moving into muchness…
WELCOME to my new digs…..come on IN!
I’m so not unpacked but still GLAD you came by.
Really, it’s wonderful you’re here.
As I was moving, someone asked
“are you really gonna keep the whole ‘Janis Joplin wild’ thing?”
“Yeah, I think so. Why?”
“Well, don’t you think people may get the wrong impression about you?
That they’ll think you’re a little too….you know…..out there?”
“I just mean that people may get the wrong idea about you
…..think that you’re, well, too much.”
Oh. I guess they may. I think I’m okay with that.”
I love that raw, uninhibited, unpretentious and unrelentingly honest
vulnerability that allows our beautifully flawed souls
to thoroughly live out loud and in color the art of our lives
….the laughing, crying, raging, loving, longing wildness
that is simply
innocence
I could play it safe…..stick to the sidewalk of careful image management.
But I’d rather throw off the covers,
fling open the latch,
swing wide the gates,
stretch out my wings
and release the river.
Too much?
Maybe.
But I’m thinking I’ll give myself the freedom
to grow into my muchness.
I’ve got this fantastic shepherd.
I’ll choose tagging alongside of Him
over barbed wire barricades
and rigorous regulation anyday.
“The place to which God calls you is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
~Frederick Buechner
So wonderful to see you here in your new digs:) Beautiful pictures.
You know, the comments about Janis…I wanted to respond a bit more to that. I am so glad you kept it. Those who knew Janis also knew she wasn’t really out there all that much. She had a sense of freedom on the stage that I love. She could express herself and let go. She was also incredibly vulnerable and had suffered a lot of pain in her life. There is a particular interview in her home town after she became famous where, before she arrives in her home town, she talks about how she can’t wait to go home and show everyone who she’s become. In the interview, they ask her about her childhood and she kind of chokes up and can’t really respond because of the pain. She becomes very introspective and won’t say anything about how people treated her. I love that she found at least one place in her life where she could be free and expressive. I regret that she didn’t find it in all areas of her life.
I love that you are leaving the quote from Janis Joplin…There may be those who stop on the surface…who don’t choose to look a bit deeper…that’s their loss
oh and that quote from Frederick Buechner…one of my favs!! and i believe once we get a taste of what we were made for and who we were made for we can no longer settle for less and should not.
it takes some un-doing to learn to grow up to be childlike…
love you dear Jen and it’s beautiful here.
Wow, Jen, the beauty of the pictures match the beauty of the words! Stretch those wings and fly!
Love you much!
Jen, Love, Love, Love the new website….You did a great job…love the new header and that you didn’t change your Janice Jopin quote…..You always encourage us to be real, free, and who God made us to be…..if others don’t understand that, then they need to get out of the box……..
Love you girlfriend and congratulations on your new website….
Nancy
Great digs and love all your colorful images! Please tell me what that creature is called in the last photo! We have one in our backyard that visits regularly. It’s like a bee and a hummingbird got it on and created one weird species! 🙂
Jennifer!
Welcome to your new “home”!!! Woohooo!!!
It looks fabulous!!!
What a wonderful new place you have … fly free!
release the river, sister!
i love your new digs!
otterly with you, xox!!!
this is a very special place .. I can feel and see the authentic you already!! lovely space with wondrous thoughts
Love the photos, they really grab me and set a great tone for your new place in blogland. I’m still trying to figure out how anyone would think you a little ‘too much?’ As over the top goes girl you are a long way from not being understood. We love your honesty and open spirit 🙂
I love, love the new digs, Jen! The header and it’s message are beautiful, and the first thing that drew me into your blog. I am glad that you kept it.
I had a conversation with a fellow blogger earlier today about how easy it is to let blogging revert us to a high school mentality if we are not careful. How many friends we have and what they say about us should not define our worth or alter our perception. I think it is oh so important to keep it all in the proper perspective.
You rock! Enjoy your new space ~
xoxo
Ohhh Jennifer, this new home is just stunning! It feels like such a clearer reflection of you (and I don’t even really know you yet, but somehow this just feels right). I LOVE your muchness and your willingness to share it with us, encouraging us to become “too much” of ourselves. Beautiful, beautiful.
I am
delighted
Janis Joplin
survived
the move
that her music and spirit
infuses your being
in this place of wonder.
Your site is gorgeous. The photos stunning. It is wonderful to find you here in full kaleiscopic colour, wings spread wide, flying free!
oh my! I hope you never ever lose your muchness! You give me so much joy and delight by visiting here- it’s like sipping a wonderful cup of exotic, tasty tea. I love your new site- extremely aesthetically pleasing and exciting with an edge of raw fun!
Glad to find you again. Your essay is wonderful; it made me smile right down to my soul. Love the pics, too.
Glad you followed your instincts to know there is a bit of Janis in your heart!
your new space looks great! and i think remaining true to yourself is waaayyy more important then turning a few people away by the quote!which i really don’t see happening anyways!
What great pictures with the gift of writing you have to express what the pictures make you feel. I enjoyed reading your inspirations that make us all feel and think. Love to you!
Love the new look, you wild thing you!:)
Love your new ‘digs’..and I think you should throw caution to the wind..and just go for it. Jump – the net will appear?!?!?
Oh, Jennifer! I’m so excited for you! That header is so bright and inviting, allowing the wild child in all of us to come out and play. Congratulations and welcome home!!!!!
Oh, Jennifer! I’m so excited for you! That header is so bright and inviting, allowing the wild child in all of us to come out and play. Congratulations and welcome home!!!!!
HI Jennifer,
Your new design looks great! I have a funny little story for you. The weekend that Amy Winehouse died, my husband and I were watching videos of her and some other radical women who died at age 27. We ended up watching a ton of Janis Joplin videos because I hadn’t seen her perform before, and I was very taken by her enthusiasm. I of course knew a few of her songs, but watching someone like that sing and dance was amazing. So anyway, I have a new understanding of Janis, and I love what your blog banner says!
I love Janis! A friend of mine saw her perform once. I asked, “how was she?” One word: “Wonderful.” Have you heard the Live at Winterland album? It’s got a fantastic version of “Ball and Chain.”
I think your new blog looks great! Is that a hummingbird moth in the bottom photo? Also love the one with the butterfly on the flower.
XOXO, Sandra
Jenn,
Thank HEAVENS you kept the wildness. It is a part of our souls we must never, ever give up.
M.
I feel so at home here … the color of my walls! And Janis brings out the creative wild side in us that we sometimes hide way too much! Keep it wild, Jen!
Jennifer,
I love your new home.
You always shine so much inspiration,
Love and pure beauty.
Thank you for all you do.
hugs,
Eydie
Let’s hear it for the too muchness in all of us! YES!!!
I’ve been a blogging slacker lately because I am on a long trip of my own. We’re in Arizona now and I have a bit of time on the computer – finally! I was having withdrawls from being away from my blogger buddies so long, I tell you. I hope your summer continues to be as wonderful as it sounds here. Love to you.
Oh I’m do excited to come into your new and beautiful place here Jen! So glad you are continuing on in being Y♥U, with Janis Joplin wildness and all!!! I would miss that part of you if it left.
We can cheer each other on as we take that path to the place which God calls where the deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet. I will be the one jumping up and down and dancing for you as you pass by.
Thank you for the wonderful word pictures that come to life here when I stop by.
Big Hugs of Love,
Lee Ann
YES!!
Who defines what is too much!
There is a beautiful quote that I have from Nelson Mandela (some attribute it to Marianne Williamson, not sure who gets the credit) Anyway, it says:
“…You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us….”
Mainifest on, Jen!
Beautiful new place you have here!
Hi Jennifer,
Just stopping by to see your site since Michele is a friend of mine… peeking in the windows. It’s nice! You have such a fresh organic style – I, for one, love that style. Nice to meet you!
love the new place…although did anyone tell you that the link to here doesn’t work 🙁
and oh, lucky you, to have found a hummingbird moth….wow !!
Jen lovely new home. Love these pictures and the post above it where I could not comment. Blessings.
Congratulations on “growing into your muchness” (Perfect!) and congratulations on your beautiful new blog! Lovely!
Learning a ton from these neat areltics.