I AM ... WORRIED but HOPEFUL

Hey gang - I'm glad I caught you. Between hand washing and disinfecting your doorknobs and light switches, and checking your email and social media to see what ELSE is cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 virus, I hope you are finding time to take care of yourself.

So, I am ... worried. Not just about being sick, but about the overall impact this will have on my home, community, friends and family all over the US. I mean, I'm pretty lucky... I'm overall very healthy, work from home, and a 6-pack of MEGA roll toilet paper in my linen closet.

The way this will impact us is hard to fully realize and may look different for each of us. My daughter works in the hospitality industry, and no one is going out for dinner. Many of my friends work in event production (including me!) and events are being cancelled left and right. (I just learned that the College World Series is cancelled and Disney World is closing!) One of my sisters works in a hospital, and she'll have to be there and thus be exposed to sick people. My son is in OSUT (basic training) in Georgia and I've got no way to check in with him besides sending letters.

Most of the folks I know do not have the option to work from home and have limited vacation and sick leave. Another group of friends are small business owners. How do you keep the lights on when everyone is staying home and there's no one in your shop, no revenue, but bills still come due?

I am trying to take my own advice and find the silver lining in this situation... but I'm struggling.

• More time at home is good. More reading, writing, and tackling some building projects in the shop. 

• People learning the importance of washing their hands is also a good thing (how was that not a thing before?), and folks looking out for one another is encouraging. 

But, to be honest, that's all I got. 

I'm anti-panic, but common sense isn't as common as one would hope. Sometimes it's not a disregard for common sense, but a lack of options. Let's say I'm sick, but I don't have any paid leave, so I take all the OTC drugs and go and struggle through my shift at work. I know I should stay home, but can't afford to lose 8 hours of pay. While I personally don't worry about this scenario, I know lots of folks who do. How about those folks who were raised like me - no blood, no bones sticking out, no ER or office visit. They continue to push through when they really need to be tested. But, co-pays and prescriptions and missing work just aren't options. Not to mention there wouldn't be a test available for them anyway (that's a completely separate rant that's a little heavy on my political opinions).



So, what do we do?

Take a break and breathe. Look out for your loved ones, pitch in to help where you can. WASH YOUR HANDS. Be mindful of covering coughs and sneezes. Disinfect those surfaces you touch most (doorknobs, light switches, refrigerator door, car doors and steering wheel) regularly. Utilize email, conference calls, and video conferencing when possible. Read more. Don't panic. Don't believe everything you see online - do some research. Check in with the CDC and WHO. Be a good human. Hording products like toilet paper is ridiculous and selfish. Make sure you have 2 weeks of medicine (if you take meds regularly). Oh, and did I mention... WASH YOUR HANDS (sing the alphabet song - 20 seconds)! Take care of yourself physically (go for a walk!), emotionally, and spiritually (whatever that looks like for you). None of those things are exclusive to a building, event, or being part of a large group of folks.

It's a scary time, none of us knows what's going to happen. But worry and panic won't make anything turn out better. Remember that the organizations closing and canceling things are really trying to do what's best for us all. It's up to us to find patience and understanding and to work through this challenge with love and grace for our fellow humans. I'm hopeful that we'll all work together and look at what's best for everyone.

Let's all just be decent human beings. Is that too much to ask?

Until next time,

Ciao for now!

<3Jen

I AM ... PUBLISHED

Hey friends,

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood - not just because it's almost 60 degrees and sunny outside (which makes be VERY happy... especially since this week last year I was scooping on to snow piles that were almost five feet high!), but also because I can cross one of my BIG FIVE off the 2020 list...

Patrol Notes has been submitted for Publishing! 

The Ebook is up for presale/preorders and will be released on Friday March 13th. The Paperback is still in the "review" stage of publishing and I'll share just as soon as it's available!

So, this book isn't that big of a deal, really. It's a collection of things I've written over a long time, an idea that I had and some derpy drawings that I scratched out. But it feels like a big deal. Let me tell you about why...

I've come to realize as an adult that my coping mechanism throughout life has been procrastination and quitting.

If you don't finish, you can't fail. 

I was (let's be honest - AM) terrified of being judged and found wanting. I'm a people pleaser to the core and the thought that someone won't enjoy what I write, will think the drawings are terrible, will say that anyone could have done it, and wonder "what took you so long, it's not like it was hard" paralyzed me for years.

I recognize (in hindsight) that I could have done this book years ago. I had the material. I had the means. I had the time. But what I didn't have was the confidence or the "zero fucks" attitude. 

Why, for the love of Pete, do I shrink back from hard things, or big projects, or procrastinate on my dreams and goals? 

Because I can't be judged a failure if I don't start. 

At least not by other people - I have absolutely judged myself a failure for not starting So. Many. Things.

So this is me telling you - BE FUCKING BRAVE. Do it despite the judgement you fear. Do it because failing isn't the worst thing. Regret is. 

I don't want to look back and wonder why I didn't do the things that I KNEW I was capable of, but was too paralyzed by fear of judgement to actually do. Especially not things that are simple, and bring joy, and are so subjected that someone somewhere is bound to say "I don't get it" or "I didn't like it." But damn it - someone might say, "that was funny" or "your dogs are adorable" or "thank you for putting this out in the world, I think I'm going to write a book, too."

There are so many other things I want to do and be and try and fail at - the list is long. And I just might be to a place when I'm ready (and kind of looking forward) to fail. Even failing feels like an accomplishment now.  

So, here's to trying some new stuff, and SUCKING at it. Still counts. No regrets, just lessons.

Watch for more information about the book (and editions to come)... I'll be sure to update the blog and my social media pages.

Until then...

Ciao for now!

<3 Jen

I AM... Me!

Each day I contemplate my blogging challenge for 2020 - "I AM." Each day the language that follows it changes. My mood changes, my energy ebbs and flows, my focus and my mantras change. But here's what remains constant...

I AM - in so many ways - uniquely and spectacularly, ME.



My 2020 challenge comes from the following:

“I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am.”

― Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

Not many of us have read much of Plath's work (or maybe you have - I'd love to hear more!), but this story is not all sunshine and rainbows. It's a story of mental health issues, relationships gone wrong, fear, shame, and tragedy. And most of all, hidden somewhere in the chaos ... hope.  At the funeral of a friend who died by suicide, she whispers the above line.  Deep in her heart, she knows who she is - the words I am, I am, I am beat like her heart. But no one else seems to know her (by her own choice). She is the product of her life experiences, and there's no making it all go away.

Sheesh. That's depressing, isn't it?  No.  And I'll tell you why...

We are all shaped by our experiences and similarly SHAPE OUR REACTIONS to those experiences. We have choices, even though sometimes it feels like we don't. We can choose hope over despair, love over hate, acceptance over judgment, and tenacity instead of quitting. We can ask for help instead of going it alone, we can find joy and gratitude instead of misery and resentment.

No matter what I'm facing, the time of my life, my job, where I live, who I love, I am ME. Unique and wonderful, deserving of love and respect, capable of so much, imperfect and wonderful in my own way.

And sometimes that's hard to remember.  Sometimes we have to step back, sit still, and breathe to get back to it. Sometimes we have to talk to someone else, maybe a friend, family member or professional. Sometimes we have to whisper in time with our heart beat, "I am, I am, I am."

It's easy to judge ourselves against others, it's part of society! Class rank, titles at work, stats posted at the gym (splat points?!), race results, salaries, the size of your house, keeping up with the damn Joneses. But does any of that truly serve you?

I regurgitate the old quote by Theodore Roosevelt "Comparison is the thief of Joy." often - which, coming from a fiercely competitive person (especially in my school days), feels counter intuitive. But as I've gotten older, I've come to realize that comparing myself to others often leads to shame, resentment, or excessive pride - none of which serve me long term. Even comparing myself to myself of the past is tricky business. So much is different and beyond my control. Does comparison drive me to be my best, or use shame and guilt to push me forward in an endeavor that doesn't bring me joy or kills the joy I once had?

Having goals, setting benchmarks, and working towards personal bests are all wonderful endeavors! But these tools, for me, need to be independent of comparison, shame and guilt. Accepting myself, loving myself where I am, for who I am is so much more important.

Y'all. I want to be good at what I do. I want to be fit. I want to be stronger. I want to love and be loved. But most of all... I want to be ME.

I hope that today, and every day, you can connect with all the ways that you are uniquely YOU.

Just a few more days in my 31 Days of The Daily Minute - you can check them out HERE.

Until next time...

Ciao for now!

<3 Jen

I AM ... Hopeful!

The first of my 2020 "I AM" blogs, gang!

I AM ... Hopeful!

It's a wonderful season to find hope. Hope for the future, for success, for will power (at least until Girl Scout Cookies come out next month!), for peace, for safety.

The New Year is a magical time. It's an automatic reset button for life as we know it. I read an article that sited a study claiming that resolutions made at the new year were 40% MORE successful that resolutions set at any other time of the year. Perhaps because of the push to make changes, perhaps because of lots of accountability and support. Whatever the reason, it just FEELS like a great time to hope that we can be our best selves.

That hope was something that had me thinking during my morning walk with the pups. I noticed a city crew taking down yet another Ash tree and I was really sad. It feels like the movie "Fern Gully" here in my 'hood - all the giant beautiful trees are being cut down. But then I thought back to last spring when the tree removal started and also to all the new trees planted in their places. In just a few years those trees will grow and start to provide shade, and I'll get to see their leaves turn in the fall.

Maybe taking the trees down in the first place isn't ideal (though I understand why they are coming down - damn Ash Bore Beatles!), but focusing on the negative isn't going to put those trees back or make me feel better about the stumps left.  No, recognizing the silver lining - the HOPE - that the trees they plant will soon mature and be as beautiful, provide fresh air, and maybe even have some fragrant spring blossoms gave me the boost I needed today.

Ya know what else I'm hopeful for?

I'm hopeful that my good health will continue, with the help of some solid good habits. I'm making time for regular exercise - the easy/fun kind (walking with my pups 2x per day) and the hard/sweaty kind (getting after it in the gym). I'm also fueling my body and being mindful of my Macros. And, honestly, I think working from home has made a big difference in my health - I just come in contact with fewer "sickies".

I'm hopeful that with more sunlight each day, I'll continue to feel good and avoid the dreaded "SAD" that often creeps up on me. We are definitely over the hump (thank you winter solstice!), and I am looking forward to more and more daylight. Truly I am a sunshine girl - it doesn't have to be warm (I wouldn't complain!), but I do love my sun!

Goodness, it feels great to have lots more examples to share, but for now, you get the point.

What are YOU hopeful for today?  My 31 Days of the #Daily Minute (find the videos on YouTube, like, subscribe and follow along!) day 3 today talked about finding three things that bring you hope. What are your three things?  Gosh, I have so many more than three! I HOPE that's the case for you, too!

Let's hear it, gang... hit me up in the comments!
Find me on the socials:  Bookface   Twittersphere   MeTube

We are all made up of so many amazing traits, feelings and talents - I'm excited to share the "I AM" journey with you all!  I'd love to hear more about your "I AM" moments - let's hear about them in the comments!

I am HOPEFUL that you'll have an amazing day, and I'll catch you later. ;)

Ciao for now!
<3 Jen

2019 Wrap Up - One Word Challenge

Happy New Year, Friends!

I can't believe it, but it's true - today is January 1, 2020. Where did 2019 go? Where ever it went, it seemed to be in a damned hurry!

We enjoyed a very chill night at home with friends and family, some pizza and snacks, a game of dominoes and a whole lot of snark (is anyone surprised?). A wonderful way to ring in the new year, I'd say!

Also, it feels good to wrap up a project and I'm excited to put together a project in the shop that will help me remember my 2019 One Work Challenge (I'll get to that a little later...).

As you all know, each month I chose a word that represented where I was that month in my life and business. It had to be a single word, a verb, and the word often took on multiple meanings and purposes.  At first, I thought it would be easy, that coming up with a monthly word to represent all that was happening (or needed to happen) would be a breeze.

Uh, think again Jen.

How do you describe the fear of quitting your full time job, while simultaneously looking forward to the opportunity to work with new folks, in new cities, doing new things? How do you juggle family, friends and a new travel schedule with your love for working with clients in the fitness industry? How do you describe with one word your renewed focus on self care, health and wellness?

Uh...

Exactly. And even though I didn't post a blog entry weekly, I did use my One Word each month in hash tags and posts on my other social media handles, and truly worked that word into my daily moving meditation (read: walks with the pups). I tried to use each word to guide my responses to situations I encountered and help me focus my efforts when I got distracted.

I also made some physical projects to really drive home a few of the words - nail/string art, vision boards, and even homemade t-shirts. I have a really fun project planned for the end, but will need a little help from the hubster and the CNC!

2019 One Word Challenge Words:
Leap, Engage, March, Bloom, Tend, Spark, Focus, Appreciate, Designate, Grind, Celebrate and Believe.

Looking back, all these words have one thing in common: PURPOSE.

Acting with purpose, whether it's to LEAP or to FOCUS, CELEBRATE or BELIEVE, they all point back to living and working with PURPOSE.

Purpose doesn't mean that everything went according to plan, or that I have it all figured out. It means that whatever I was doing, it wasn't by accident. Even if something happened accidentally, my reaction to it was more purposeful this year - less of a knee jerk or panic, and more of a "ok, so now what's the next step?" reaction. Thinking long term and weighing the impact of my decisions was my priority. And, I think it's made all the difference. I'm feeling more grounded, have noticeable less stress, and I feel strong relationships forming in my life.

If I had to choose a word to represent the whole year, looking back, it would be purpose. (I feel a little like Steve Martin in The Jerk, wondering what my 'special purpose' was! HA!)

So, here's a fun way to wrap 2019's words:

I'm going to have it carved into a wood plaque with the company logo and hang it in the office. That way I can always look back and remember some of the excitement, nerves, and hope that helped to shape my purpose in 2019. I've got a long way to go, but boys and girls - I'm on my way!

2020's Blogging Challenge will be similar, but with a little twist:  "I Am ....."

What am I? Well, you'll just have to stay tuned to see! Also watch for my YouTube Challenge in January: 31 Days of The Daily Minute. Each day I'll share a topic or reminder and I promise to keep the topic to about a minute! January 1's is already up! Check out my channel and don't forget to "like" and subscribe! There will be much more coming! 

I hope that all of you had a wonderful 2019, but are looking ahead at 2020 with a renewed sense of passion and purpose! 

I look forward to sharing a heap more with y'all this year - let's get after it!

Ciao for now!

<3 Jen

How will "BELIEVE" Shape Your New Year?

Happy Holidays, Friends!

What a month it's been! After wrapping up the Christmas holiday at home, I found that our "low key / low stress", spend less / do more, time together Christmas was just what the doctor ordered!

While part of me still laments that our tree wasn't bursting at the seams with presents wrapped with care (or hurriedly slapped on paper on Christmas Eve after everyone went to bed), I don't miss the stress, the money struggle, the crowds, or the mess on Christmas Morning.

I can remember many holidays where gifts were played with for 1 or 2 days, items left unused for months (even til the next year) or added to a pile or similar items, with no special memory tied to it, no reason to sit back and say, "remember the year I got THIS". We were slipping into the gift for the sake of gifts habit, and the giving was losing it's meaning.  Sure, sure, some of that comes when your children get older and you just don't know where their spark of interest lies on any given day, or they are of the age where they just buy for themselves the things they truly want.  Our goal has been to make an impact - an experience or items that they will look at/use and think of us.

This year, well, we didn't plan our workshop time very well and our gifts weren't ready on Christmas morning. Note to self - making gifts (cutting, sanding, painting or staining, assembling, etc) takes time and care. No rushing next year!!

But truly the items and the stories that accompany them are really what I hoped to accomplish!  "Remember that time I made THIS and ... "  It may seem like it happened to the Griswolds, but it's the memory and the story that make it special! 

I BELIEVE that this is the feeling I want for the holidays - I want more time with my family (this year, 7 of 8 of my siblings were together on Christmas as my place!), more silly games (I got spanked in Mario Cart AND Monopoly), yummy food (baking breakfast casseroles and sharing the recipes), and watching our favorite movies together.

As we approach the new year, the final year of the decade (remember you count 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, so 2020 is the final year, not 2019), I find myself making lists, building plans, setting my calendar... all while considering if these tasks bring me closer to the life I choose.  Will it bring me closer to my goals and dreams? Will it add value to my life? Will it make me feel good about myself, my family, and be good for my health - physical, emotional, and mental?

If the answer is no - to any of those - I need to move away from that activity. Life is too short to start working backwards.

So, next up on the to do list - my 2020 Blogger Challenge. I'll be writing up a 2019 One Word Challenge finale to discuss an reflect on all that we've been through this year. There have been challenges and changes, victories and set backs. I'm excited for the review and a chance to look back on where we started on this journey! 

But what's next? What focus should I narrow in on? Should I keep it to all things Jen? Or set my sights on a task designed for growth - personal or professional? I'd love to hear your ideas and thoughts in the comments!

BELIEVE me, it's going to be an amazing year - and I can't wait to share it with all of you!

With love and cheer this holiday season~
<3 Jen

December One Word Challenge: Celebrate & Believe!

Hello Friends!

We've wrapped up November, and even though Birthday Month and Thanksgiving are over, my plan to CELEBRATE continues! December is a great time to celebrate the little things and reevaluate WHY we celebrate. 

I hope you'll join me in celebrating (finding gratitude) daily!

Moving on in my One Word Challenge, I've decided that BELIEVE is a great way to finish out the year.

In what ways will I BELIEVE this month?

I'm a little past the point of believing in Santa, but...

• I believe in the generosity of myself and others!
  I love to see Giving Tuesday posts on social media, and am excited to be part of several events and non-profits who have a positive impact on our community. Without a generous spirit, our community wouldn't be such an amazing place!
  Also - I've done some fundraising and plan to ride in an event called SPIN4 to raise money and awareness for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. Learn more and donate  HERE.
  
• I believe in spending time with those that we love.
  It doesn't have to involve expensive gifts, or fancy trips. Sometimes it's playing in the wood shop building something together. Sometimes it's coffee or lunch. Other times it's just a long phone call catching up. While opening a thoughtful gift is always fun, it's the person giving the gift that we love!
  
• I believe in myself and my abilities.
  Sure, I have moments of doubt (uh, almost daily), but then I'm reminded that my track record for getting through tough sh!t is about 100%. That's legit. So... F.I.L.D.I.!! (Thanks to my pal Joey for sharing the video linked - it's a great kick in the butt!)
  
• I believe that the work I do is valuable. 
  As I navigate the M3Living & Events life - I'm realizing that we all have gifts that contribute to the work we do. I'm starting to give myself credit for what I bring to the table, and placing a value on those skills. No one can live on "exposure" or good karma. Sometimes you HAVE to strike a deal that involves money. It is what it is. It doesn't make you a bad person, or greedy, or whatever your brain may be saying to you.
  
• I believe that I'm one lucky girl. 
  I've been practicing gratitude and recognition in my daily meditations - and man, the list of things I'm thankful for just goes on for miles. Considering the basics (food, shelter, family, my health) and the myriad of "extras" in my life that I never dreamt were possible. The people I get to work with - in the gym, at events, and through my creative outlets are amazing. And my family, though certifiably crazy, is everything.
  
• I believe that I have to take care of myself before I can take care of others!
  My physical, mental, and emotional health has to be my priority. Things like getting the right nutrition, moving every day, getting my meditation in daily, and taking the time to read and listen to information that helps me learn or be informed all help keep my healthy scales balanced!
  
  If you'd like to discuss how nutrition and functional movements can improve your life DAILY, I'd love to visit with you! Simple solutions for our complex lives, schedules and budgets are where it's at! Reach out to me HERE. 

That's not all I believe, but you get the idea. I believe in the good things in life, that they can't all be wrapped up, and yet they are some of the most profound gifts there are. Belief in myself and all of the amazing moments in this life. Even the challenging days, the budget crunch, and the feeling of being lost ... they all disappear when I remember to BELIEVE.



In what ways do you BELIEVE? Tell me about it in the comments!

Here's to a Holiday Season and a New Year filled with believing in all the most wonderful things!

All my best to you and yours,

<3 Jen