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!

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.)

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.

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.>

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.>