Friday Dispatch: 11 things starting with jumping in a freezing creek

Meandering towards a soft landing

Friday greetings,

1. Well, I finally did it. I ran screaming into a frigid body of water. My feet hurt like hell and I felt exhilarated afterward. I also look approximately five years old in this photo – maybe that’s why they say doing things like this keeps us young.

2. Also this week, I explored a new-to-me wetlands conservation area. Isn’t the sign adorable?

3. I received a rejection and upped the ante by submitting the same poem to an even fancier publication. I also wrote a new personal essay and sent it to three AARP publications. To be continued…

4. Someone who recently downloaded prompts from the Fierce Encouragement shop sent me the loveliest email, saying she had completely surprised herself in the writing. Someone else who is working their way through the Getting Words on the Page eCourse let me know that it had already helped her write something for her Substack. “Very grateful for your kind and inspiring teaching presence." Unexpected communications like these fill me with gratitude and remind me why I love my work.

5. Yesterday was in the high 60s and I spent part of the afternoon hanging with my beautiful daughter. We went to the carwash and I vacuumed three tons of winter debris and dog fur from the floor mats – very satisfying.

6. M.J. and I finished watching One Day on Netflix. Now I understand why so many people said they were wrecked by it. At once sad and beautiful.

7. Love is honest. Love is kind. Love is patient. Love is tenacious. Love is listening. Love is curious. Love is gritty. Love is resilient. Love is absurd. Love is you can’t make this shit up. Love is loss. Love is discovery. Love is unglamorous. Love is ocean, love is breath, love is moon, love is land. Love is meeting someone fully where they are and not trying to change them. Love is the deepest, steepest practice you will ever find.

8. To not be so alone in our aloneness. Is that not why we’re here?

9. I wrote an update on my GoFundMe last night (now just $174 from my goal amount).

10. As I begin planning offerings for May through August, I’m taking your requests! What kind of group, class, or gathering would you most love to see happen in the coming months?

11. I will carry you through these changes. V'ad seva ani esbol.

May we all come in for a soft landing today.

Shabbat Shalom and love,

Jena

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