Typically, Tuesdays on The Paleo Project are for TwoFaced posts. It’s a day where I share a new recipe. An idea, born 23 weeks ago, where Melissa and I decided we would choose one ingredient to focus on and create two meals. We keep it Paleo, and each week, switch between a: meat, fat, vegetable, fruit, herb, spice or nut. Today is Tuesday, or so I’m told. But today I have no recipe to share with you. I am in a unique situation this week. I have been picked up, driven and placed into the custody of my mother, who lives in a little lake cottage in Massachusetts, until my ankle heals properly.
For new readers: I usually live in Rhode Island with James (who works a really hectic schedule) and last Tuesday, I suffered a really bad sprain. I do not have a job or children, which makes relocating painfully easy.
Being here means several things, but the most notable thing is the presence of a model kitchen. A kitchen that has 40 knives and nothing to cut. A brand new fridge, and nothing to keep cold. The oven is for housing snacks, and the cupboards are filled with things like cigarettes and hammers.
This week, I learned a lot of things. Things about life and myself, and less important things like ankles and that I need an iced coffee every single day. So, instead of sharing a recipe, or an inspiring video, in which I cry in front of strangers, I’ll just share things I learned about and hope that you learned something new, as well. Discomfort can be difficult, but it is great for self-exploration. It makes you grow and stretch and learn and it makes you cry, too.
1. I learned that when faced with criticism about finding myself good looking, I am only more certain that I am, in fact, good looking. More so when crying. But also, that I am strong and smart and witty and loved.
2. When I was bullied in middle school, my mom called the other girls’ mothers and fought my battles. I’m sure, had I let her, she would have done the same thing on Sunday. But I learned that fighting your own battle is extremely empowering. Plus, your mom’s number wasn’t listed.
3. I guess on some level, I knew I was coming to stay here for an undetermined amount of time. Yet I only brought two pair of underwear, one shirt and three pair of sweatpants. Also, a fancy maxi dress. Oh and one Sperry shoe and one slipper. You see, I was crutching around my apartment trying not to wake James up and things like clothing really didn’t seem important. I now regret this and would really like someone to lend me another slipper.
4. I learned that James and I disagree about a lot of things regarding ankle injuries. I think I should be carried, pampered and sung lullabies to before drifting off to pain-killer induced naps. James thinks I should spend my days plunging into buckets of ice, learning to crutch better and somehow, in the midst of all this plunging and crutching, find time to shave my legs.
5. I actually must mention just how lucky I am to have James. Thanks to him, I was not alone when injury occurred, at the ER, or the days that followed. He also took me to the doctor today, sat with me while waiting for more x-rays, drove me around, fed me and said he liked my new boot.
6. I learned that little girls, who have been told they are beautiful, and smart, and strong, and kind, turn out to be exactly that.
7. And finally, I discovered the power of the Internet. I learned it can hurt you and it can heal you. I had a moment where I asked myself, should I continue to put myself out there? Will this all be worth it? Can I handle this type of bashing by strangers? I decided yes, I should, I will and I can. This is my blog. I made it and I love it and I am so proud of how far it has come. I have been lucky, and somewhat misled, because my readership, until Saturday, has been so kind and supportive. When all you’ve known is sunshine, you can never prepare properly for a storm. But once you’ve faced one, you at least have a better grasp of the aftermath. You see that you got through it once and you should, will and can again.
Happy Tuesday. Please send slipper.
18 comments :
Love you and I’m so proud. I’ll be back from Italy in less than a week…. Will bring slipper <3
I am a new reader to your blog & I must say that I am so glad that the comments from your guest post didn’t keep you down! In my opinion what makes more good looking than anything is the confidence you radiate through your blog! You are growing & part of growing is learning from doing. Whether doing right or doing wrong you are growing & that is what life is all about! Some people don’t know how to be constructive when being a critic & maybe they grew from the experience too! Keep it up! P.S. your blog has really influenced my decision to make the switch for my family to go Paleo!! Thank You!
Happy Tuesday to you as well…. I am sending a glass slipper…I hope it fits!
Keep up the great work.
i’m so glad to see you bounce back!! all the crap from this weekend will pass and eventually your ankle will get better too. you just gotta keep doing you, ya know??
and furthermore, how DARE james suggest you need to shave your legs! doesn’t he know it’s unseasonably cold right now and the second you do remove your leg hair it will instantly grow back in a stiff wind?? sigh. boys.
You are really good looking.
I am too:)
Nothing wrong with that.
I’ve been reading for a while, but I just started really truly eating Paleo a week ago. And doing crossfit. I really want some cereal and bread. Your quirky writing kept me coming back despite my bread eating.
Keep it up and ice that ankle.
Welcome back my beautiful Jenna, you as usual make us all so very proud!
Jenna,
I am sorry people can be so nasty sometimes. But I am so glad you’re not letting it get you down and you are stronger from it! I am on your blog at least once a week… ok, maybe more. My job is not the most exciting, so sue me.
Anyway, your recipes are awesome, your clothes are fabulous, and you are funny and witty to boot. I feel like we’re friends (weird??) and when I knew you were sad I just wanted to give you hug. 
Love you and proud of you for being you and not caring what anyone thinks! Hellz yeah!
From one really attractive girl to another
What a great post! I just found your blog and have started following
Just started CrossFit 6 months ago myself and loving the transformation.
Jenna, I’ve always LOVED your blog and found you very inspiring. The glass is half full, girl! I really enjoyed your vlog too and how you handled everything. The boot will be off soon and you will be able to wear two slippers at a time! YEAHYAAAA!
Numbers 4 & 5 made me laugh so hard. It reminds me that even when guys are so sweet and so helpful and we are SO lucky to have them around, sometimes we are just not on the same page as us. When I sprained my ankle about a year and a half ago (in a spin class disaster, oh man) Kyle was so helpful when it came to getting me an MRI through his dad’s office and appointment with an orthopedic surgeon his dad knew. But he still expected me to fly to Georgia the next weekend to see him and even kinda laughed at me when I asked if he could carry me up the stairs to his apartment.
(It is worth mentioning that my boot and I went to a standing room only concert with him AND hobbled around the Atlanta Aquarium that same weekend. Love makes you do silly things sometimes.)
loved this, laughed out loud. not at you, i swear, just cause you are funny & apparently, so is your mom!!! thanks for the giggle.
i’m only sending you a slipper if you send me some of those pain killers.
when will you be back should i send underwear too???
xo L
I understand where you’re coming from on the whole confidence in your looks issue… but I was thinking, do you think it would be ok for someone to write a guest post on a budget fashion blog about how they didn’t have the greatest fashion sense growing up, but it was ok because they were SO wealthy? I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being goodlooking or wealthy, but I just wonder when the tact line gets crossed. No intention to criticize, just something I was thinking about!
Hi Jen! Thanks for your comment. You raise a very good point. There is always a line and we ALL must be cautious of crossing it. I think that it was lost among many people that “being good looking” wasn’t enough for me, and shouldn’t ever be enough for anyone. Clearly, this was the case since I couldn’t be content without expanding myself through CrossFit, Paleo, writing, and finding other ways to express myself. Looking back at a 15 year old Jenna, I was very young and confused and unsure of who I was. I hope this clears up your question. While some girls may rely on Wealthy in place of fashion, I would hope that the concluding paragraph of their story would say that they learned SO many other things in life that ended up making them happy and confident.
Awesome post! You are definitely a beautifully strong, witty, courageous and intelligent lady. Thanks for opening yourself up and sharing. The internet is a scary place, but you always have support from your blog buds!
Well, a lot happens when I miss a post because I’m tied up elsewhere, doing elsewhat.
I have a YouTube channel with at least 75 videos personally made and uploaded by me. I do it for myself and for my family. I started because my daughter said one day, back in 2008, that when I’m gone she will never hear my personal arrangement of “Over The Rainbow” again. At the time I took it to mean she would miss it, but who knows? Insert chuckle here. Mostly the comments are kind, but sometimes a rare soul uses my comment section as a personal platform to pontificate on all my shortcomings while extolling their own superior virtues. I find the “Delete” button to be quite therapeutic in those moments.
I found your blog after reading the guest post at Carrotsncake. I found it inspiring, and I think you’re beautiful, and funny, and you write very well. I would send you a slipper, if the cost of sending something from Norway wasn’t so ridiculously expensive. Love the blog, I think I might stay a while (although I really should be studying…)
Internet love from Norway
You’re a beautiful person, and a beautiful writer. Every time you write you’re putting yourself out there, open for discussion and criticism. But for every person who doesn’t get it, there are many more who do and who look forward to hearing what you have to say. Thick skin babe
xoxo
Number 6 made me tear up. You are lovely.