“A runner is real when she takes the first step. A flower is real when it is yet in its mother stem, a tree is real when it is still a seed in the pine cone. An old tree is a real living being. Real is what has life.”
–Clarissa Pinkola Estés
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Buried underneath stacks of papers and piles of books during law school, I knew deep inside I would be a writer. One day. My irrational fear of living as a “starving artist” kept me from pursuing that path, so I wasn’t sure how I’d realize my dream. After graduating law school, I served as a clerk for a federal judge. I then worked in a litigation firm before moving in-house to a university where I specialized in higher education law.
Near the end of 2004, I took six weeks “off” my life. I unplugged the television, logged off e-mail, and didn't answer the phone. I immersed myself in beach walks, silence, and solitude. I read poetry (well, I read one poem). I went to therapy. I wrote until my arm was nearly dangling by a tendon. In short, I spent six weeks watering my soul. I had a very thirsty soul! Near the end of my sabbatical I traveled to the outer banks of Massachusetts and buried myself deep in the dune grass on the sand. It was there (of all places) that I finally found my guts. I faced the fact that even though I was a lawyer, I wasn’t really a lawyer. So I returned to California and spent the next few months wrapping up the odds and ends of my life as an attorney. Then I allowed myself to be real: I began to write.
The handsome guy in the picture is my husband Ron. He was the eternal Los Angeles bachelor until meeting irresistible moi. Okay, in truth we were set up (proof that blind dates work) and he was the irresistible one – I couldn’t get enough of his strength of character, peaceful demeanor, and patient heart. Ron works in the investment industry and enjoys it, but I secretly suspect he’d like to join the pro-golf tour.
That's the short scoop. Thanks for visiting my website. Enjoy looking around, and I hope to hear from you.
Blessings,
Jenny
