Conversations with Marissa Guillen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marissa Guillen. 

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m a full-time pharmacist, weekend travel warrior, and part-time travel blogger. I spend Monday-Friday within the walls of a Cincinnati hospital and my weekends exploring the world. My story starts in 2020, amidst the world’s largest healthcare crisis and my own personal career burn-out. It was then I decided I desperately needed a creative outlet and pursued my bucket-list goal of starting a travel blog. One year ago, I made it my mission to travel at least once a month (while working full-time). Now, I get to show others how to do the same. 

I’m convinced that a life full of travel is possible even while working full-time. In the last 1.5 years, I’ve used travel-hacking and strategic use of my PTO to explore 4 new countries and 12 new national parks. My newfound passion is to show others how it is possible for them too, regardless of income or marital status. 

I grew up in the suburbs of Houston, TX, and moved to Ohio in the middle of high school with my family. My family didn’t take vacations regularly, and if we did, it wasn’t anywhere lavish or adventurous. It wasn’t until I was 27 years old that I visited my first national park. I didn’t grow up and stay in the same place my entire life, but I knew from a young age I still wanted to see more. My life changed drastically moving to Ohio. I gained a new perspective seeing and learning how others grew up differently than me. Though it was hard to relate to at times, it was also the spark that ignited my passion to learn how others live around the world. 

My father is from Mexico, and my mother is from Ohio. My parents met when they both left their childhood hometowns to pursue their careers in Houston. Both of my parents are bilingual in English and Spanish, and growing up we learned both languages in our household. My mother was an English-Spanish teacher. She spent months studying in Mexico to solidify her Spanish-speaking skills. My father worked overseas for months at a time growing up. He spent years working in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Africa. He would receive 3-4 weeks of a break at a time away from his job, but oftentimes it was more affordable to retreat to European or Asian countries for a break rather than come back home. My parents are the biggest influence on my wanderlust. When they told the stories of the countries they lived in and experienced, I knew I had to visit those places too. 

Since my travel journey began in my young adulthood, I’ve visited 4 continents, 12 countries, and 21 national parks. Travel has become a priority in my life above many things. The words my mother once said to me while I was homesick in India have remained with me so profoundly: “Life is different everywhere you go.” I want the world and my community to know this message in their hearts as well. 

When I began to take travel seriously, I entered the world of travel-hacking. I learned how to use travel credit cards, airline alliances, and hotel status to my advantage in order to travel affordably and comfortably. I learned how to travel solo so that I would be able to go farther in a shorter amount of time without being limited by someone else’s schedule. I learned how to use my PTO more innovatively and make it work for me. And now, two years into this journey, I continue to work full time while traveling consistently and affordably. This is when I learned that through stewardship of time and resources, traveling the world is possible for me too. 

I often get asked, “how do you travel so much” and the answer is fairly simple: I prioritize it. I’ve observed two common limiting beliefs that hold people back from traveling: 1. “I have no time”, or 2. “I have no money”. I’ve worked alongside my fellow nurses and doctors working tirelessly for the last two years, often without taking a break. When I suggested to them “take a vacation,” I could sense the immediate dismissal of even the idea of it. My heart breaks for them. They are part of the reason I do what I do now. 

When it comes to traveling farther and more often, the single most powerful tool that you have control to change is your mindset. Just like anything else, to make a lifestyle of travel is to prioritize it. It starts with you. 

My story lies in untelling the tales people believe that hold them back from seeing the world. I believe travel is not just for the privileged; it is for everyone. There is a common misconception that travel HAS to be luxurious and expensive. People believe that in order to experience the beauty of this world, it means you have to break the bank. That you have to be a certain person, or make a certain income, or have certain timing to allow all of that to happen. That’s simply not true. I am passionate in helping others break these myths and provide creative solutions to pursue their travel dreams.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not! I’ve struggled endlessly with learning how to balance working full-time, traveling on the weekends, and running a consistent blog and Instagram account while still maintaining a healthy work-life balance. My days often look like prepping content before work, going to work, posting and editing on my lunch break, coming home from work to plan/write/edit more content, and prepping for my next trip. My weekends are spent traveling or working. Late nights, early mornings, and many mistakes in between. 

There are many times I’ve wished I wouldn’t have to work full-time so that I could focus on my passion projects. But I am motivated by knowing there are others who feel like I once did- stuck in their full-time routine with a desire to see the world but no idea how to make it work. It is for them that I write, create, and provide solutions so that they can take the trip of their dreams. 

I also struggle with imposter syndrome. It’s a tale as old as time but a very valid one in the healthcare professional world. There are not a lot of pharmacists who have entered the “blogging” or “influencing” space, especially in the travel realm. The constant hustle can feel isolating at times, and though my co-workers are very supportive, they don’t always get it. 

Thankfully, I’ve met (and traveled with) amazing creators and travel bloggers along the way. I’ve found myself within a community of travel creators who all come from different walks of life but we are united in common love and passion to see the world and help others do the same. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would become a part of a supportive and uplifting group of women who help each other in this capacity- often without ever meeting. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My full-time job is as an emergency medicine pharmacist, where I work directly in the emergency department alongside patients, nurses, and doctors to aid in medication selection and preparation. I spend 40 hours a week in a hospital and spend my weekends outside or taking weekend trips.

When I am not at work, I write for my blog and Instagram account, providing travel tips, travel guides, budget hacks, and ways to use PTO better to make travel happen.

My blog and account are unique as they are written from the perspective of the traveler who works full-time AND travels – not the remote traveler and not the part-time worker. The full-time employee who has a home base and makes time for travel consistently.

I haven’t met many others like me in this space of the travel world. I seek to answer the question pain point: “I work so much, how do I travel more?”.

I am most proud of the way my pages have empowered others to book the flight, take the trip, and see the world.

What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that it is NEVER too late to start something you’re passionate about. What once was an item on a bucket list became my side hustle. What began as a pipe dream and a late-night YouTube video on blogging and iPhone photography turned into blog posts full of guides, beautiful photos, travel tips, and working with brands. The greatest reward is when someone tells me how my posts helped them put their dream trip into action.

The other important lesson I’ve learned has been to JUST start. There have been so many ways I’ve tried to talk myself out of various steps in this journey. But the voice within me that said “just do it” spoke louder. I’ve made tons of mistakes along the way, but none of the progress would have happened if I hadn’t taken messy action and just went for it.

I don’t have the most robust and beautiful travel blog on the internet. But I am entirely proud of what it has turned into and how it has helped others pursue their dream destinations. There is so much power in just starting, taking the plunge, and booking the trip. I encourage everyone just to do it. Take the chance, because what if it turns into something more than you imagined? The world is out there for you to see and experience. It is not just for the privileged; it is for everyone.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mindhertravels.com
• Instagram: @working.towander

Image Credits
Marissa Guillen