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Stephanie Siewert's avatar

Beautiful conversation with a beautiful human! Today I’m going to feel joy for no reason. PROOF

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

I love that line!! That was almost the title!! Glad you enjoyed it, Stephanie!!

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Carmel Breathnach's avatar

I related to much of what Jen says in this beautiful conversation. This is one thing that deeply resonates right now for me: "That’s why people struggle with self-promotion. Because it’s always about what will they think? It’s usually like, “they’ll think I’m getting too big for my britches,” or “I actually like myself. How dare I?” It’s an act of rebellion to find what’s beautiful in ourselves. And how you can be an “I Got You Person for yourself? So many people are like, “But that’s selfish.” So, it’s a lot of unlearning and rewiring and reprogramming and remembering."

A lot of unlearning and confirming our self-worth on a regular basis. We are all deserving. I need to practice telling myself "I got you!" on the daily. Thank you Jane and Jen! Proof ✨✨

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

So happy you enjoyed it, Carmel! And yes to all of that! And what a wonderful daily practice to start! xx

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Jeanne Arnold's avatar

Day made. PROOF!

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

Oh, good!!

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Jennifer Pastiloff's avatar

That means SO MUCH!

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Wendy Chapman's avatar

Such a well-timed interview! As a 62-year-old woman who cycles between feeling

'behind" and having zero fucks to give (sometimes hourly!) this just calmed my nervous system, and gave me a sense of validation to boot. I love Jen so much, and can't wait to read her new book! ❤️ PROOF

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

Haha. The cycle is real!! So happy Jen's beautiful words spoke to you, friend. Her book is fantastic! xx

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Amy Rea's avatar

Oh, this hit really hard today. Thank you. Proof

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

I'm so glad, Amy! xx

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Jennifer Pastiloff's avatar

I got you. Thank you.

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Eli G's avatar

What a triumph, to know your gift is in building community even while you struggle to hear well. Remarkable. (Ugh, clenching, grinding . . . and holed-up tears. I relate!) Thank you both so much.

PROOF

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

I know, Jen is pretty dang amazing! Glad you enjoyed it, Elizabeth!! And, yes, to the holed-up tears!! Oof.

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Jeannie Ewing's avatar

Jen, when I read at the beginning of Jane's interview with you that you have a scholarship for a woman who's lost a child, I thought, "That's the kind of human who makes me love being a writer." Thank you for that. I haven't lost a child, but I am raising one with a complicated genetic diagnosis, and it's really hard to have access to the literary community--and the people within it--without the funds or time. So that really touched me.

So did the part about feeling responsible for your father's death and all the implications of that belief that you carried into adulthood. I think many of us are unraveling the grief of our formative years, and the way you articulated your experience was really beautiful.

Thank you, Jane, for another astounding conversation. I don't even want to call it an interview, because it seems to me that your alchemical magic is in these intimate one-on-one discussions.

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

I'm so happy you enjoyed it, Jeannine. And I'm glad you felt Jen's beautiful words and experiences in your heart. And thank you, as always, for your kind words!

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Kelly Champagne's avatar

Very inspiring and timely interview indeed - definitely what I needed this morning. Proof

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

Oh, I'm so glad, Kelly! xx

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barbara newman's avatar

Just what I needed this morning. Like Jen, I shut down at 9 years old. I’m only now recognizing the patterns it caused and the responsibility I felt as a child. It has carried over into so many areas of my life. Thank you thank you. I see things with so much more charity. Thank you thank you ! 💕💕

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

Oh, Barbara, that makes me so happy! Not that you shut down at nine! But that Jen's words allowed you to see your life with more tenderness! xx

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barbara newman's avatar

Oh, Jane. Deep gratitude.. xx

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Jennifer Pastiloff's avatar

Oh, wow. We need to know each other.

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Abby Maslin's avatar

Jen's generosity of spirit is something to behold in person, but wow, you can feel it right here on the page.

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

I agree, Abby! And I'm so happy it came through on the page! Yay!

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Jennifer Pastiloff's avatar

Also, wow.

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Jennifer Pastiloff's avatar

I love YOU

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Donna Lancaster's avatar

Such a beautiful gift from you both. Thank you xx

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

I'm so happy you enjoyed it, Donna!

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Jennifer Pastiloff's avatar

Thank you 😭

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Nicole's avatar

Proof!

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PEGGY SIJSWERDA's avatar

Hi. 👋Your writing is so honest. And heartfelt. It sounds funny to suggest this in light of your painful experiences, but try wearing a mouth guard at night. Your teeth will be happier! Proof.

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

So glad you enjoyed it, Peggy!

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Sandra Murzin's avatar

Thank You,Jane and Jen,for this beautiful,intense,heart-wrenching piece...so relatable.Appreciate you're sharing this with us...💜 "PROOF".

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

So happy it resonated with you, Sandra!

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Danni Levy's avatar

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I love both of you so much. I wrote to you Jane and said how much joy it brought me to just see Jen and Jane in my inbox. You are both so incredible and I love hearing how you connected and that Jen was your first interview of Beyond. There is so much content in every answer. I love how Jen views her hearing impairment as a portal to enhancement. It gives me the idea of beauty hunting one's imperfections and discovering how they light up our senses, emotional intelligence, relationships, and life. I really do believe this. There is nothing bad when you soften into it enough (heartsight, right?) and allow the transformation to take place. Actually it isn't even a transformation. It just is. Always there. The difference is this heartsight. The difference is seeing the magic that exists in each one of us in every type of situation. And the part of self promoting resonated with me. I am truly bad. I have always acted as if humility and greatness could not co-exist. I always gave priority to humility. It is what makes me likeable. But this is a lie. We can be both. I know this now. I am still not good at promoting myself, but I am putting myself in the game more. And I have to thank both of you for this. Jen and Jane, I really do love you. xo

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

Yes to all of this, Danni! ❤️

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oksana's avatar

Beautifulxx

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

❤️

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