Jayne's Mindful Musings

When I was a kid, my mom would read me this book called Pirates in the Park. It’s about this girl who takes a wagon full of her stuffed animals to the park, makes a toy boat out of a walnut shell she finds and calls it the SS Walnut. I remember she was being picked on by some boys who teased her about her boat when they had a fancy toy ship. She wanders off to play by herself and imagines her SS Walnut grows into a real ship and she becomes the captain. Her stuffed animals come to life and become her crew and they defeat the evil pirate ship. I loved how confident she became as the captain, giving orders to her crew of stuffed animals. And that is how I feel dressed as a pirate. Confident. Decisive. All the things I was not, but wanted to be. I would dress as a pirate and use my baton as a sword. That was over 40 years ago and dressing like a pirate still lights me up.

 So it’s no surprise then that Pirate’s Creed is my favorite band at the Ohio Renaissance festival. It isn’t just the pirate theme. It’s their mutual appreciation for each other, the fans, the other performers at the festival. When I dance to their music I feel as strong and confident as my childhood role model.

The Ohio Renaissance festival is more than a chance to dress as a pirate, the music and dancing, the shows, the people, all light me up. And yes, the shopping. There is something a lot of us say when we are heading off in search of sparkly rings, necklaces or tiaras, I’m off in search of Shiny things! This past September, while walking around in my favorite pirate hat, I felt amazing. I just danced for 2 hours, met some like-minded people, and went in search of shiny things. It was at this moment I had the thought, what if I could be off in search of shiny things every day. Not physical things like tiaras, but follow what lights me up. So, that is exactly what I started doing.

Last weekend, Pirate’s Creed was performing at Dublin Pub in Dayton, and I drove 2 hours to see them. I was coming to a crossroads in my career and wasn’t sure of my path but while dancing I got a glimpse of what could be. I realized I was limiting myself with old assumptions that no longer serve me. 

Since that day dancing along with Pirate’s Creed, I’m seeing the pieces of my life falling into place like a puzzle. Think about when you put a puzzle together. The first thing most people do when putting together a puzzle is look for the edge pieces. Seeing where you are going helps you find the right path. I got a glimpse of my edge pieces more clearly than ever. I started seeing inspiration all around me and all the possible options that went along with it. It wasn’t until I saw my potential that I started to see all the stepping stones available to me. Quantum Physics points to the idea that the quantum realm is the field of infinite possibilities and I get to choose my path. I have seen a glimpse and it really inspired me.

I don’t know where all of this will lead, I do have access to that field of infinite possibilities after all.  I just know, if I keep following my shiny thing, I’m confident, the future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades.

#FollowYourShinyThing

I’ve been told by several people that they like seeing my Renaissance Festival Pics on my social media! And I love sharing them. It’s hard to believe that the season is almost over. Only 3 weekends left. I have had an amazing time so far this season.  Lots of dancing and reconnecting with people. And most importantly really talking with people for the first time.

I have been going to the Ohio Rennaissance festival ever since around 2002 when I first moved to Ohio. I have seen all the shows and purchased so many beautiful items. But, I hate to use the word shy, but that is what I was. I remember as a kid people telling me that I must be shy because I didn’t say much. So, I was labeled “shy”. I took that on as part of my identity, until recently. I realized last night I have told kids they are being shy. Well, I will never do that again.

I looked up in the word “shy”. The Oxford dictionary defines shy as being reserved or having or showing nervousness or timidity in the company of other people. Well, that doesn’t sound bad. Why did I let being nervous stop me from talking to people more and making a real connection? I have never let being nervous stop me from doing anything for long. But I realized, it’s because I didn’t see it as just being nervous. When I accepted that label as Shy and made it my identity, unless you were family, I believed it would be hard for me to talk to you. That’s the key there. I believed. I have come to see, since the beginning of the year, that I believed a lot of wrong things about myself. As my daughter likes to say, we don’t have time to unpack ALL of that.

So, while being “shy” may have stopped me from connecting with a lot of people, I have made some close friends along the way. I can think of 3 former co-workers who I have stayed closed with in spite of no longer seeing each other daily. I have an amazing support network with extended family and the people from all the different spiritual events I have attended. It just took me a long time to be close with anyone.

I’ve always been the person that sat back and watched and listened. I feel that I have watched and listened enough now. I have found my voice. I’m ready to be seen and have meaningful conversations.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read as I poured my heart out because it is so full right now and must be shared. So, stay tuned for more entries, because I have a lot to say.

PS: Please ignore grammar or spelling errors. If I don’t publish this now, I’m afraid I never will.

(copied from post dated 9/28/2025)

As those closest to me know, I have been wanting to create a blog since 2020. I posted a handful of articles but I was too afraid to really tell anyone about it. Looking back at who I was then, I don’t recognize her.

For one thing, I’ve started wearing blazers to work. I got a couple really nice blazers hoping I would get to use them for interviews. And when the interviews never happened, I thought, why let these amazing blazers go to waste. So, scrunched up the sleeves (sleeves are always too long for me anyway), I paired them with some jeans and cute shoes and just started wearing them to work. Regularly. And my inner child couldn’t get enough. She thinks she gets to play dress up at work and carry a briefcase.  I started using every discount at my disposal and got a blazer in every style I could find… in my price range..well and size.

But for me, it wasn’t dress up. Looking back, it was taking to heart the old adage, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” I was coming out of my shell and saying,  I’ve watched long enough. I’ve read so many books, been to so many workshops and rituals and servises. I’m ready to speak.

I’ve been wearing a blazer to work most days now since the first of the year. And during those handful of months I’ve taken numerable classs. Any free training my company offered.

So, that old blog isn’t who I am now. I want this to be something new and fresh to reflect the new me.   I’ll be talking about all the things that happen in my everyday life that inspire me.  Something I read, Places I went, and things that I found amusing  People I have met.

So, welcome to my new blog.