My #epic5's
Part 1
March 15th, 2022
With the launch of my new book, I have been doing a lot of interviews and it has led me to think about how we get to know each other. I wondered....how do I present myself to someone if they know nothing about me.
This is what I came up with.
My #epic 5’s
Things I love:
1. My family and friends. Well, duh. They are always on my mind and always in my prayers. I am like a mamma bear when they get hurt, and I will do anything to protect them.
2. My faith. I owe everything I am, everything I have, and everything I do, to God. I know that not everyone believes that way….that’s ok. We can still be friends.
3. My Epic Living with Jean tribe. It took me over 2 years to find a total vision for what I wanted ELJ to look like. It was a seed that was planted years ago that has turned into the biggest DREAM that I could dream. We WILL change the world, by working together to make small changes in ourselves and our lives, consistently over time to yield MASSIVE results. We want you to join us.
4. Love…..yes. I love, love. Whether it is the Hallmark channel or sappy Rom-Coms. Whether it is the reflection of a child in a mother’s eye or the groom at the end of the aisle watching his bride walk towards him. If it a neighbor helping a neighbor, a stranger donating blood, someone stopping to give a homeless man a dollar or a grandmother’s smile when she remembers. We all need love.
5. Music-all kinds.
It is my therapy, my pick me up…my motivation and my relaxation. It makes me laugh, it makes me cry. It says all the things I can’t.
Things I hate:
1. Pickles….and Mustard. I put them together because they are often together. Yuck.
2. When someone says “Have a good one.” I just want to say….a good WHAT? I know. It is stupid. It just grates my nerves.
3. When people disrespect the servers of the world. They make our world go round…they have difficult jobs and deal with difficult people. Give them a break and tip them well!
4. People that talk during a show. I’m sorry…is the band interrupting your conversation?
5. Laughing at people's accidents or mistakes. I always hated America’s Funniest Home Movies because of that. It might be funny when the kid jumps out of a closet and scares his mom….but it is not nice.
Things that make me Smile:
1. Texas. Everything Texas. Music, Bluebonnets, Brisket, Enchanted Rock, Rolling thunderstorms. 85 mph speed limit.
2. Driving…preferably to a Pat Green concert. With the windows down and the radio up.
3. Great conversations…even when we don’t see eye to eye.
4. Cooking and sharing a wonderful meal with family and friends.
It
5. Memories. Happy and sad.
My Favorite Places:
1. Lost in a good book. I love to read. Everything. I can get so absorbed that I lose all track of time.
2. A movie theater. It doesn't matter what we are watching, jut give me a bucket of popcorn and a large ice water and I am a happy camper.
3. At a concert. Front and center for Pat or Jack or any of the other singer/songwriter/bands that I love.
4. The mountains. Some people need the beach, I need the mountains.
5. Church. The Mass is the pinnacle of worship. Christ feeds me, heals me, and gives me the grace I need to make it through another day.
My Proudest Accomplishments
1. The fact my husband has been able to stay married to me for 33 years. I am a hot mess!
2. That I built my Dream Home. And I mean built. I designed it and hired contractors. I dug plumbing trenches, then dug them again after we had a huge storm. I applied for permits and inspections. I stained and painted trim and timbers. I installed hardware and built and rebuilt a bathroom shower stall. I researched new products and asked every stupid question in the book. I had a contractor get me under room and I did the rest myself. I cried when the first time he saw the finished project he told me what a great job I did and how proud he was. I learned a lot and got to work with some amazing people. It took me 4 years…much of that time I live in a partly finished home with my kids while my husband stayed at the old house. I was not easy but it was the only way I could afford the house I wanted. I am pretty sure I won’t do that again.
3. Starting a podcast. I had no idea what I was doing. They are not fancy, not edited for perfection. Not shiny or .overly intellectual. They are real. Just like me. I want people to feel that they are sitting in the chair next to me having a conversation, sharing each other’s stories. Because it is all about the story.
4. Becoming an eWN Managing Director. I had no idea what I was getting into. I had no idea what the position even entailed. I just knew I wanted to get as close to Sandra Yancey as I could, and being a MD would have us working together. I learned more abouit myself and what I wanted from my life and my business while I was in that position. I also got to meet amazing people who challenge me to this very day.
5. Publishing a book. I remember an argument I had with my younger brother years ago. I am not sure what we were fighting about, but I remember telling him that I would get a book published before he did. I did. Ha! Of course, my pride is not (just) because I beat him, but because there is so much I want to say to help people, to heal their pain, to give them strength and motivation.
Random things:
1. I had a pet piranha in college. His name was George.
2. I buy myself flowers. Almost every week.
3. I have 180 things on my Dream List.
4. I hoard office supplies. And Scrapbooking supplies. And books. When I die, my daughter and my best friends are assigned the task to get rid of it all before Dan sees it 😊
5. I love experiences….I performed in 2 operas, I was in 2 music videos, I rode in the Goodyear blimp. I drove 8181 miles across the country by myself.
Now what about YOU?
Go to my FB Page and tell me 5 things about YOU!