Meet Karissa C. | Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karissa C. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karissa, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk scares me. Most of my life I minimized risk. And most of my life I looked from the sidelines. I make safe decisions. Familiar ones. I declined internship and job opportunities for safer alternatives. I’ve procrastinated my writing on the justification that the mom-to-a-toddler-life is just too demanding. But safe and familiar don’t make dreams come true. If this pandemic taught me anything, it reminded me who I am when “normal” life is stripped. What’s left? Do I like her? Has she just been going through the motions, allowing her potential, her career, to stagnate because of fear? I think it’s time to answer risk’s call.Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a writer, a story-teller. I’ve known that, always. Put me on a stage, hand me a mic and I’ll fumble for words. Give me pen-and-paper (or the 21st-century version, a keyboard) and I’ll make you laugh, make you cry. But recently, (read:years) I’ve let my light dim. I currently write short children’s stories that publish in a religious publication every quarter. I adore my fictional brother-and-sister duo and enjoy creating their character development. I also halfheartedly keep up a blog. I’m capable of so much more. I have so many stories to tell. And P.S. it took years of complacency to realize this. Somewhere between playing it safe, choosing familiar and becoming a mother I lost my spark. Becoming a mother also kicked me in the pants, my wake-up call. I watch my toddler and think about who I want to be for her. What example am I setting? Will I walk what I talk? Right now I’m not. But like any good story, the phoenix rises. I’m rising. I’m so excited to reinvest myself into my passion. I’m currently brainstorming a blog and brand overhaul and dreaming about a podcast. I have places to go, people to see, stories to tell!Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Saturday: 11:00 am: Brunch at Hungry’s on Memorial 1:00-5:00 pm: Walk Marvin Taylor Trail at Hermann Park. Visit on-site garden spaces, pedal boat on the lake and grab a snack at Ginger Kale. Picnic tables provided! 7:00 pm: Dinner at B.B. Italia Sunday: 11:30 am: Snooze Eatery at La Centerra for brunch and drinks. Talk and walk (off brunch!) around La Centerra. 1:00 pm: Check out local downtown Katy shops. Katy Rock Shop for crystals. Vintage Back Roads for home decor. 5:00 pm: Grab (MSG-free!) pho to-go at Pho Binh on Westheimer. Movie night at-home Monday: 5:30 am: Behemoth Gym #breakfastcrew workout to start week off right! Coffee and small bites at Blockhouse Coffee in Katy. Work remote if necessary / hang out in green space behind coffee shop. Visit Chinatown, restaurant-hop for apps, main, dessert. Don’t look at Yelp, make it fun by choosing restaurants we know nothing about! 🙂 Tuesday: Explore iconic Heights neighborhood: Breakfast at Lola’s Diner Walk streets/enjoy architecture. Grab a slice (or two!) of Pink’s Pizza Coffee at Catalina’s Shop small shops dotted throughout neighborhood Small bites/drinks at Down House Wednesday: 5:30 am: BGym morning workout Coffee/treat at Summer Moon Coffee in Katy. Work/hang out Visit Market Square Park, catch free movie screening, on-site Niko Nikos Greek for dinner. IG pic in front of Houston Is Inspired mural! Thursday: Visit Houston Arboretum and Nature Center Shop Westchase Farmers Market for small-batch goods like honey, candles, wine, jams, olive oil Dinner: La Pasha. Eat outside for ambience Friday: 5:30 am: BGym workout Art hop around the city. So IG-worthy! A few fave spots: Window Works “It’s Okay to Feel,” “Stronger Together” at Stanton’s City Bites. Dinner: “Date” at Anthonies in Simonton TX Saturday: Shop at Grand Parkway Farmer’s Market in Katy Send my bestie on her way, knowing she’s had a fun time in vibrant Houston, TX!Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Behemoth Gym. I resisted ever joining a gym. And then I met the Behemoth Family. I signed up for Birthfit, a series of movement classes to support and respect my postpartum body. And then the pandemic hit. The in-person classes at Behemoth I had so looked forward to turned into virtual ones. Birthfit ended, and I continued my virtual training with Behemoth. Now, my socially-distanced 5:30 AM classes are the best part of my day. The coaches say Behemoth is “more than a gym.” It’s true. This space became a haven for me to not only move my body, but to strengthen my mind. I face mental fears, prove to myself that actually I CAN, and that I am mentally and physically stronger than I imagine. This shoutout is dedicated to the coaches and my teammates. Thank you for cheering me on. Thank you for challenging me. For believing in me. I am a stronger person for it. In and out of the gym. Behemoth gives me the courage to take risks: if I’m just existing, I’m not living. Special Thanks to Aja, Leah and Aryan Barto. Thank you for making Behemoth possible.

Website: www.onecupcarver.com

Instagram: karissacarver