The Beginning of Just Jacquie

Shrek : For your information, there’s a lot more to ogres than people think.

Donkey : Example?

Shrek : Example… uh… ogres are like onions!

[holds up an onion, which Donkey sniffs]

Donkey : They stink?

Shrek : Yes… No!

Donkey : Oh, they make you cry?

Shrek : No!

Donkey : Oh, you leave ’em out in the sun, they get all brown, start sproutin’ little white hairs…

Shrek : [peels an onion] NO! Layers. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers… You get it? We both have layers.

[walks off]

Shrek, 2001

I’m not saying I’m like an ogre, but I can relate to the onion layers. (Actually, I can also relate to the stinking part. Like when I decided to try natural deodorant and some kinds did not work, leaving me to smell oniony or skunky. That’s for another blog post. Also, I can relate to sproutin’ little white hairs. Momma has clusters of those things growing along my hairline!)

I never ever thought I’d blog. It’s just never been an interest of mine. And I never thought anyone would want to read what I’d write. Here I am, though, blogging. I felt very strongly that I needed to do this. The story of why I started this puppy is for another blog post.

I LOVE to share. When I find something humorous, or have learned something or catch wind of something useful, I want to tell the world! My Facebook is full of my sharing. Just call me Sharing, Lois & Bram! (Please tell me you know of this amazing musical trio I grew up with! If not, you wouldn’t have found that funny in the least. Skinnamarinky dinky dink, skinnamarinky doo, I love youuuu!)

(Something you need to know about me is that I LOVE poorly photoshopped photos. It brings me such joy! 😂😂😂)

I need to get back to the layers thing. This blog has layers. It doesn’t fit one mold. It’s a personal sharing blog without restraints. I’ll share the funny, the raw, the vulnerable, the helpful, plus anything else this old gal needs to share.

As for the name? I wanted a blog name to not limit me, to not pigeon hole me into one category. For example, if I had Jacquie Of All Trades (I love a good play on words) as my blog name, readers might think it’s a DIY blog. Or if I named it I Am I Said, referencing Neil Diamond’s gem of a song, people might think I was a Dr Seuss fanatic. Truth be told, I am a big Neil Diamond and Dr Seuss fan. This name business has been an important/stressful factor to my sharing journey.

So, I used to love watching Will and Grace. Jack and Karen were my favourite characters. Jack would often throw his jazz hands up by his face and say, “Just Jack!”. That, along with my desire to be my authentic self, is how Just Jacquie was born. (Jazz hands) JUST JACQUIE!!!

I’ve learned a lot about anger, grief, fear, love, forgiveness, healing, hope and many other things in between. Thanks to my pal Brené Brown, I’ve also learned more about gratitude and vulnerability and to be brave. So here I am, showing up. I hope that some of the things I say can resonate with you. That you can feel support from me. That you feel you’re not alone. And maybe? Maybe you’ll even feel inspired.