This might come as a shock to some of you.
But if you asked me what I was,
I wouldn’t say, “I’m paleo”,
I would say, “I’m a writer”
I’m working with a graphic designer at the moment who is creating a new logo for The Paleo Project. I’m really excited, she’s fabulously talented. I told her that I want my logo to reflect who I am a little better than my existing logo does.
James said something the other night that at first, I was taken back by, but the more I thought about it, the more sense it made.
Standing at the bar, chatting about paleo, someone said, “Jenna’s really into Paleo huh? She has the blog and everything?”
James responded, “No, she’s not really that strict about Paleo. She is a creative writer. She started the blog so she could write, we just happened to be going Paleo at the time.”
Immediate inner monologue: Jerk, I’m Paleo.
3 days later: Wait a second... I did start the blog because I wanted to write again. Paleo helped me focus. I wasn’t this intense Paleo eater who wanted to start a blog about it. I was a writer and wanted to write everyday. So I started with what I knew I could talk about. A lot. I’m an ass. I’m an ass and a crazy bitch.
A Baby Story: The Birth of The Paleo Project
I went to school to be a writer. During that time, I started learning about eating healthier. This blog is the love child created by parent a: writing and parent b (with the recessive genes): health. I am not a “health” blogger. I happen to care more and more about health as I go through this blogging journey, but writing comes first. So don’t be confused. Don’t think, “Wow, that paleo blogger sure makes a lot of non-paleo, wannabe paleo crap, like pancakes and breads and cupcakes. She sucks.”
I probably do suck at being Paleo. But I am doing a lot better than I was 6 months ago, when I would eat one “paleo” meal a week.
These days, I eat Paleo breakfasts and dinners. Not because I want to be some super skinny awesome, I’m better than everyone who eats grains, paleo princess (ooh I like the sound of that). No. I eat Paleo because when I eat Paleo, my body feels great. I have energy and my stomach doesn’t hurt. At all. It didn’t clear my skin like I hoped it would, but I don’t think it’s making it worse either. So the blog started there. But, as you might guess, there is more to life than what I eat. So what started as a Paleo blog, grew into a blog with paleo and not-so-paleo recipes, paleo advice and non-paleo advice, things I wear, things I’m trying to do, people I love, books I love, memories, future plans, and anything else you will listen to. Some people might see the word “Paleo” and get stuck on it. Ew, another cavewoman. Please don’t. To me, “Paleo” just means learning about something, sticking to it because it works and growing from there. I did that with my writing, then what I was eating, cooking, now with spending money, seeing my friends, reading books, being nicer to my boyfriend because I am the first to admit, I can be bitch, putting more money toward travel and healthy foods and less toward clothes and makeup. Paleo means evaluating my life and making changes. It’s a project. Life’s a project. Every project that you think you’ve mastered or is almost complete, throws a curveball at you halfway through and makes you redirect, possibly scrap the whole thing and start over. I woke up one day at age 23 and realized, I want to be healthier. I want to be a writer. I should be eating better. I should be writing everyday. I said to myself,
Stop waiting for the world to hand you your future. Stop holding on to the idea that you didn’t play sports so you can’t be athletic or in shape. Stop bitching about being alone in a city. Do something about it. Grow up. Be who you want to be. Go where you feel like going. Love the person you say that you love. If you want to eat healthier, buy healthier foods. Learn to cook them. If you want that piece of chocolate, eat the effing chocolate. If you want to look good and you’re broke, you have that inside of you, make cute outfits, stop wasting your money at the mall. If someone is hurting you, let them know. But once is enough. After that, it’s your fault if you allow them to keep hurting you. Give advice. Know when not to give advice. Be an active participant in your own life.
Closet Renewal
Wear an Outfit that Makes you Stand Out.
Pink floral shirt, Anthropologie - 1.5 years old
Green Shorts, Bar III – James bought these for me before Florida so they still count
Palm Beach Espadrilles, Michael Kors – Last Summer
Do you ever feel pigeon holed? Like who you were, isn’t who you are anymore? Or who you used to be has gotten lost along the way? There is always time for growth and change, and it’s always okay to go backwards. What would you change? You can always email me at paleoblog@gmail.com or leave your comment anonymously, if you feel more comfortable.
