Today I’d love to introduce you to Jessica Cohen of
Look who Found the Marbles, who lives life to the fullest by sharing great human interest stories. Jessica inspires with her positive attitude and shares in the interview why she doesn’t just want to share her story, but others’ stories as well.
Interview with Jessica Cohen of Look Who Found the Marbles
Katja: I love that you love a good human interest story – but what’s your story?
Jessica: I really do love a good human interest story because they are so empowering. I have such admiration for people who make the choice to overcome adversity rather than sink into it. You should see me when I watch or read stories of athletes and what they have overcome to live their dream of competing in the Olympics. I am a blubbering mess.
Difficult times happen in life. Let’s just say that I have had my share.
There’s a quote that Elizabeth Kubler Ross which says that,
“People are like stained – glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.“
I admire people who have that light within.
Katja: Yes, I know you had some hard times while trying to have a baby, yet, your outlook on life and everything is always so positive – tell how you “found the marbles” and found the secret of happy life regardless what life brings along?
Jessica: Trying to get and stay pregnant was certainly one of those times of adversity I mentioned above. You know what? Each time I have gotten through one of those difficult times, I am able to find strength from it and have empathy for others in a similar situation. If you asked my close friends for one quality about me, they would all say strong. I am proud of that.
Once I had my first child, I wanted to help everyone who was going through infertility because I had learned so much during that time. Friends and even friends of friends would call me to ask questions and get advice. I think for many bloggers, that is essentially how we found our niche. We have used our personal experiences to find our voices.
Katja: Is that how you started blogging? Tell us more about your blog Found the Marbles.
Jessica: Prior to blogging I spent fifteen years doing marketing research for both Hearst and Conde Nast magazines. I loved my job and I loved magazines. I knew even as a kid that I was going to have a career in magazines, but the industry has changed a lot over the last few years. In 2009 I started a local magazine style web site for women, but soon after learned that I didn’t have a real passion for the subject matter. The ones which felt the most authentic to me were about the people who have found their niche and the companies or organizations that pay it forward. From there I started Found the Marbles so I could write mostly about human interest and social good. It’s not that I am not some crazy fanatical do gooder. It’s just that there are many ways to pay it forward and they don’t all have to be done by opening your wallet. I really just enjoy showing the different ways that people can find their marbles and pay it forward. In fact, every Friday for the past three months a guest blogger posted on the site
how she found the marbles. It was really fun!
Katja: I love how you pay it forward by featuring people who pay it forward! I hear you have something else new like that this year too involving blog commenting..? And what else is new for you this year?
Jessica: Last month along with my friends Melissa I launched the
Blogger Comment Club. We are bringing commenting back to blogging and having an absolute blast with it.
I have been lucky to find that a love for ghost blogging. One contact led to another and this spring I am ghost writing my first book! There is a book idea floating around in my head as well along with an ebook idea, but I would also love to continue with more writing and ghost blogging work.
Katja: What does skimbaco lifestyle mean to you? How do you live life to the fullest in your everyday life?
Jessica: Life is full of twists and turns. I definitely struggle with living life to the fullest every day. All I know is that I don’t want to reach the end of my life and realize that I didn’t appreciate it. So for me the skimbaco lifestyle is about having integrity, being authentic, paying it forward, being appreciative and striving for personal fulfillment. The personal fulfillment part is a work in progress!
Katja: Thanks you for your interview Jessica, and keep shining your light!
Connect with Jessica
Read Jessica’s blog
Look who Found the Marbles and be inspired by Jessica and other great stories she shares.
Facebook:
facebook.com/foundthemarbles
Twitter:
@FoundtheMarbles
Twitter:
@IamJessicaCohen
Pinterest:
pinterest.com/JessicaCohen
