Jen is Zen - The Only Opinions That Matter

 Thank you so much for being here! The only two people whose opinions should matter are the 9-year-old version of you and the 90-year-old version of you. In this first Jen is Zen episode of 2026 - my 50th birthday year! - I reflect on aging, identity, and why I look and feel better now than I did four years ago despite cultural narratives that tell us midlife should look like decline. Someone I love showed me a past photo and described as “old” and “stringy.” Former Jen would have felt insecure, but current Jen saw it as catalyst for deeper reflection. My mantra for 2026 is: The only two people whose opinions should matter are the 9-year-old version of you and the 90-year-old version of you. Many of us begin to edit and manage ourselves between ages 9–12, slowly drifting away from our authentic selves in response to expectations, approval, and responsibility. Midlife, maybe isn't about reinvention or fixing what’s broken - it’s about remembering who we were before the world taught us to hide. Also, stay tuned because I'm inspired to create an upcoming podcast and social media series based on 50 things I wish I had known sooner. Every insight on the list somehow traces back to this core mantra and a deeper realization: When the world feels out of control, the only thing we truly control is our own behavior - and our behavior sets the energy. For me, small, genuine acts of kindness created a ripple effect in my life, leading to joy, gratitude, peace, confidence, and grace. This shift helped my nervous system soften, both emotionally and physically. I openly acknowledge the role my (borderline obsessive!) wellness practices and investments play in how I feel and look today, emphasizing that there is no single magic fix - only a thoughtful combination of supports and an aligned mindset. I don't gatekeep, so follow me on socials and I'll share what I love. I invite you to reflect on your own life through the lens of the 9-year-old and 90-year-old versions of yourself - not as a form of self-improvement, but as an act of remembering - and carry that clarity forward into the new year. 

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