Learning to be okay with yourself most definitely comes with age and maturity.  and getting to the point where you are personally okay with it admittedly feels really good.   

That can be taken so many different ways but to me, being okay with my physical self is just one of the ways.  I'm pretty okay with who I am physically.  Of course, there are plenty of things my magic wand would hit and touch up, but since my wand just plugs in, I rock what I got instead.  I know that would be liberating to many people (at any age) to be okay in your own skin.  That has come with time, age and honestly an adult life blessed with many vocally flattering people.  What does that mean?  From my ex-husband, to strangers, to people whom are dear to me have shared compliments with me freely and quite humorously.  I know that many do not get that in their world and I can't imagine. Whether the words spoken are complimentary or negative, they impact our self image, and I get it. Our brain's tape replays what we have heard/been told.  And many times we ourselves are guilty of perpetuating the negativity that we have accepted and owned.    We even allow visitors into our world that perpetuate the negativity.  Surround yourself with people who bring you up and better you and your world.

Another thing I am okay with is my city.  my community.  topeka!  I try each and every day to better my city and that if I have a complaint about my community I also try and help solve it.  It's hard to listen to complaints from people who aren't stepping up and continue to perpetuate any negativity on my city.  Not only is it extremely detrimental to our community's spirit, I'm tired of our complex!  

I had a couple from St. Louis who had been staying in town visiting the Evil Knievel Museum.  The only reason for their visit was because they were huge fans.  While trying to explore around our city,   they had been told by a couple people they encountered negative things about Topeka.  They were shocked people would talk that way about their own city, let alone to  "outsiders".  As this couple is telling me of their adventures and interactions I hear them and I take it personally.  I work really hard, along with countless others in Topeka, to make Topeka stand apart and embrace our colorful, artsy, political, funky town.  I am Topeka.  So when people talk negatively about Topeka, I do take it personally.  I am proud of who I am and the part of the colorful additions I am able to make to Topeka.  We are Topeka, and I love who we are.  We have a lot of flipping cool people.



​So this year is a year I have committed to being a more active part of the change, and to be a part time tour guide.  :). I hope you'll join me in rocking what we got, and be proud of it.  Be proud of colorful Topeka because dammit, WE are Topeka!  

xoxo

Jenny

P.S.  Stop into Pinkadilly and do our "Photo Booth" for our window display and  pick up your own "I am topeka" shirt.  If you are a PayPal user, send an email to notopinkadilly@gmail.com with your email address, size and mailing address and we will pop one in the mail to you! 

Sometimes I really do get to do some fun things.  Although they are "work", it's neat!  I've realized there are so many fun things I get to see or do that  I don't share, especially when it comes to topeka and things that I get to do, and I'm going to change both of those!  How can I expect anyone else to have pride in their city if I don't?

I started off by having the opportunity to spend the evening with the most amazing group of women!  It was called a Wonder Woman night and I agree, wow.  Many of the  women owned small businesses locally came together to just find out how to make one another better.  And of course, that's right up my alley.  @Taradimick is a wise woman whom repeatedly has been placed in my life and I believe it because I have something to learn from her.  Tara made it happen to bring so many worlds together and I am so grateful!  Tara thru a heck of a party, (thanks to envista bank) at The topeka country club.

We mingled, got to know one another and taught tara how to get "turned up".  (I did have to step in and interpret might I add...  ). Topeka has so many leaders and having a chunk of them in your space is pretty powerful.  The laughter, bonding and learning really is something special.  ​

We had the annual state of the community luncheon at the ramada inn and it is impressive to see the turn out and the energy!  It was a packed room as you can see.  I am on the board of directors for the topeka chamber of commerce for 2017 and 2018.  I have also agreed to serve on a small business council, that is under the umbrella of the greater topeka partnership, and those that serve are small business owners (under 50 employees) in topeka and the surrounding areas.  the formation of the council is another way to get support for small businesses and have others learn what help we need as a mom and pop entrepreneurs.  

We have so many volunteers that rally around noto and what is all being done.  I get to serve on the noto arts district board of directors with other stakeholders and members of the community that are also wanting to better the area. We have done a lot without financial help and to watch the grass roots movement over the past six years has been fun, and of course most of you have followed along with this journey in one way or another.  

and then we have pie and politics.   They did have French silk pie which makes me pretty darned happy as a side to the politics.  I'm honestly not going to remotely be able to share what is the intent of the gathering,  other then allowing the community to ask questions of their elected  representatives?  politics hasn't been my thing until as of late and realizing if we want to complain we have to be willing to step up to help with a solution.  So...I am learning, and learning how to be a better Kansan, and be a better part of topeka.  I love topeka!  I am topeka, and quite honestly im proud of my colorful quirky town.  

If you haven't had a chance to visit the capital since it's renovations you should. It is just breath taking.  The limestone, the wood, all the history.  It is a spectacular place to visit and to show off to visitors.  I promise you, it's worth the trip.  

It's 3:09 am and my eyes are starting to cross although I have lots more adventures to share.  I would tell you how to "follow along" or whatever it is to get notifications of blog updates, but I don't know how to do that.  SO, maybe google or someone nice with comment below.  :). 

Talk soon,

​Jenny