Who I Am
Hi! My name is Jenna. I'm an Iowa girl currently living in the New York Capital Region with my wonderful boyfriend and our 1 year old kitten, Seamus. We enjoy lively political debates, visiting museums, trying different wines, sushi restaurants, and any number of books and TV shows.
My Philosophies
Shine the LightThe closing scene of the play I performed my senior year of high school answered the question that is this blog's title. Are there any questions? This answer still resonates with me today, and I try to live my life by it. Here's the quote, from Robert Fulghum's "Are There Any Questions" in It Was on Fire When I Lay Down On It
"I am not the light or the source of light. But light - truth, understanding, knowledge - is there, and it will only shine in many dark places if I reflect it. I am a fragment of a mirror whose design and shape I do not know. Nevertheless, with what I have I can reflect light into the dark places of this world...and change some things in some people. Perhaps others may see and do likewise. This is what I'm about. This is the meaning of my life."
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| Our fur baby, Seamus |
Life Long Learning
Although I completed my Master's degree in the spring of 2012, my thirst for learning continues. The idea of lifelong learning was a central tenant of both my undergraduate and graduate programs, and is one that I strongly ascribe to. The great thing about this is that it can be formal or informal. I visit lots of museums, read a lot of books, and have even discovered the wonder that is free online courses through Coursera. I am also starting to get involved with some local groups, including a French language group and a monthly wine tasting class!
Balancing the Pie
A few years ago, I learned about balancing the "pie" of life. Basically, the belief is that you should aim to divide your time equally between three categories; productive activities (work, volunteer), relaxation (TV time, meditation/yoga, reading) and self care (exercise, healthy eating). The idea is that if you spend too much time in one of the categories, the others suffer, along with your health and well-being. I'm still not great with this, I tend to push too hard with productive activities and let self care slide, but it is something that you to decide to do every single day. So, for me, a lot of this means focusing more on the fitness and nutrition side of things. I do the majority of the cooking in our house (unless we want cereal or Subway), and I try very hard to adjust some of our favorite recipes to be healthy but still delicious. Expect to see some food pictures!
