge that challenges are opportunities in disguise, propelling me toward greater resilience and personal growth.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
When I was 20 years old, I was involved in a car accident that left me paralyzed from the waist down, caused me to lose my left leg, and resulted in the passing of my boyfriend. As you know, it wasn’t an easy transition from having a non-disabled life to a disabled one, but with time, I learned to adapt to the new me and understand that my disability is just a part of who I am as “Marcela”; it doesn’t define my essence. I’m a full-time mom, a disabled content creator, and a wheelchair accessibility advocate. I travel all over the world to feature accessible destinations, aiming to motivate and encourage others to explore the world. I’m the first disabled Latina who has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and one of my goals as a disabled traveler is to visit the seven wonders of the world. So far, I have visited six. I strongly believe that it’s important to make the world an accessible place for all and make space for everyone no matter their stories or where they are coming from.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Honesty: I honestly don’t mind being honest with others, even if it’s uncomfortable for some people. I don’t lose anything from sharing what I think or feel. I have gained a lot by being honest and feel unapologetic.
Generosity: I am extremely generous. This is something that I don’t like to talk about a lot to the people who follow me; I try to keep it to myself. I like to help others with my whole heart, just as people helped me when I was going through the most difficult times.
Adaptability: One skill I want to share is being adaptable to any circumstances in life. I feel that when you have the skill to adapt yourself to the good or the bad, you can overcome anything. I’m all about moving forward because I have learned to adapt easily to most things in my life.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
Sleep: I prioritize taking time off to focus on myself. I enjoy having breaks from social media and recharging with activities that bring me calm and happiness. Avoiding imposter syndrome is crucial to me; while it’s easy to deceive others, I cannot lie to myself. Therefore, prioritizing myself is essential, and it works wonders for my well-being.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejourneyofabravewoman?igsh=MWwzcWY0am1sNzhhMg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarceTurnage?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: Marcela Marañon
- Other: Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@thejourneyofabravewoman?_t=8lcEGnVa81H&_r=1
