Naturally Empowered Living

08/09/2026

1/3 Having little kids, in the field of work I am in, my mind probably needs to be studied😆I’ve been thinking A LOT about how when we are little, there is such a deep need for validation, acceptance, approval, and connection especially from our caregivers. We look to them to tell us that we’re okay, that we’re lovable, that we are safe, that we belong, that we’re good enough, that we matter...while we’re living in a world where that may be viewed as soft or permissive. And when we don’t receive those things in the way we needed to, I think something can happen where we grow up and we’re still looking for it...in the same ways. And this is where I think a generational piece becomes so interesting, because if we never heal that wound, we can unconsciously carry it forward. We can keep seeking approval, looking outside of ourselves for our worth, needing someone else to tell us we’re enough, and then our children can grow up watching us do the same thing. They learn from what we live, not just what we say. Because if you’re still looking outside of yourself for acceptance, your children are going to experience that in some way. They’re going to see you needing approval, needing to be chosen, needing someone else to tell you who you are. And then they learn that. And then they grow up and do the same thing. And round and round it goes. But here’s the thing I keep coming back to… what if the validation we’re still waiting for doesn’t actually have to come from anyone else anymore? What if it can come from us/ourselves? What if you can look at yourself and say, I see you. I accept you. I love you. You don’t have to earn your place here. You don’t have to be perfect for me to love you. You don’t have to make me proud. You don’t have to prove anything.. we can start giving ourselves the thing we’ve been chasing for years.

If this hit something in you, maybe just sit with it for a moment. And ask yourself… what am I still hoping someone else will give me that I’m actually ready to start giving myself?

Love you🫶🏽

01/09/2026

30/08/2026

The beginning of a school year can feel like such a big transition and this year feels particularly significant for us because it is the first year both of my kids will be in school. And what started as me thinking ahead to alleviate any fights [ think of one child being sick and the other wants to stay home too ], that got me thinking about how transitions can also be an opportunity to pause, look at the habits we've fallen into, and decide what we want to carry forward..and what we might want to do differently. So rather than just talking about school rules, schedules, and getting out the door on time, I wanted to use this transition as an opportunity to talk about something different. Here’s what we came up with:

▪️When someone is sick
If one of you is sick, the other still goes to school. We don't argue about it..we look after the person who is sick and keep the school routine going.

▪️When someone needs Mom/Dad
If one of us needs private 1:1 time, we can simply ask. We respect that and give each other space.

▪️Our connection doesn't have to be complicated
1:1 time doesn't always mean a big outing. It might be five minutes cuddling in bed, walking to the mailbox, doing an errand together, having a snack, or talking in the car.

▪️Bedtime is our reset
We slow everything down. We can use our tuning forks, Reiki, a gentle body scan, breathing, and, if something emotional has happened, talk about what we're feeling rather than carrying it into tomorrow.

And then I wanted to make sure the kids knew these things too:

▪️We can talk about anything. No problem is too small, silly, embarrassing, or annoying to bring to Mom/Dad.

▪️Feelings are allowed, hurting people isn’t. We can be angry, disappointed, jealous, overwhelmed etc., while still being respectful.

▪️Repair matters more than perfection. If we snap, argue or get it wrong, we come back and repair.

▪️Everyone gets a voice. Everyone can contribute to what our family rituals and agreements look like.

▪️Transitions need extra kindness. New routines, tiredness, new friendships and school pressures can all mean people need more patience.

▪️We don't have to earn connection. Even on hard days, we're still a family and we're still on the same team.

I think sometimes we put so much emphasis on getting our children ready for the world that we forget to make sure they trust themselves to navigate it. And I don't want my kids to grow up believing connection is something they have to earn by being good, easy, successful or happy.

💫🫶🏽If you're heading into a new school year too, take whatever resonates and create your own family version.

25/08/2026

I was honored to be invited by The PAM Alliance during this important month for the nonprofit to write a letter to our local newspaper about something very close to my heart and my work.. mental health.

In true Jenna fashion, I had a million different directions I wanted to take this article in, but when I sat down to write, I kept coming back to one question:

What’s underneath the ‘mental health’ that may be seen on the outside?

Our mental health conversations matter. So do the conversations about addiction, anxiety, stress, and the things people may be carrying silently.

And I believe we need more of them, together, as a community.

I’m grateful to The P.A.M. Alliance for creating space for this conversation. And peak Blanchardville Public Library letter too!

If you’re struggling, know that you don’t have to carry it alone. Reach out anytime. I’m here. 🖤🤍🫶🏽

20/08/2026

“Thoughts on time. Time troubles us. It is because of time that we grow old, and because of time we die. These are worrying things. As Aristotle put it, “time crumbles things.” And we are scared of our own crumbling, and the crumbling of others. We feel an urgency to get on because time is short. To “just do it,” as Nike said. But is doing the answer? Or does doing actually speed up time? Wouldn’t it be better just to be, even if less sporty footwear ends up being sold? Time does go at different speeds. As I’ve said, the few months in 1999 and 2000 when I was deeply ill felt like years. Decades, even. Pain lengthens time. But that is only because pain forces us to be aware of it. Being aware of other things also helps lengthen time. This is all meditation is. Awareness of ourselves in the “amber” of the moment, to use Kurt Vonnegut’s term. It sounds easy, but how much of our lives are we actually living in the present? How much instead are we either excited or worrying about the future, or regretting or mourning the past? Our response to all this worry about time is to try and achieve things before it is too late. Gain money, improve our status, marry, have children, get a promotion, gain more money, on and on forever. Or rather, not forever. If it were forever, we wouldn’t be having this discussion. But we kind of know that turning life into a desperate race for more stuff is only going to shorten it. Not in years, not in terms of actual time, but in terms of how time feels. Imagine all the time we had was bottled up, like w**e, and handed over to us. How would we make that bottle last? By sipping slowly, appreciating the taste, or by gulping?” - Matt Haig in Reasons to Stay Alive

Insert reading a book on mental health while on a road trip, disconnected from the rest of the busyness of the world and our personal day to day worlds with your husband and kids, equates to quite an interesting awareness. This book has hit me on a personal level, asking me to sit with certain parts of my past and life, bringing pain and sadness and apathy [ in the best way because I now don’t run from hard feelings, rather allow myself to feel them and be with myself through it ] .. And strangely, that doesn’t make life feel heavier. It makes it feel more alive. So this book also affirms the work I do and floods me with such joy and purpose and excitement being able to help others and spread this awareness around “what is” life and how to truly…truly “live”

Not just move through the days. Not just tick the boxes. Not just rush from one thing to the next because there is always another thing to do.But actually be here for the life that is happening.

Just… be...

And perhaps that is one of the great paradoxes of life…

We do so much work trying to create a better future, while cycling through the parts of ourselves that are still living in the past…if we are aware of it or not…that sometimes we forget to actually live in the now.

And when we stop spending so much energy avoiding what we truly feel, there is more of us available to actually experience what is here. The laughter. The love. The ridiculous conversations with your kids. The quiet moments [ I mean, seconds ] with your husband. The book you’re reading. The view outside the window. The ordinary moments that, when you really notice them, aren’t ordinary at all.

So perhaps the goal was never to get to some imaginary point where everything is perfect. Perhaps the goal is to become increasingly available for life itself. To feel more. To notice more. To love more. To be more present. To stop rushing through the very thing we are so afraid of losing.

Time.

Maybe we don’t actually need to make our lives longer. Maybe we need to make them deeper.

Maybe the question isn’t:

“What can I fit into this life before it’s over?”

But:

“How fully can I experience the life I am already living?”

Our next book club discussion is this coming Monday August 24 @5:30 at Blanchardville Public Library. Come as you are. If you’ve read the book or just want space to be, you’re welcome here.

19/08/2026

Blanchardville Community Pride Cruise In Night

A night dedicated to cool rides, small businesses, and most importantly, the community!

📆 Thursday, August 20th.

Cars will begin parking on the newly finished Main Street at 4pm. Angled for easy viewing.

Live music by After Hours from 5-8pm.

50/50 raffle now and all night. You do not need to be present to win.

Numerous businesses in town will be open and ready to see you. A few of the places will have specials for you to take advantage of.

- Rooted Collective 201 LLC - retail store
- Paulson Grass Fed Beef - inside Rooted Collective
- Bistro On Main - coffee, sweets, and food
- River Bend Cafe - homemade food
- The Viking Scoop - ice cream
- Rachel & Ray's Pub & Grill - cold drinks and food
- C-Stores of Blanchardville Coop - gas up before you leave town

If you're looking for something to do before or after the event, pop over to Cork Down Saloon for a little more fun.

Check out what Blanchard Hall has in store for the day and don't forget there are a few organizations and service businesses. Angie Rae Wellness, Naturally Empowered Living, and Friends of McKellar Park Inc, Blanchardville, WI.

Lastly, if you're looking to stay the night, you have a few options. Drift Inn Cabins, Hotel Blanchard, and Yellowstone Cabin Rentals. Find a link in the comments to book.

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Enjoy!