14 Comments
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Cory Gerlach's avatar

I realllly love this article, Jen. The movement from rejection — from the things you thought you wanted to do — to running (even when you were judged by others) to painting, even when you didn’t have particular talent — there’s something so beautiful about that intrinsic motivation & desire. I imagine a woman (you) with a self-satisfied smile doing things that others might not even understand fully but you’re super happy doing them & beaming because you’re *doing the things you wanna do*. Something tells me you’re still carrying this today, as you traverse continents & oceans to new places on your terms. I admire it.

Jen Roberts's avatar

Hey Cory! Thanks so much for reading and for this comment. I think if there's anything I'm good at in life, it's doing the things I want to do, and I'm always a glass half full kind of person. I think that combination makes defeat, obstacles, judgment easy to move beyond. And I'm still terrible at painting, but I love it. ;) Thank you again!

Veronica Theodoro's avatar

Hi Jen, I love this! I've been wanting to take dance lessons for years. Danny and I started a few years ago but we could never find the time to keep it going consistently. We plan to pick it back up again once we're empty nesters later this year. Thanks for the inspo. Hope you're well!

Jen Roberts's avatar

Hi, V!! Miss you. I love that you and Danny are going to do this. There are so many free salsa classes in Guatemala that I’m hoping to take advantage of them.

Beth Conroy's avatar

I love this post, Jen!!!

Jen Roberts's avatar

Thanks, Beth!

Jeff Seale's avatar

Going to Paris is what made me start painting. I had never done anything like it.

Jen Roberts's avatar

It has that effect, doesn’t it?!

Launa's avatar

Love this. Thank you.

Jen Roberts's avatar

Thanks for reading, Launa!

Dr. Catherine Al-Meten Meyers's avatar

Brava. Yes, we don’t need to wait too long to do the things we really wanna do. We just need to do them without all the preparation and waiting for the right moment and all that jazz.

Jen Roberts's avatar

So true. Your comment made me think of the expression–just do the damn thing. Thanks for reading and for your comment. I appreciate it. And all that jazz.

Dr. Catherine Al-Meten Meyers's avatar

I don’t know where that came from but I thought you have a lightheartedness about you and And. I think we need to enjoy life a whole lot more than we are right now so this is wonderful what you’re doing

Jen Roberts's avatar

Thanks, Catherine! I so agree people don’t stop to appreciate everything that is wonderful about life.