A few words from her brother (who started #theMJproject)

There’s a deep ache that just doesn’t fade. Losing Marya has left this emptiness, this wound that words will never touch. She was my little sister, and to lose her this way, at only 19, is like losing a part of my own heart. But even in this pain, I can hear her gentle voice, urging us to keep going, to bring comfort to others in the way she always did so naturally.

Marya had this quiet, beautiful gift—she could make anyone feel like they mattered, like even on the hardest days, there was still some light left to find. She would sit with friends in their lowest moments, look them in the eyes, and remind them that they were important, that they belonged in this world. And I believe, more than anything, that she would want that kindness to continue, even though she’s not here to give it herself.

That’s why I’m starting The MJ Project. It’s a small way to keep her memory alive, to spread hope and kindness in a way that feels like her. A simple note, a few words—something she might have said herself. “I don’t know what you’re going through, but I hope this brings a bit of comfort.” Or maybe, “You make the world a bit brighter.” Simple words, but words she would have meant with her whole heart.

If you want to join me, you can write a note and leave it for a stranger, or post it online with #TheMJProject. My hope is that together, we can keep her light alive, letting her kindness reach others who need it, even if it’s only one small note at a time.

For those who feel able, I encourage you to write a letter and share it with someone you don’t know. You never really know what kind of day or week they might be going through, and maybe, just maybe, it’ll make them feel a little less alone.

This project is inspired by something she wrote on Instagram: “You make the world just a little bit brighter. <3”

I’ve written the very first #TheMJProject letter, and I’ll give it to the first stranger I see today. It’s one small way to honor her, to feel her here with me, even if just for a moment.

I love you all.