Carpe diem

Jan 31

Me: “Brad!  A lot of people are commenting on the blog and telling me I should go to the writing workshop!”

Him: “Well, duh.”  Laughs.  “What did you think was going to happen?”

Me: “Well, I dunno, I thought that there would be mixed reactions or not many comments or…,” I trail off.  “I dunno.”

Him:  “No one is going to comment and say don’t go to a post when you titled it ‘Dream Chasing.'”

Me:  ::face palm::  “Doh.  You’re right.”

To those of you who commented so enthusiastically (so enthusiastically!), thank you.  There are some (many?) of you who feel we are friends; you think about me when your life reminds you of my writing or the other way around.  My brain can’t wrap itself around this stranger love.  I keep trying and my brain just doesn’t bend that way.  I’ll keep working on it.  I do know that our connection means a lot to me, too.  I wish that everyone blogged because I would like to know you as well as you know me.  Please, do start over-sharing on the Internet and then tell me about it!

Brad said I should seize the day and go for it.  My dreams become his dreams, and his dreams become mine.  Carpe diem, indeed.  I am lucky to be loved by such a man.

I will figure out a way to get to the workshop.  I don’t have the details worked out, but I trust they will be soon.  Thank you for your support; I don’t even know what to say, and that is saying something.

Dream chasing.  It feels good, but I have to admit: I’m scared.

14 comments

  1. jen geverdt /

    You should definitely go to the workshop, Jen. It’s such a God-convincing series of events! I believe it would be disobedient NOT to go. : )

  2. Stacy Vanstone /

    Jen, we’ve never met, although I live 2 doors from your parents and have silently followed your blog since your diagnosis. You have been a huge inspiration to me – your faith, courage, honesty and positive attitude in the face of this life- threatening experience are amazing. I had a less serious form of cancer in my early 30s while my children were very young and it tried very hard to destroy me. I so wish I had had your strength back then – I might not have wasted so much time worrying and spent more of it trying to do today well. I ‘m Also a very picky English major (and nurse) and can’t stand to read poorly written or boring books. I really think you have a gift for expressing your soul in a searingly honest style that is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. I’ve cried with you, held my breath for you, cheered for you, prayed for you. Sounds like just the sort of writing the world loves to read. I’m certainly not an expert, but I really feel that your story would touch so many lives in a positive way and help make some sense of what has happened to you. Sorry I have rambled on, but wanted you to know how much your story has affected me. Keep up the great work – I looks forward to buying your book :). Stacy Vanstone

    P.S. And I’m retired and available for babysitting if you ever get in a bind 🙂

  3. Nancy Brown /

    I think cancer is scary. I believe using your God-given gift is a way to worship the Giver! Press on…..

  4. Lindsay /

    Absolutely 100% you should go!! I was just yelling my husband how talented you are…how I just love your writing style! Writing a book should totally be in Jen Anderson’s future!

  5. Lindsay /

    Umm… Totally meant telling my husband, not yelling… Lol. 😉

  6. Kim Rourke /

    Remember, in one of your blogs you said you were going to pay it forward? Going to this workshop IS paying it forward because sooooo many will benefit as you WRITE! WRITE! WRITE! Add a “Duh!” on my behalf also!

  7. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined. ― Henry David Thoreau

    Go for it, Jen!!

  8. Bonnie J /

    Jen, when the Lord opens doors and then they keep swinging wider one must go Hmmmm? I wonder?? Walk on through – the Lord loves to grant the desires of our hearts ★☆★☆★☆★

  9. What I am scared of is NOT chasing dreams. It will be hard, exhilarating, scary, and wonderful and whatever happens, you will never regret not trying it. That in itself is worth it! Happy chasing and can’t wait to see what’s ahead!

  10. We only consider you our friend because your writing is THAT good. It’s rare to find someone who can talk to a room full of perfect strangers and convince us all that you’re talking just to us, one-on-one. (My short list of people I feel this way about: Elizabeth Gilbert of Eat Pray Love fame and Glennon from Momastery, who sent me here to your blog…oh, and you) Go, go, go to this workshop. Or don’t. But whatever you choose to do, WRITE A BOOK! Pretty please! I will totally be in line to buy it. —Jen with two boys
    P.S. I overshare quite frequently on Facebook if you want to move from stranger friends to Facebook friends. 🙂

  11. I just read your previous post and now this one. I’d say that it is all one huge God-thing. Go! Write! ♥

  12. Kathy Swim /

    Definitely go to a workshop! Remember how 1st Grade was a little scary? Follow your passion in life, there’s a reason it’s your passion! Best wishes and go for it!

  13. Becky Palmieri /

    Jen, I love that you addressed this “stranger love”. Honestly I’ll admit that as one of these “strangers” it feels a little weird on this side too. I was deeply moved by you during your talk at the She & I event last spring. You may remember me standing in the back, being the first to ask you questions when you welcomed them. You told us about your blog then and I wrote it down, but silly me I lost the paper and have since missed the last year of your story through your own words. Just a couple weeks ago, after talking with you and Greta briefly outside of Quest, I found my way here to catch up. I sensed your discomfort (& grace) in the midst of the stranger love awkwardness when we spoke. It’s weird to feel so connected to someone’s story or like her personality so much through her writing or speaking and have her not know you. Makes one feel like a creepy “fan”. But having been through a medical situation where the power of my story and my response to it was inspiring to people (even people I didn’t know personally) . . . I get it. People crave transparency in others (even if they don’t offer it themselves). It slightly nudges others towards that characteristic that they enjoy so much in others.
    The Lord has given you the gift of transparency. He is using that gift to bring glory to himself for his work/miracles/blessings in your story. Live out loud, girl! (P.S. I was pissed when social media trend moved from myspace to facebook. I loved the “blogging” part of myspace, writing the thoughts of my heart to a faceless no one, who was actually everyone.)
    Much love,
    One of your many (hopefully not too creepy) “fans”