I first met Alyssa a few years ago through mutual friends while I was visiting Los Angeles and still living in upstate New York. We hit it off immediately, and as we got to talking, we discovered that she was very good friends with someone who lived in my tiny town in upstate New York. Such a small world!
Alyssa has this wonderful energy about her. She's fun, joyful, and truly vibrant, which happens to be the very word she chose to describe herself. I couldn't agree more.
She's followed since I started the project, so it was especially nice to finally have her in the studio, in front of my camera. We had such a fun afternoon together, and I loved capturing that beautiful energy of hers.
What really matters to you?
Wow, there are so many things I could say, but family will always be at the top of my list.
My family means everything to me. I was raised on the East Coast, and at 30 years old, I moved 3,000 miles away to build a life in Los Angeles. Even with the distance, staying close and connected to my family has always been incredibly important to me. My parents are now in their early 80s, and I feel so fortunate that I still get to talk with them almost every day. Their love, support, and presence in my life had such an impact on the person that I am today. I am so grateful for them.
And then there are my two incredible children. Being a parent has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. My children have taught me more about love, patience, perspective and what truly matters than I could ever imagine. I also talk to them almost every day and I am a super proud mama!!!
What brings you happiness?
I consider myself a California girl through and through, and I feel incredibly lucky to live in such a beautiful place. California brings me so much joy, especially because so much of my happiness comes from simply being outdoors. Whether I’m walking on the beach, swimming in the ocean, hiking in the mountains, or catching a beautiful sunset, nature is my happy place. It gives me a sense of calm and peace that I don’t find anywhere else. I try to be outside as often as I can because it grounds me, clears my mind, and reminds me to appreciate the simple moments.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced?
Life certainly hasn’t always been easy. The past decade brought some of the greatest challenges and losses of my life. I went through the end of my marriage, lost my sister Jennifer to cancer at 45, and then experienced the unimaginable heartbreak of watching my sweet nephew Charlie lose his own battle with cancer at only 15. There were moments through all of that when I questioned everything. But somehow, even through tremendous loss, I have always found my way back to the light. I’ve made a conscious choice to remain hopeful and optimistic and to keep believing in the beauty of life, even when life feels incredibly unfair. Those experiences have taught me how much perspective and attitude shape the way we move through the world. I choose to smile. I choose gratitude. I choose to love deeply and most importantly I choose to show up for the people that I love.
What would you change if you could?
That’s an easy one. I wish my sister Jennifer and my nephew Charlie were still with us. I think about them both every day and feel incredibly lucky for the time and memories we shared. They will always be a special part of my life.
Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.
What single word do you identify with?
VIBRANT
Thank you Alyssa!
Alyssa has spent more than 25 years building a career in the wholesale footwear industry and currently works in business management at Merrell. She genuinely loves what she does and especially appreciates being part of a company that keeps her connected to one of her greatest passions: the outdoors. She also values the opportunity to work alongside talented people she respects and admires.
That love of the outdoors extends beyond her career. Alyssa is also a proud volunteer with Life Rolls On and its They Will Surf Again events. The organization is close to her heart, helping improve the quality of life for people living with disabilities, including spinal cord injuries, by getting them back in the water and experiencing the joy of surfing.
Life Rolls On
http://www.liferollson.org
Alyssa also serves on board of The Charlie Landers Foundation. Created to honor, her nephew, Charlie’s legacy of strength, perseverance, courage, and compassion, the foundation raises funds to support pediatric cancer research and help make a difference for children and families facing cancer. Being part of the foundation allows Alyssa to celebrate everything that made Charlie so special while channeling his legacy into something positive, purposeful, and full of hope. The mission of the Charlie Landers Foundation is to raise awareness, provide critical support to pediatric and young adult patients, and fund research to find a cure for Ewing’s Sarcoma.
www.thecharlielandersfoundation.org