JENNA, AGE: 28

WHAT ARE YOU DREAMING?

“I’m dreaming of peaceful life, I guess. Yeah…some time, some space. This year has been crazy, so I’m just dreaming of some slowness — a pause, a breath. Which I can build for myself. But, overall I’m excited for it to slow down a little bit more. I’m also very excited about the wedding — I don’t want to understate that.”

WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?

“Tornados, thunderstorms…it’s one of the things this year — Ryan didn’t know I was actually pretty scared of storms. Like, when there’s like a thunderstorm or warning, or tornado watch I’m like taking it seriously. Like, we need to get to the lower level. We need to go sit down there. And he’s like, ‘Let me look out the window’ and I’m like ‘No. Let’s not.’”

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BODY?

I think…I think it’s so strong. It’s been through a lot this year. But I can be mad at it sometimes — I’ve been mad at my body a little bit this year. But, overall, you know, so much strength. And it’s very capable and versatile, too. So, strength, versatility, capability.”

WHAT DO YOU REGRET?

“I don’t think…I don’t know…this year has been just so many things, so many steps forward, so many good moments. And I don’t take any of it back. I’ve told you this before, but I don’t have a lot of regrets. Everything happens for a reason.”

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOU?

“I love…my positivity. I love my positivity, yeah. Optimism. Positivity. Ability to make space, too. Be present, be in the moment.”

WHAT COLOR ARE YOU LOVING? WHY?

“I think like a calm blue, like a slate or ocean blue. Almost blue-gray. It’s just such a calming color…makes me want to go have a spa day or something.”

WHAT IS LOVE?

“Love…love is the best thing. Love is not always easy, but without that vulnerability it’s, I don’t know… love makes life have so much more sparkle, which is so cheesy. But there’s just a vulnerability with love… it’s also one of the best things you can experience if you’re able to open and be receptive of love, which is also really hard. But it’s so, so worth it. To feel so loved and to love so many things.”

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

“I want to be…I want to be ever-changing, ever-evolving. That doesn’t mean that my goals today don’t have to stay the same. I don’t know…maybe I would be a boss one day if we’re thinking career. But beyond my career path, just having a goal of being a learner, being an adventurer, being happy. Those things matter more than job title. Also, we are older now. Not, like, old old. So, I think in some senses I could be at my job — I love my job, I love what I do — like, this could be my job for a long time. I think I might evolve a little bit and become a manager, but I really love my work. So yeah, I guess I am kind of grown up and I’m happy with what I am.”

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE HELD?

“By my bed this morning…and also by friends and family.”

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE WRONG?

“I can be wrong a lot. Sometimes it’s hard to recognize it unless someone calls me out. I guess I’ve learned about communication and growth this year and how…because I’m going through premarital counseling stuff with Ryan it’s just been nice to understand when the way I said that or the word choice I used wasn’t maybe the best way I could have communicated that. Or having that moment of self-reflection has been really valuable for me and for us as a couple. But yeah, I think we can be wrong and it’s okay to be wrong. It’s giving yourself grace, too. And being able to evolve and self-reflect on that that is really important learning. Learning that every day.”

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU FELT HAPPY?

“Just now…just now with the doggies, and the breakfast, and the cheesy eggs. You know, the small things. Like this morning I’ve been talking to the sun — ‘Good Morning, World!’ — and I just look out the windows and think, ‘Wow, I live here. It’s beautiful.’ I don’t know. I’m just so grateful for this space and the beauty outside. And the puppers getting along.”

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU FELT SAD?

“Also today. With Ryan gone this weekend I’m just like, ‘Oh, I miss him.’ It’s just a little sad thing. We spend so much time together and it’s good for us to have time apart. But, yeah. It’s just a little sad. But, I know he’s having so much fun. And I’m also so excited to catch-up and hear how it went and for us to have that moment to come back together. And I know that will happen, so I’m not sad forever.”

WHERE IS HOME?

“Home is here! We have a new home and it feels so welcoming and inviting. And I’m just so thankful that we were able to find one, find a house that feels good and feels like us. And it’s full of my plants and I love it. It’s…it really feels so great. That was one of the big life goals for me and for Ryan this year. And overall. But the fact that we were able to do it this year was just kind of crazy.”

WHO ARE YOUR PEOPLE?

“My people, my community. I’ve thought a lot about that this year to plan for the wedding. One of our key words for our wedding is community…togetherness, groundedness, intentionality — those are some of the key words. And I’ve just thought a lot about the importance of community, the importance of marking time as a community and sharing milestones together. It’s been really hard to do that the last couple years. So, my people are varied — they’re from all different parts of my life. And they all matter so much to me in different ways and have shaped me in different parts of my life as well. I’m really excited for everyone to be together, and celebrate, and mark time. It can be stressful — life can be stressful. But, I think it’s so important to take that time for us to celebrate each other with all of our people.”

HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF YOU?

“I take care of me by taking a deep breath. Looking outside. Sitting in the sun. And maybe going on a walk. It’s good to take space — that’s the biggest thing.”

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE 28 YEARS OLD?

“I feel…I don’t know. This year was the first year where I’ve had realization of, ‘Wow, I’ve known this person for 20 years.’ Like, when you have decades of friendship with people that aren’t your family. Like, Gretchen. I’ve known Gretchen since 2003. Or maybe even 2002. That’s twenty years ago we became friends. Just noticing time in a different and unique way. And still feeling like I have lots of time left. But, it’s crazy how much life has already been lived, too. And just realizing that. Cause when I was super young, when you’re elementary school age, it’s hard to remember some of those details. And now that I’ve lived longer as an adult you just…there’s more memories to look back on, I think.”