Community Amidst Chaos

Recently, I had the honor of guest speaking on my new friend Shelby’s IG series, Fearlessly Authentic, and the reason I say new friend is because we just met. Like last week-and not even in person. Nope, we met on Instagram when Shelby randomly messaged me and asked if I would be interested in being a guest speaker on her instagram live series that she had decided to start due to the ever increasing chaos that we call COVID-19. She said that everyone needed hope, a few tips for how to get through this, and also to know that no one is alone in this; she had reached out to others whom she found also shared the vision of living fearlessly authentic, and recruited their help. Of course I said yes!! Read More

Solitary Series: Finding Satisfaction in Aloneness (Part 2 & 3: Safety and Satisfaction)

Hola family,

When I started the Solitary Series back in late June/early July, I bet you didn’t think you’d have to wait six months before getting to read parts two and three (well neither did I!). I planned on waiting until I returned from my trip to Spain to write part two on safety so that I could include practical tips and strategies that worked for me on my trip, since it was my first solo international trip. While I had a great time and was excited to share my experience with all of you, life got the better of me and I fell behind on writing. So today, I am faced with a list of stories and pictures to share with you all of the past six months, but first I want to finish what I started back in July so that you too can start embracing time alone without worrying about the pressures of social stigmas, safety as a woman traveling alone, and to simply be able to find satisfaction in time with yourself!

Read More

Getting the REST in Restoration

Hello friends,

Wow. It has been a looonnng time since I last talked with y’all, and while my reaction is to apologize for my absence, it has been very much needed, and I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

I may have mentioned my Spring Break trip I was planning back in March to Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, for some much needed relaxation and isolation. I wanted some solo time where I was able to make my own schedule, go wherever and do whatever I wanted, and also the beach is my happy place. I immediately feel more at peace whenever I’m near one. It may be the salt in the air and the wind in my hair…rhyming not intended haha but it’s true. Fewer things make me as happy as I am when on a beach.

A lot of people ask me how I travel by myself and if it ever feels lonely; I’m outgoing and I really enjoy meeting new people, especially the locals of wherever I’m traveling to, but I also know how to enjoy my own company and not feel bored. The joy of reading, taking walks, and simply sitting on the beach was so refreshing after being busy and constantly surrounded by people and kids everyday for my job. There was one day when Read More

The Messy Bits

Hola amigos,

Lately a theme that has been resonating in my life is about embracing the little things, the small moments that bring me joy, regardless if those moments are big or small. I’ve noticed that I haven’t truly felt joy in things in a while, but I think that is due to the fact that I’ve been waiting for my life to finally be “perfect” or all together…which I’m realizing isn’t going to happen in the near future and maybe not ever.

Read More

New Year, New Me…ntal State

New Year, New Me.

*Cue the internal groans*

That phrase is so popular around this time of year, almost as popular as the last treadmill at any gym right about now. I know it’s not January 1st but I wanted to talk about a topic that has been on my heart and mind lately, as well as tell you about some AWESOME advice I received the other day. However, before I start, let me give you some quick background details.

Read More

A Heart That Dances

Dance. A beautiful expression of emotion, poetry, love and physicality. A means of escaping this world and entering into one of ease, passion, and elegant grace. While I haven’t been dancing all of my life, I’ve wished I could for longer than I can remember. I fell in love with the way that Judy Garland looked as she was effortlessly whisked across the floor in Fred Astaire’s arms in Easter Parade, or how her troubled frown disappeared as she quickly tapped her way across the barn floor with Gene Kelly in Summer Stock. Oh how I’ve always wished that I was born during that time, a time of simpler ways and classier entertainment. I love how I can pretend I am Judy when I dance, whether it be on the dance floor of a studio or simply across my living room carpet.

Read More

Anybody Out There?

hello world.

It’s been awhile and can I just say that I’ve missed you- you being the vast world of Internet and possible readers. I apologize for my neglect but it’s been a crazy couple of months, which I will tell you about later, but first off I’d like to start over with you. I know that I am supposed to write for me and not care about an audience, but the goal of this blog is to connect people around the world in the mutual striving of living fearlessly authentic. So it would be nice to have people to connect with haha.

So I’ve done a few changes around the blog, but I just want to let you know that whether you accidentally stumbled onto this post, saw it on my social media and swiped due to curiosity, or are looking to be notified every time that I post (which you can do at the bottom right of the home page), I’m glad you are here.

If you want to learn more about the purpose, please see the “Jess” page for more info and an open invitation to join my community.

More later, adiós

-J

Too Much. Not Enough. Just Right.

I had spent the last several months feeling like I wasn’t enough- not strong enough, not brave enough, not smart enough, and not good enough- that I was surprised when I flipped to the opposite end of the spectrum. I went from not enough to too much in a matter of days.

Read More...

Spinning Lights

We often think busy lives reflect purpose filled lives, which is not always the case, and so we try to fulfill our lives with activities just so that we don’t have to sit still and face our thoughts. The constant on-the-go cycle wears us out, but being tired sometimes is easier than facing the truth of ourselves. We’re aware of the running we do to avoid such thoughts, yet our denial spurs us to keep going, move faster, and to never stop. Keep on Reading!