Public service announcement: this is not a soup post.
If you know me, or you’re a customer of Souper Jenny, you probably know that I tend to put it all out there — the good, the bad, and sometimes the uncomfortable.
For almost 30 years I’ve shared pieces of my life: moving back to my hometown, starting a business, adopting a child, building community, and trying to squeeze every drop possible out of this one beautiful life we get.
And I do believe that — SQUEEZE EVERY DROP. Celebrate whenever possible. Because as we all know… life is short.
This past year I turned 60, which I entered with pure joy and enthusiasm. I celebrated exactly how I wanted — surrounded by my closest friends and family — and it felt perfect.
But then something funny happened.
After losing about 30 pounds (which made me very happy, mostly because I could once again see my resemblance to my beautiful mother), I started noticing things I hadn’t really paid attention to before… sun damage, loose skin, and a little droopiness that tends to show up when you’ve lived a very sunny, outdoor life.
And honestly? It bugged me.
Which surprised me.
If you know me, you know I’m pretty bohemian. I don’t wear makeup. Lashes and lipstick are my entire beauty routine. Jeans and a t-shirt are basically my uniform. So I was a little shocked that this outward sign of aging was getting to me.
But eventually I thought: Maybe my outsides just need to catch up with how I feel on the inside.
So I decided to get “a little lift.” Nothing crazy. Just the lower half of my face and neck, plus a deep Fraxel laser to deal with years of sun damage.
In my mind it went like this: “I’ll take a week off, look a little bruised, and then be back making soup.”
Well…
Whoa! Plot twist.
This was the first time in my life where I think I committed to something a little too quickly without really understanding what the recovery would be like.
I’m currently on day nine.
Let me be clear — I have an incredible doctor. A true artist who specializes only in faces and did an amazing job. I’ll look like myself on the other side… just refreshed and with fewer sun spots from decades of loving the outdoors.
The Fraxel laser, however, was deep. Not the kind you do casually in a few office visits.
The real issue wasn’t the surgery.
The issue was me.
I did not emotionally prepare for what it means to truly step out of your life for a few weeks.
For someone like me — who is used to being busy, moving, exercising, working, seeing people — suddenly having to slow way down is… humbling.
You sleep sitting up.
You’re very swollen.
For several days I couldn’t even recognize my own face.
You can’t exercise.
You can’t jump back into your routine.
It messes with your head a little.
I’m sharing this because if you’re someone considering something like this someday, feel free to reach out. I’m happy to talk honestly about the experience.
The biggest lesson for me is this:
prepare yourself mentally for the downtime.
Also… you may need a little help.
My oldest friend flew down from Connecticut to be with me. And while I didn’t need a ton of physical help after the first few days…having her here meant everything.
I have absolutely no problem with aging.
But we all get to choose how we move through it, and this was my choice.
Is it a little superficial? Maybe.
But I’m the one who looks at myself in the mirror every day, and we all get to decide what feels right for us.
Life is short.
Why not do what helps you feel like yourself?
I’ll see all of you soon.
And for those who are curious…
Here’s what I look like right now.
😂
Question for you:
Has anyone else ever done something thinking it would be easy… and then realized you were wildly underprepared?
The comment section is always open to ask or share. Or you can reach out to me directly via email.