Larisa Marie Gilley

I would definitely put a lot of that towards my mom. She was a worker, I tell you what. We may not have had it real easy, but she always made sure that we were being taken care of, so I got my strengths in work performance and the way I feel about it from her. I tell my kids, no matter what you're doing, I don't care if you're out picking up dog poop for a living, you be proud of what you're doing, because if you weren't doing it, nobody else would be doing it. Same thing with making sandwiches - people would come in and talk down to me and I'm thinking, just because you're a doctor doesn't mean you're better than me. I'm making your sandwich, be thankful that there is somebody out here that will make your sandwich. The best advice I give myself every day is never give up. I've thought very little of myself for many, many years until I was a certain age, and then all of a sudden I started thinking, I am worthwhile. I do a vlog where my counselor wanted me to write, but I said I can't write, so I do vlogs instead, and I put down every day, make it count, always forward. I'm very much raised by a hippie, so it's lots of peace, love, and happiness, and make your cheeks hurt because you're smiling so much.

Never give up and I give that to myself every day. For many, many years I thought very little of myself until I reached a certain age, and then all of a sudden I started thinking, I am worthwhile. My counselor wanted me to write, but I said I can't write, so I do vlogs instead, and I put down every day, make it count, always forward. People have told me that I have more than what I think I am, and I'm finally starting to believe that. I was raised by a hippie, so it's lots of peace, love, and happiness, and make your cheeks hurt because you're smiling so much. That's the mindset I carry with me - always forward, no matter what's going on, and you have to make every day count.

I would definitely tell them the same thing I tell myself make everything count, and soak up every bit of information that you can. Utilize the internet to try and learn more. Anything they throw at you, whether you think you can do it or not, give it a try anyways, because most of the time you will find out that you can do it. And if you don't have a big education, you can still do it. I did it for 30 years on a 9th grade education. You can do it if you try. Just keep trying, and do what you want to do that makes your heart happy, and where you can make others happy as well. Start knowing yourself now. Care about yourself, because the more you feel good about yourself, the better you're going to do. I'm so bummed it took me till a certain age to figure that out, so I tell any young person, do it now.

Finding my niche as I did at CorePelvice PT. You spend too much time at work not to have a bit of fun and build friendships. Life is too short; I wish I had learned that sooner. However, it is never too late. You just keep selling yourself; the right fit will come along. It's never from a lack of trying.

I love to help people, and if I can make you smile, my day is worthwhile. That's what made it easy for me to be myself at the Academic Counseling Center, because they were kids and I was Mama Larissa. I believe in being proud of whatever you're doing, no matter what it is, because if you weren't doing it, nobody else would be. I never acted like I was better than anybody - I would wash bathrooms and mop floors right alongside my crew. If you want your crew to work for you, you have to work for them as well. I respected them, it was like a family, and all I had to do was give the mom look and they knew what to do. When you can be a part of your crew and show that you are there right alongside them, they will work their butts off for you. I'm very much raised by a hippie, so it's lots of peace, love, and happiness, and make your cheeks hurt because you're smiling so much. My message for everybody is that it's always forward no matter what's going on, and you have to make every day count.