My Favorite Human
I always say the feeling here is co-created by each of you. Seeing the friendships, connections, and care brings a deep joy and gladness into my being. But sometimes you meet your Soul Mate here too! I know because this happened to me.
It must have been eight or nine years ago. I had just gotten back from a three-week trek out west, and I saw a car outside with stickers from Bryce and Zion (two places I didn’t make it to). I got excited that there might be someone else here who loved the desert / the west as much as me. I hadn’t met this person, but I knew / hoped we’d be friends.
I’m not sure of the exact order, but her memory is that she came to the studio and I greeted her at the desk. She (or someone else) asked how I was doing, and apparently I answered honestly and said I wasn’t great. She says that was the moment she knew we had to be friends. Who is actually honest when asked that question? Me, apparently!
Our first “date” was lunch at the Bohemian, and after a while (lots of lobby talk, coffee, and walks), we became close friends. Eight years later, and I don’t know what I would do without her. We have gone through lots of life changes together, including a big move for her and now all four of our kids are graduated. But through it all, we’ve kept our connection and even trickled that connection down to our daughters — “the girls,” as we call them. We talk on the phone weekly and take two trips to the beach every year — one for fun and one for work.
Jen is the person I call when I don’t know which end is up and when I want to celebrate the good stuff. I know my life would not be the same without her friendship. Soul mates do come in many forms.
Many of you know / remember Jen from the old studio. Even back then, she had the best ideas. (You may want to steal this one.) She would come to the studio in the morning if she was in her head or not feeling well, and then she would stay for all the classes until she felt better. Back in the day, this meant 9:15am with me, 11am with Kimmie, and 12:30pm with Lynn. Her own personal retreat could last an hour or four! It allowed us to really get to know her, and I know yoga was here for her during some major life changes. Our sweet studio gave her the space for her personal reset.
And now she has created my new favorite thing! For the past six years, she has been doing the work of being a life and relationship coach, and she is amazing! BUT… she most recently launched two years of work into the world. Jen created a course called HUM: Human User Manual (a course blending neuroscience, mindfulness, and practical coaching tools to help you understand the nervous system and make lasting change in your daily life). Basically, a tool to help you beter human through understanding yourself, your wiring and how you operate in the world.
It only feels right to share the gift of my best friend with each of you. To know her is to love her. To learn from her… it will change your life!
