An October reflection from Jenni, founder of Jentle Land Mark
There's something really special about finding people who just get you. The ones you can speak freely with, share your ideas with, celebrate the little wins alongside, and lean on when things don't quite go as planned.
It's something I've been thinking about a lot lately, especially as I continue building Jentle Land Mark and navigating my own journey of personal growth and development.
And as we approach November, there's another milestone that's been on my mind. I'm coming up on my one-year anniversary of starting therapy.
Funny enough, it all started around this time last year, following our very first event alongside The Cozy Corner Counseling, Beyond the Break.
What began as a community gathering turned into something much more personal. That event sparked a relationship with The Cozy Corner Counseling that I truly value, but it also opened a door for me to start doing some work of my own.
Sometimes the things we create for others end up being exactly what we need ourselves.
The work of showing up as yourself.
Over the past year, therapy has challenged me in ways I didn't necessarily anticipate. I've been working on tearing down my walls, allowing myself to be authentically vulnerable, advocating for myself, and figuring out who I really am beneath all the layers I've built over the years.
It's not always comfortable. In fact, sometimes it's downright scary.
But it's necessary.
I've spent a lot of my life feeling like I didn't quite belong. Longing for a community where I could show up as my whole self without feeling like I needed to change, shrink, or fit into someone else's idea of who I should be.
And somewhere along the way, I realized that if I wanted that kind of connection, I had to be willing to let people see me. The real me. Not the version of myself that has everything figured out or always knows what to say, but the one who's still learning, growing, making mistakes, and figuring things out as she goes.
That's what I'm choosing to do.
I'm choosing to be vulnerable, to show up, and to do it as I am. I'm not perfect, and I certainly don't have it all figured out, but progress is being made. And I'm learning to give myself a little more grace along the way.
You don't have to do it all alone.
This personal journey is so closely tied to Jentle Land Mark because I started building the business as you know it today within this same timeline of my own healing and personal growth.
What began as a desire to create something meaningful has continued to evolve alongside me. The conversations, gatherings, relationships, and opportunities to connect have all taught me something about myself and the kind of community I want to cultivate.
One of the biggest lessons this year has been understanding just how important it is to have people in your corner.
As a business owner, I've come to appreciate having other entrepreneurs and like-minded people I can speak freely with, bounce ideas off of, share the not-so-glamorous moments with, and simply support one another. People who understand that building something of your own isn't always easy, and who genuinely want to see you succeed.
But this goes beyond business.
You can't live this life alone. And relying on others isn't a weakness. It's a superpower. One that I think we don't use nearly enough, if at all.
We're often taught to be independent, figure things out, push through, and handle everything ourselves. But there's so much strength in recognizing when you need support and allowing someone else to show up for you.
Sometimes that looks like going to therapy. Sometimes it's calling a friend, asking for help, having an uncomfortable conversation, or simply letting someone know you're not doing as well as you might appear.
Whatever it looks like, there's strength in allowing yourself to be supported.
Finding your people takes a little vulnerability.
I think we sometimes put so much pressure on finding our place and our people that we forget it takes a little trial and error to get there.
Not every connection is meant to last forever. Not every group will feel like home. Some people come into your life for a particular season, a shared experience, or simply to teach you something along the way. And that's okay.
I've learned that finding your people requires you to put yourself out there, test the waters, listen to yourself, and allow yourself to show up as you are.
Not every experience will be what you imagined, but each one can help you better understand what you value, what you need, and the kind of relationships you want to cultivate.
And when you do find those people, nurture those relationships. Check in. Share opportunities. Recommend another woman's business. Celebrate the little wins. Make an introduction. Listen. Be present.
I believe meaningful community is built through these little things.
Especially when it comes to women supporting women and local women-owned businesses, there's so much potential when we move beyond simply networking and start building genuine relationships. We can share resources, collaborate, create opportunities, and celebrate one another without feeling like there's only room for one of us to succeed.
There's room for all of us.
This is something I want to continue encouraging throughout the Lehigh Valley. We have so many incredible women-owned businesses, creatives, wellness practitioners, and community leaders doing meaningful work. Bringing those voices together and finding ways to support one another strengthens more than just our businesses. It strengthens the community we all call home.
This is the heart of Jentle Land Mark.
What began as a personal journey of growth and healing has continued to evolve into a community-driven lifestyle brand centered around intentional living, meaningful conversation, and connection.
Through our gatherings, Gathering Voices podcast, and upcoming memberships, we're creating opportunities for women to connect with themselves, one another, and the local businesses and resources that support their growth.
Our memberships are the next step in that journey. We want to make it easier to stay connected beyond an individual event, build relationships over time, discover local women-owned businesses, share experiences, and become part of something that continues to grow with its members.
Because community shouldn't end when an event does. It should be something we carry into our everyday lives.
So, as we close out this year and head into a new one, I double dog dare you...
Try.
Be vulnerable, as scary as it may feel. Tear down a wall or two. Reach out to someone. Have the conversation. Put yourself in a room where you don't know anyone. Lean on the people you feel closest to and safest with. They may show up for you in ways you never expected, or someone might just surprise you.
And no matter the outcome, there's a lesson to be had.
Maybe a season in your life is coming to an end, or maybe you're standing at the very beginning of something beautiful. You won't always know which one it is while you're in it, and that's part of the process.
You don't need to have it all figured out. You just need to be willing to try.
For me, finding community has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey. I'm still learning, still growing, and still figuring out what it means to show up as my most authentic self.
But I know I couldn't have done it alone.
And my hope is that Jentle Land Mark continues to be a place where you feel welcomed, encouraged, seen, and free to be yourself. Whether you've joined us for a gathering, listened to an episode of Gathering Voices, supported a local woman-owned business, or simply followed along, I'm glad you're here.
Here's to being a little more vulnerable, leaning on one another, and remembering that we can grow individually while still growing together.
xo Jlm
