Jen Gresham, writer of Everyday Bright, is a fellow optimist and dare I say kindred spirit. She has both the right and left sides of her brain firing away with her background as a scientist combined with her creative side. Plus, her willingness to foster community and support for other people makes her a triple threat.
I stumbled upon her blog through Stacey Curnow and Jon Morrow. I am taking Jon Morrow's blogging class (like Stacey and Jen both did). Reading these blogs helped justify the expense of taking this class on a day when I was doubting myself for spending money when I had just quit my full-time teaching job.
Jen features people who have quit their jobs to follow their true passions (as she did), and these stories are so uplifting and inspiring. They trample the outdated concept of the American Dream, encouraging everyone to go after their own dreams by first realizing taking the time to self-reflect and discover what your dream truly is. From such a young age, we are told to get good grades, go to college, find a good job, and settle down with a nice guy (or gal).
Yet, the reality is, parents and other influencers should constantly be helping their children find their passion(s) rather than driving home this super-structured ideal of happiness. Jen advocates following your own unique path even if other people think you are irresponsible, selfish, or just plain crazy for quitting your stable 9-to-5er.
Jen, along with Stacey, Valorie Burton, Oprah, and countless other "dream life" promoters, have helped me realize not to waste one more single second living a life of mediocrity, stuck in a job that is only "okay" to me. You will wake up one day and be 50, 70, maybe even 90, and your regret will be that you didn't do the daring thing, go after your dream job, start that business, become a freelance SOMETHING (writer in my case).
One of Jen's nuggets of wisdom:
"Your ideal career might require a step up, or it might mean stepping off the grid all together."
For me, stepping off the hamster wheel was essential in my life right now. I didn't want to get up at 6am everyday, being under appreciated and quite frankly, the villain most of the day, and then come home to spent mentally to do anything creative.
I didn't want to wake up in the future on the day of my retirement after teaching for 25+ years and realize I had hid from my true passion because I was scared that I would be broke, not have a sufficient retirement savings, would disappoint or baffle my friends and family, or worst of all, fail.
Reading Jen's blog, I feel like I am not alone and have found a community of like-minded people that are just as bold (and maybe a little crazy) as me! Thank you Jen, and I will miss you during your big move but look forward to the refreshed enthusiasm and energy you will most definitely bring to your blog upon your return!