TAKE UP  SPACE

Hi, I’m Marina.

I’m a writer, advocate, professional, mom, golfer, and proud owner of a body that does things a little differently. I live with cerebral palsy, which means my walk has character, my hands come with built-in special effects, and gravity and I have a long-term, complicated relationship.

What it does not mean is that I lack ability, ambition, or impact.

This blog was created from lived experience — navigating disability, work, motherhood, advocacy, humor, and identity in a world that often underestimates difference. I write to challenge outdated assumptions, reframe what disability really looks like, and remind people that confidence isn’t about fitting in — it’s about taking up space as you are.

My writing blends honesty with humor because laughter makes hard truths easier to hear and easier to carry. I don’t write to be inspiring for existing. I write to contribute, to connect, and to help build spaces where people are measured by their work, not their differences.

If you’re here to understand disability differently, rethink inclusion, or simply feel less alone, you’re in the right place.

Welcome.
Take up space.